| Khirachora Gopinatha Temple | |
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Khirachora Gopinatha temple front view |
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| Name | |
| Other names: | Gupta Brindabana |
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| Country: | India |
| State/province: | Orissa |
| District: | Baleswar |
Khirachora Gopinatha Temple (Oriya: କ୍ଷୀରଚୋରା ଗୋପୀନାଥ ମନ୍ଦିର) is in Remuna. It is a little town 9 km east of Balasore, about halfway between Howrah and Bhubaneswar in Orissa . The name "Remuna" is from the word "Ramaniya" which means very good-looking.
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Lord Gopinatha, flanked by Sri Govinda and Sri Madana Mohana, is made of black stone. Sri Gopinatha stands in bas-relief. Govinda and Madan Mohan, who were brought from Vrindavana in about 1938 by a devotee named "Chaitanya Dasa Babaji", are standing freely. It is said that Sri Rama carved Gopinath with His arrow and that Sita worshiped this deity in Chitrakuta. During vanvas to show the next avatar vigraha to Sita. King Langula Narasingha Deba, the king of Utkal, brought this deity to Remuna in the 13th century from Chitrakuta. This king arranged to have dug the two big tanks, Brajapokhari and Kutapokhari.
Over 500 years ago Madhavendra Puri was going to Puri to get some sandalwood for his Sri Gopal deity in Vrindavana. When he stopped at Remuna and saw Sri Gopinath, his heart was filled with devotion and joy. When he saw the delicious khira offered to the deity, he desired to taste some so he could offer the same preparation to Sri Gopala. Madhavendra Puri would only accept food that was spontaneously offered to him, and he seldom asked anything. Because he was not offered any of the khira he left the temple without tasting it.
After finishing the worship to Gopinath the Pujari rested. In a dream Gopinath told him to get up and take the pot of khira that He had hidden under His garments and to give it to Madhavendra Puri. The Pujari got up, found the sweet, and brought it to Madhavendra Puri. The Pujari told him For you Sri Gopinath has stolen khira. There is no other fortunate man like you. This is how the deity got the name Khira Chora Gopinath.
One can get delicious khira here called as Amruta Keli. The Gopinatha khira is a preparation of homemade condensed milk, sugar, and cream, with a sprinkling of raisins. It comes in pots, which are personally tasted by Lord Gopinatha. Sri Gopinatha is known as "Khira Chora Gopinatha" because He stole and hid a pot of khira out of love for Madhavendra Puri. 'Chora' means thief.
Pilgrims from all over india visit all around the year. Local residents visit on every occasion and festivals. Western ISKCON devotees are often visit the temple.
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