Indradyumna was a king belonging to Sūryavaṁśa (Suryavamsa) ,in Satyayuga. According to Skanda Purāṇa (Purana), Indradyumna was the fifth-generation descendant of Brahmā (Brahma).
Āsīt kṛtayuge viprā indradyumno mahānṛpaḥ.
Suryavaṁśe sa dharmātmā sraṣṭuḥ pañcamapuruṣaḥ.
Avantī (Avanti) in the land of Mālava (Malava) was the capital of Indradyumna. The name of this Viṣṇu (Vishnu) devotee king is associated with the legend of the creation of Jagannāthadhāma (Jagannathadhama) in Utkala or modern Orissa.
Once king Indradyumna, religious, righteous and generous to his subjects, learned about the glory of Puruṣottama-kṣetra (Purushottama-kshetra), from an itinerant pilgrim who visited his kingdom —
Odradeśa iti khyāte varṣ bhāratasanjñake.
Dakṣinasyodadhestīre kṣetraṁ srīpuruṣottamam.
That pilgrim told the king that on the bank of the southern sea, in the land of Utkala, there was the mountain Nīlagiri (Nilgiri). This region was surrounded with forest. There was a Kalpabrikṣa (Kalpabriksha or a divine tree) one crośa (crosa, an ancient measurement unit of distance) away from this region. If someone would commit Brahmahatyā (Brahmahatya or killing of a Brahmin), he could get rid of that sin even if touching the shadow of this Kalpabrikṣa (Kalpabriksha). Rouhiṇa Kuṇḍa (Rouhina Kunda, Kunda indicates a kind of pond) was situated at the western side of this divine tree. An idol of Vāsudeva (Vasudeva) which was made by Nīlakāntamaṇi (Nilakantamani) was established at the eastern side of the Kuṇḍa (Kunda).
After listening to this description, the king sent a brahmin called Vidyāpati (Vidyapati) to this region immediately. The brahmin went to Oḍradeśa (Odradesa) and told the whole narrative to Viśvāvasu Śavara (Visvavasu Savara) of Śavarapallī (Savarapalli). Then Viśvāvasu Śavara (Visvavasu Savara) remembered that there was an ancient idiom that once a king called Indradyumna would come to this land and would perform numerous yajñas (yajnas or holy fire sacrifices). Finally he would reestablish the Viṣñutīrtha (Vishnutirtha or the place of pilgrimage where lord Vishnu would be worshiped) there. After knowing all these, Indradyumna reached Utkala deśa (desa) with his servants. His subjects also followed him. The king of this country heartily welcomed Indradyumna. But he also informed that-
Vātyayā vālukākīrṇo sāṁprataṃ śruyate tu saḥ.
Tadvaśānmama rājye’pi durvikṣamarakārddanaṃ.
Both the land beside the Nīla (Nila) mountain and the Nīlakāntamaṇi (Nilakantamani) idol of Lord Viṣñu (Vishnu) were covered with the sands blown during the desert storm. Indradyumna was disturbed by knowing this. But Nārada consoled him- ” You are an ardent devotee of Lord Viṣñu (Vishnu). So he will surely turn up to fulfill your wish”.
King Indradyumna began to worship Lord Viṣñu (Vishnu) and decided- “I will perform yajña (yajna or fire sacrifice), tapsyā (tapsya or a kind of intense and dedicated meditation), dāna (dana or the act of giving), Homa (a kind of fire sacrifice) and ritualistic obsevance of vratas (vrata is a dedicated worship to a certain deity to please him/her) to please Lord Viṣñu (Vishnu) so that he himself will appear before me”. He asked the kings of Kaliṇga (Kalinga), Utkala and Kośala (Kosala) to send the royal servants soon in search of proper materials with which he could build the temple of Viṣñu (Vishnu). Then he performed the auspicious Aśvamedha Yajña (Asvamedha Yajna) and spent a lot of money for this. All the brahmins of all the localities in Jaṁbudvīpa (Jambudvipa) attended this yajña (yajna). With pomp and gaiety and following all the rituals, the creation of the temple and the yajña (yajna) were performed.
After this, the king gave up his food and rest in search of an idol which could contain all the qualities of Parameśvara (Paramesvara or the supreme deity) in this world full of stones, soil and woods.
‘Śailamṛddārujāteṣu praśastaṃ kiṃ mahītale.
Viṣñu pratimājogyañca sarvvalakṣaṇalakṣitaṃ.
The worried king had a dream of Lord Viṣñu (Vishnu) with four hands. The god told the king how to attain his idol- “He Rājana ! (Rajana, or Oh the king!) Near the seaside, you will see a tree partly located in the land and part of it immersed in the water. You have to go there alone, only with an axe in hand. Then you will have a glimpse of the tree. Immediately after cutting the tree, it will take a peculiar shape. Then you can make an idol with the wood of that tree”.
When the night ended, the king went to the particular tree. Viṣñu and Viśvakarmā (Vishnu and Visvakarma) in disguise of brahmins also appeared there. Following the order of Viṣñu (Vishnu), Viśvakarmā (Visvakarma) created the idols of Kṛṣña (Krishna), Ananta and Subhadrā (Subhadra). Under the spell of divine magic, the idols were created in a short time. The king could understand that the brahmins were actually deities in disguise. Indradyumna devoted to the lords. Then Parameśvara (Paramesvara) said, “I am Puruṣottama (Purushottama or the Greatest Purusha)- Māṃ puruṣottamaṃ”.
Parameśvara Viṣñu (Paramesvara Vishnu) was pleased with the efforts of his devotee, Indradyumna and decided to give him a boon. The king asked for the deity’s paramapada or the sacred foot. Viśñu (Vishnu) blessed Indradyumna- ” You will attain the paramapada after ruling for ten thousand and nine hundred years”.-
Daśa varṣasahasrāṇi tathā nava śatāni ca.
Avicchinaṃ mahārājyaṃ kuru tvaṃ nṛpasattama.
The lord also said- ” As a sign of your eternal achievement, a site of pilgrimage called Indradyumna Sarovara will be famous. The people can attain the Indraloka just after taking a holy bath in this sarovara”.
[K. C. Mishra, The Cult of Jagannatha].