Nilamadhav Temple

Vishnu temple in Odisha

Nilamadhaba Temple, Kantilo
Nilamadhaba Temple, Kantilo
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Nayagarh
Location
Location	Kantilo
State	Odisha
Country	India

Sri Nilamadhava Temple (Odia: ନୀଳମାଧବଜିଉ ମନ୍ଦିର, କଣ୍ଟିଲୋ) is very old and famous Lord Vishnu temple which is near to the bank of Mahanadi, in Kantilo, Odisha, India. It is present near to the twin hills with a surrounding forest. A permanent flow of holy water from the feet of Lord Nilamadhava is another attraction of the spot. Lord Siddheswar is also present which is another highlight of the place.

Lord Nilamadhav occupies a central position in the cult of Lord Jagannath. Even now also Lord Nilamadhava shrine is present on the right side of Lakshmi temple in Puri Jagannath Temple.

Location

Kantilo is situated near the river bank of Mahanadi which comes in a block called Khandapada, in Nayagarh District. Nearest railway station is Nayagarh Town and nearest airport is Bhubaneswar. It is advisable that if you are planning to come by train its better get down at Bhubaneswar station because from there you will get frequent buses to Kantilo. Roads are connected to Kantilo which offer regular bus services. It is 82 km from state capital Bhubaneswar and 33 km from Nayagarh District.

History

It all initiated in a small cave in the Brahmadri hills situated on the banks of Mahanadi, which is known as Kantilo of Nayagarh district today. Here, Biswabasu the local Sabara Chief worshipped Kitung, as the God was known in the Sabara dialect. According to the Puranas, the deity was originally worshipped in the form of an Indranila gem image known as “Nilamadhava". The daru murti came much later.Located near the confluence of three rivers Mahanadi, Kuanria and Kusumi. The temple structure is like the Jagannath temple of Puri. It stands on the right bank of Mahanadi. It is called triveni sangam of Odisha. As there is Beni-Madhava in Prayag, so as here Nilamadhava.

Festivals

Maagha saptami Festival or Ratha Saptami is the best festival over here.
A fair is held on the Ekadashi of the month of Maagha
A special feastival on 'PAUSA PURNIMA' . On this occasion, Lord Neelamadhab is decorated with gold ornaments.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nilamadhav Temple.

information regarding the blue hued lord
image of the temple
reports on archaeological survey

Hindu temples in Odisha

Bhubaneswar

Shiva temples	Aisanyesvara Siva Temple Akhadachandi Temple Astasambhu Siva Temples Baitala Deula Belesvara Shiva Temple Bhima Kunda Bhringesvara Siva Temple Bhrukutesvar Siva Temple Brahmeswara Temple Byamokesvara Temple Chakreshvari Siva Temple Champakesvara Siva Temple Chandrasekhara Mahadeva Temple Chintamanisvara Siva Temple Devasabha Temple Dishisvara Siva Temple Gangesvara Siva Temple Gosagaresvar Siva Temple Jaleswar Siva Temple Precinct Kalika Siva Temple Kapilesvara Siva Temple Kedareswar Temple Labesvara Siva Temple Ladu Baba Temple Lakhesvara Siva Temple Lingaraja Temple Madneswar Siva Temple Mangalesvara Siva Temple Manibhadresvara Temple – II Mukteswar Temple Nagesvara Temple, Bhubaneswar Pabaneswara Temple Papanasini Siva Temple Parsurameswara Temple Purvesvara Siva Temple Rajarani Temple Rameshwar Deula Sarvatresvara Siva Temple Siddhesvara Siva Temple Subarnesvara Siva Temple Suka Temple Sukutesvara Temple Svapnesvara Siva Temple Talesvara Siva Temple Tirthesvara Siva Temple Uttaresvara Siva Temple Yameshwar Temple
Vishnu temples	Ananta Vasudeva Temple Bharati Matha Temple Gandhi Garabadu Precinct Vishnu Temple Ram Mandir, Bhubaneswar Vishnu Temple, Bhubaneswar
Shakti temples	Chausath Yogini Temple, Hirapur Parvati Temple, Odisha
Other temples	Brahma Temple, Bindusagar Hanuman Temple, Kedara-Gouri Sivatirtha Matha

Cuttack district

Shiva temples	Chateshwar Temple Dhabaleswar Temple Simhanath Temple
Vishnu temples	Madhava Temple
Shakti temples	Bhattarika Temple Charchika Temple Cuttack Chandi Temple Durga Temple, Baideshwar Durga Temple, Motia
Other temples	Brahma Temple, Niali

Puri district

Shiva temples	Beleswar Temple Lokanatha Temple Markandeshwar Temple
Vishnu temples	Alarnatha Mandira Chakra Narasimha Temple Gundicha Temple Jagannath Temple, Puri Narasimha Temple, Puri Sakhigopal Temple
Shakti temples	Bata Mangala Temple Maa Mangala Mandir, Kakatpur Mausi Maa Temple Ramachandi Temple Varahi Deula, Chaurasi Vimala Temple
Sun temples	Konark Sun Temple
Other temples	Govardhan Math Emar Matha

Western Odisha

Shiva temples	Kosaleswara temple Leaning Temple of Huma
Vishnu temples	Nrusinghanath Temple Patali Srikhetra
Shakti temples	Lankeswari Temple Samleswari Temple Sureswari temple
Other temples	Harishankar Temple Sasisena Temple

Rayagada district

Shiva temples	Bhimashankar Chatikona Nilakantheswar Temple Pataleswar
Vishnu temples	Jagannath Temple, Gunupur Jagannath Temple, Rayagada Laxminarayan Temple, Therubali
Shakti temples	Maa Markama Temple Majhighariani Temple

Other

Shiva temples	Ajaikapada Bhairava Temple Akhandalamani Temple Annakoteshvara Temple Bhuvaneshwar Temple, Boudh Chandaneswar Temple Gupteswar Cave Godhaneswar temple Indralath Temple Kapilash Temple Murga Mahadeva Shrine Nilakantheswar Temple Panchalingeswar Temple Sekhareswar Temple
Vishnu temples	Anantasaayi Vishnu Temple* Anantashayana Vishnu Baladevjew Temple Chhatia Bata Shri Shri Hari Baladev Jew Bije, Baripada Jagannath Mandir, Dharakot Jagannath Temple, Koraput Jagannath Temple, Nayagarh Khirachora Gopinatha Temple Lakhmi Varaha Temple Narayana Gosain Temple Nilamadhav Temple Odogaon Raghunath Temple Varahanatha Temple
Shakti temples	Bhadrakali Temple, Aharapada Bhagabati Temple, Banapur Biraja Temple Ghanteswari Temple Goddess Maheshwari Kalijai Kanaka Durga, Raulapalli Kichakeshwari Temple Maa Barunei Temple Maa Tarini Temple, Ghatgaon Maa Ugra Tara Maa Markama Temple Mahishamardini Temple Majhighariani Temple Manikeshwari Temple Marichi Temple Mausimaa Temple Metakani Temple Narayani Temple Saptamatruka Temple Sarala Temple Siddha Bhairavi Tara Tarini Mandir Upper Bagh Devi Temple
Sun temples	Biranchinarayan Temple, Buguda Biranchinarayan Temple, Palia
Ganesha temples	Budha Ganesha Temple Mahavinayak Temple Siddha Vinayaka
Other temples	Bhandara Ghara Shrine Hanuman Vatika Harihara Deula Joranda Gadi