Narayan Gosain Temple is a Hindu temple situated at Singhapur Village in Jajpur district of Orissa, India which is dedicated to the god Vishnu (Narayana Gosain).
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History
As per a legend, a Muslim invader, after destroying numerous temples and Hindu images, reached the region in the 16th century. The then King of Madhupurgarh, hid the central image in the pond to save the idol from Kalapahad.
A few years later, Vishnu appeared to the King and asked him to take the image out of the pond and worship and then to be kept back safely. This happened during Mahavisuva Sankranti or Pana Sankranti period. Since then annually, the image is taken out of the pond on the Pana Sankranti day and worshipped for three days.
Rituals
The icon of Narayana Gosain is kept underwater in a pond near the temple, Madhutirtha Kshetra, except for three days in a year. People gather on these three days to ctach its glimpse. This annual ceremony is known as Singhapur yatra. This has been a practice here for more than four centuries.
According to the tradition, first the King of Madhupurgarh comes and offers prayers to the Lord on the bank of the pond as Narayan Gosain is the presiding deity of the king. After the King’s puja and prayer, thousands of devotees take part in the ceremony every year.
Since the Raja Birbar Krishna Prakash Dhir Narendra Singh had no son, he had made a public announcement near the pond that, in future, his elder heir and daughter, the Queen of Madhupurgarh, Rani Aparna Dhir Singh will offer the seva puja and pushpanjali to Narayana Gosain. In April 2007,the seva puja was offered by her in his presence and after his death in December 2007, the seva puja and the administration of the deity is being done by Rani Aparna Dhir Narendra Singh and her team of pujaris.
Transport
It is situated within 3 km from NH5 running between Chennai and Howrah. Nearest railhead is Jajpur Keonjhar Road or Byasanagar.