The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.149

v2.c17.149

The presiding divinities of the temples are the two brother Balarāma and Kṛṣṇa under the names of Ananta, ‘the eternal’, and Vāsudeva. The images are of very coarse make, and about 5 feet high. The figure of Ananta has over its head a canopy formed by the expanded hood of a many-headed cobra. Though the temple is occupied by two images, it is held to belong exclusively to Viṣṇu, the same who gave permission to Mahādeva to make Bhuvaneśvara his secret retreat (p. [63]), and the images are accepted to be his representatives. In accordance with this belief, no pilgrim is allowed to perform any religious duty in the town without first obtaining their sanction. The first act of a pilgrim, on arrival in the town, is to repeat a *mantra* praying Ananta and Vāsudeva to accord their sanction to bathe in the Vindusāgara tank, and offer oblations to his manes. This done, he formally makes a resolution to perform all, or such of, the duties as the Śāstra enjoins, and which his circumstances will admit of, and then descends into the tank. When half-immersed in water, he must repeat a number of *mantras*, and another prayer for permission to bathe in the tank. This done, he goes through the ususal *tarpaṇa* and śrāddha, or the former only, should he not like to perform the latter, for it is optional. He must then visit the images in the temple, and once again pray for leave to visit Bhuvaneśvara. He must next go to the goddess Ardhapāpaharā, or the remover of half of one's sins, and when he has paid his adorations to her, he is at liberty to visit Bhuvaneśvara and other gods and goddesses of the town.²⁹ Imprecations dire are denounced against those who neglect this rule, and no Hindu wittingly do anything against this imperative rule.