Legend of Dharmapada

The legend of Dharmapada & Bishu Maharana

Bishu Maharana is the Chief Architect of Konark Temple which was built in 1255 CE by King Narsimha Deva of Eastern Ganga Dynasty.  There was a contract between the King and the Artisans and workers that nobody will be allowed to go away until and unless the temple was built.  It was decided that the temple has to be built at the mouth of Chandrabagha River. But the condition of the soil where the temple was to be erected, originally was so bad, that the chief architect Bishu Maharana became very much upset.  Since there was no other way but to build on the same place on account of its sanctity, he along with his fellow workers with great difficulty managed to carry on the work.  

However, the construction was going on and it was nearing the completion stage, the only thing remained balance is fixing the Kalasha (finial).  Dharmapada, the son of Chief Architect Bishu Maharana came to meet his father to the site as he was away from his father since his birth.  He was one year old when Bishu Maharana left home for the work. He proceeded to the site to meet his father and saw that the leading builders were upset with certain problem. Though Bishu Maharana is glad to see his son after these long years, he could not conceal the fact of his being able to put the Kalasha properly. 

When Dharmapada asked the reason behind the unpleasantness of his father,  Bishu Maharana sadly mentioned to his son - "Dear son, though the construction work is almost complete, we are experiencing some difficulties now in putting the Kalasha.  The kings have warned us that if fail to finish the temple in a reasonable time, the king will behead all of us.

On hearing this, Dharmapada reached the top of the temple to inspect and found something wrong and immediately rectified the defect and made the Kalasha to go into its proper position.  The work was done but the masons were still thinking of their fate, that if the King comes to know all about this, he will certainly think that the masons were not doing their job properly, which a little boy had done in such a short time.  

Hearing this Dharmapada shocked and without thinking a minute he made up his mind and decided what to do do to hush up the matter.  He immediately climbed the top of the temple and leapt into the water and saved his father and his co-workers.  

Without going much behind the facts the story, the moral is vivid and clear that at the very small age f 12 years old, Dharmapada suddenly come under the spell of uncontrollable ecstasy and a desire to be lost in the infinite after having fulfilled the purpose of his life. The legend says that he shirked the possibility of posterity crediting him for an achievement which was truly due to his father and his kinsmen.