 Brahma Purana says that the land of Utkal is holy. It bestows salvation and destroys all kinds of sins. The land of Utkal is located towards the northern shore of the sea. The land of Utkal extends to ten Yojanas and is one of the rarest of holy centres.
The holy centre of Utkal contains many trees such as Asoka, Arjuna, Punnaga, Bakula, Sarala, jack tree, coconut tree, Salas, palmyra, the wood apple, Gampaka, Karnikara, mango, Bilva, Patala, Kadamba, Kovidara, Lakuca, Nagakesara, Sami, Amalaka, Lodhra, Citron, Dhava, Khadira, Sarja, Bhurja, Asvakarna, Tamala, Devadaru, Mandara, Parijata, Nyagrodha, Aguru, Sandal, Kharjiira, Amrataka, Siddha, Muchukunda, Kirhsuka, Asvattha, Saptaparna, Madhu-dhara, Subhanjana, Sirhsapa, Nimba , Tindu, and Vibhitakas. It is said that trees are always laden with fruits and fragrant flowers of all seasons. They are delightful to the mind and are splendid. Many types of birds in Utkal make the atmosphere resound. The sounds produced by the birds are pleasing to the ears. In fact it can be said that such sounds give immense pleasure to the minds of the people residing in the holy land. The various birds that are found in the land of Utkal are as Chakoras, Satapatras, Bhrngarajas, parrots, cuckoos, partridges, Haritas, Jivajivakas, Chatakas, and other birds of sweet voice. As per as plants are considered there huge varieties are found like creepers, bushes and a lot more. There are different kinds of water reservoirs such as oblong ponds, lakes, lotus ponds, and tanks. The different water reservoirs were holy and decorated with lotus-clusters. The lakes were beautiful with clear water lilies, white lotuses, splendid blue lotuses, Kalhara flowers, and similar flowers abounded in those lakes all round. Besides the variety of flowers in the water bodies large variety of aquatic birds and animals are also found in the water bodies of Utkal. According to Brahma Purana the land of Utkal was adorned by religious students, house-holders, forest dwellers and recluses. They were engaged in their virtuous duties. There were also other people as well adorning it. It is also believed that Lord Vishnu abides in the land of Utkal. As far as the boundary of the land of Utkal extends, the place is very holy due to lord Krishna's favour. As the supreme lord of the universe dwells in this holy land it is believed that the Gandharvas, Apsaras, Pitris, Devas, human beings Yaksas Vidyadharas, Siddhas, sages of praiseworthy holy rites also dwell in the land of Utkal. Utkal is the holiest of all lands and it is frequented by the Devas and that is the reason as to why people all people like to live in the land of Utkal. It is said that they are actually the dwellers of heaven who live in Utkal and they never go to the abode of Lord Yama. The Purana narrates that fruitful is the life of the people who stay in Utkal, the holy centre of Purusottama. The residents of Utkal are highly intellectual because they see the lord in all these attributes. |
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