The Enigma of Udayeshwara Temple
Mahalaya as a Smaraka It was a Shravan Somvar, and I think it was also Ekadashi day when we set out from Udayagiri to visit Eran which was our main destination. We had also intended to cover Gyaraspur and Udayapur that day - the Neelakanteshwar temple pictures were etched in mind and it was not to be missed. Eran was difficult to reach, but the quiet and peaceful village and the sight of the beautiful Varaha made our day. Udayapur in contrast was an easy location to find, much more populated, and that particular day wore a festive look as pilgrims thronged for worship, being the Shravan Somvar. All through the route there were fruits, tea, water being offered to pilgrims, and small or big, broken or intact every temple had devout carrying flowers, water, offerings. At the Neelakanteshwara temple queues were long to enter the sanctum sanctorum. Temple was full of village groups, bhajan mandalis singing, conducting pujas on their own to the murtis around the temple....