Rudraksha Baba of Western Odisha: The Divine Legacy of Jhadeshwar Mahadev Temple, Singhrapur"

Jhadeshwar Temple of Singhrapur is located about 40 kilometers from Jharsuguda town, near National Highway 200 in the Lakhapada block. A fascinating and divine story is associated with the origin of the sacred Shiva Lingam housed within this temple. Throughout the year, numerous devotees visit this holy site to offer prayers and perform various religious rituals seeking blessings from Lord Shiva. During the Zamindari era, around the 17th century, a local Zamindar named Mitrabhanu Singh ruled over Singhrapur. The site where the temple now stands was previously a pond teeming with fish. A tribal man from the nearby region used to regularly fish in the pond, selling some and consuming some for himself. One day, he was unsuccessful in catching any fish. Frustrated, he blocked the water inflow using mud, stones, and branches, and waited for the water to clear. As the mud water settled, the tribal man discovered a Shiva Lingam submerged at the bottom. Mistaking it for an ordinary stone, he...