Baithak of Shri Lala Hardaul, Phool Bagh, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Shri Lala Hardaul who was the Diwan of Orchha had a sister and brother Raja. After the death, the sister asked Raja Jujhar Singh for rice ceremony in her daughter’s marriage but he said go and give it to your Hardaul. While in confusion, the sister reached Hardaul’s tomb and on her crying, Hardaul appeared and promised his sister that he would definitely bring rice for her niece’s wedding. It is said that Hardaul gave rice at his niece’s wedding by remaining invisible. Since then, Hardaul is remembered in every house of Bundelkhand on the occasion of marriage and he is invited to the wedding. This assembly was built around the middle of the seventeenth century.
After this saga, Shri Lala Hardaul started being worshiped as the deity of all the people of Bundelkhand. This Seat is located in the Phoolbagh complex near the Palki Mahal. There is a square pavilion whose roof is supported on multifoiled arches on a high rectangular plinth three sides are closed with grills and one archway serves as the entrance where the statue of Shri Lala Hardaul is installed. The whole structure is made of red sandstone. This platform has been connected in all four directions by red stone paths in the middle of which fountains were installed. And these paths are connected to paths where red sandstone are paved in octagonal and other geometrical shapes have been made inside the garden, earthen areas formed the flower beds in between. Everyday thousands of devotees come here with enthusiasm and also tie the threads of vows in the stone lattices.
The crowd of devotees full of enthusiasm and faith in the peaceful atmosphere here impresses a lot. It is a major center of attraction.
