Sakshi Gopal Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and is
located around 16 km from Jagannath Puri Temple. Sakshi means witness. The
sanctum sanctorum of the temple has the murti of Lord Krishna along with Radha
on the left side and the conjoined image of Lakshmi Narayana on the right side.
Legend has it that Lord Krishna arrived on earth and
followed a young man to become his witness before a village council. Thus he
came to be known as Sakshi Gopal.
There are three holy ponds near the temple and they are
known as Chandana, Shyamakunda and Radhakunda.
A garuda dhvaja, or flagstaff of Garuda, and a temple of
Radha is found before the main sanctum sanctorum.
The most important festival in the temple is conducted in
the Kartik Month. The feet of the murti of Radha, which is covered throughout
the year, is shown to devotees only on the ninth day during the waxing phase of
moon in Kartik month.
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