Baladevjew

Baladevjew is Balabhadra worshipped at Ichhapur in Kendrapara district, a place known as Tulasi Kshetra and also as Gupta Kshetra. The temple stands as one of the major Vaishnava centres of coastal Odisha. Baladevjew sits on the jewelled throne with Jagannath and Subhadra, and the images are regarded as sacred stone images, so the Nabakalebara renewal is not performed here. The present temple was built in 1761 during Maratha rule. Its best known offering is rasabali, a sweet of fried cheese dumplings in thickened milk, which is said to have originated at Kendrapara.

According to local legend, the place took the name Tulasi Kshetra after Balarama defeated the demon Kandarasura here and married his daughter Tulasi. Another account says it is called Gupta Kshetra because Balabhadra wished to stay here in secret. These are local traditions, and the texts consulted...