Balasore, April 30: A 16th century temple of Radha-Krishna, which was once a prominent shrine in eastern India, is in desperate need of a coat of paint and repairs.

The Shyam Sundar temple, a protected monument of the state archaeology department, is situated on a 30 decimal plot in Damodarpur.

Home to the idols of Shyam Sundar and Radharani, the temple has a sanctum sanctorum, a mukhalsala and a natya mandir. The last time the temple was whitewashed was about 13 years ago.

Legend has it that the two-feet idol of Shyam Sundar was brought to the place by a gold merchant called Bhaiya Nidhi Ram, a native of Nadia district in Bengal. The merchant was caught in a cyclone when he was out in the sea and he prayed for his life. When the sea calmed down, he found the blue idol.

After arriving safely on land through river Budhabalanga, he built a little temple for the idol on the advise of a Naga saint in 1560 and being worshipping it.

About 120 years later, the then maharaja of Mayurbhanj Damodar Bhanj Deo found an idol of Radharani in Similipal forest.

In 1684, following a dream, the king got Shyam Sundar and Radharani “married”. Since then, both the idols have been worshipped at the temple.

Further construction of the temple was carried out by generous donations from affluent families of the times such as the Deys, Kars and Mandals.

“The temple was lying in neglect for years. Villagers collected Re 1 from each household in 1974 and had it whitewashed at a cost of Rs 275,” said Biswanath Rana, a local resident.

“It was a prominent temple in eastern India. The picture of the temple has found place in gallery No. 22 of Albert Museum, London. Local residents say a famous Muslim devotee of Lord Jagannath, Bhakta Salbeg, used to visit this temple every day during 1608-1615.

A trust looks after the affairs of the temple now. A former trust board member Haren Chandra Rana said: “A team of the state’s archaeology department recently made an inspection of the temple. They said about Rs 20 lakh has been sanctioned for repair, renovation and modification of the structure.”

“The temple requires strengthening of base, de-plastering and fresh plastering. We have prepared an estimate of the renovation and repair. After approval of the revised estimate, the job would be carried out,” said Uday Ranjan Das, a curator of the archaeology department who visited the temple a month ago.