Balarama (Balabhadra), the elder brother of Bhagavan Sri Krishna is worshipped as Baldev Jew, in Odisha. In Odisha, there are more than 150 Baldev Jew temples. The magnificent Bugud Baladev Jew temple of Ghumusar (Ganjam) is around 70 kilometers from Brahmapur. The temple is also known as Buguda Jagannath temple.
The temple finds mention in history of the art of Odisha written by important historians. The temple, which faces east, is just in front of the Biranchi Narayan temple.
The construction of Baladev Jew Temple was started a king of Bhanja dynasty and was completed by Harisharan Bhanja in 1680 CE.
The sanctum sanctorum of the temple has murtis of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan Chakra.
The temple constitutes of Jagmohan, Bhoga Mandapa and Vimana. The upper portion of the temple carries Amalak, Khapuri, Kalasha and Nilachakra.
The Baladev Jew Temple temple of Buguda is whitish and beautiful. It has a Garuda Stambha at the entrance - the Lion’s gate. A devotee takes the darshan standing at the back of the Garuda Stamba, and then moves around the main temple.
There are also the Parswa Devatas mainly, Varaha, on the south, Narasimha on the west and Vamana – Trivikrama on the North. The Navagrahas and Dasa Dikpalas, Raghunatha and many erotic stone sculptures are found in the temple complex.
After completing Ghera Parikrama, a devotee is to take the darshan of Balabhadra, Subhadra, Jagannath and Sudarshan in the sanctum. After darshan and offerings, a devotee comes out of the temple and gives Naman (surrender) in folded hands to the Nilachakra along with the unfurled Patitapaban flag.
The famous Ratha Yatra is observed here just as in Puri Jagannath temple. There is also a big street called Bada danda here.
The daily rituals observed in the temple are as follows:
- Opening of the temple doors, lions gate at 4 AM
- Snan, marjana (bathing) and Mangal Arati at 4:30 AM,
- balbhog the breakfast (Rasa khai and gaja) at 6 AM
- General offerings by devotees from 7 AM to 11 AM.
- Mid-day raja bhoga at 11:30 AM - the offerings are rice, dal, besara,
- ambila, bhaja, pachedi etc.
- The deities go to sleep at 12 noon to 3 PM.
- After pahuda the deities are offered with pana (sweet water) bhoga.
- Evening the Sandhya Arati is conducted with seven faced Deepa (ghee light) with ramdhola, nagara (drum), ghanta and sankirtana.
- After Arati the Naam Sankirtan continues till 8:30 PM.
- The night Anna bhoga is offered at 9 PM.
- The deities go to sleep after Bada Singhara besha.
- At 10 PM the deities are again korakhai, gaja (sweets) as badasinghar bhoga. The priests continue reciting Vedic and Geetagovinda verses.
- Then the deities go to sleep, the doors of the temple are closed till the next day morning.
All the important festivals associated with Bhagavan Vishnu in a calendar year are observed in the month.