ndians are proud of their antiquity and their culture. Some have suggested that pre-Aryan Iculture was posterior to theirs. They have even assumed that India was the mother-fount of all civilisations whence all the basic ideas spread to other parts of the world. Such claims may be exaggerated and thus may be regarded as an over- estimation. But it remains a fact that Indian culture dates back to the hoary and dim past to which no exact date can reasonably be ascribed. It has been largely determined and shaped through the ages by the influences of the Indian way of life, thought, social behaviour and religious beliefs. The word 'culture' is variously understood with reference to different branches of academic decretives like history, literature, anthropology and such other social studies. Sometimes it is Daru Devata : interpreted as tradition or the way of life or group behaviour. But Sanskriti, the Indian equivalent of The Symbol of 'culture', has a very wide connotation, in as much as it embraces everything pertaining to the life of the people or peoples. Through this interpretation Indian Culture Indian culture can be explained lucidly. Indian culture is a vast Ocean which absorbs all the river-like external elements without discrimination of time or place. This power not only permits the new to enter into it but, having entered, Dr. Benimadhab Padhi even to maintain its dignified individuality. Scholars are trying hard to discover this fact through their researches on the civilisations of various nations. Their attempts are, of course, laudable; but if they could know the essence hidden in the worship of Sri Jagannath at Puri their work could be made far easier. Unlike the culture of the present day, it is not easy to understand that of the distant past. Historical data are so scanty that one cannot have a definite idea about it. For this purpose investigations are conducted into the architecture of Ellora, the inscriptions of Jaugada, the excavations of Mahenjodaro, and the Rig Vedas, the Zend-Avestas and the Tripitakas. Their findings show that all the cultural excellences in various ages bear at their very centre the stamp of our ancient past. But no one of them individually can represent the whole gamut of Indian culture, though each has some valuable property of ancient India. Only Sri Jagannath of Puri clearly and adequately ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 17 symbolises the entire culture of India and through does not take with His hands. The devotee gets Him only one can easily unfold the secret of the Kaivalya or salvation by this. So there is no need Indian mind. of mantra, yantra, yajna or yoga to please Him but love - pure love. Therefore, He takes unboiled, unripe Though there are so many opinions about fruits from the hands of a low caste Savara. Here the origin and worship of Sri Jagannath (because we do not differentiate the devotee from the Lord, different critics try to prove Him as the symbol of the dedicant from the dedicatee and the subject different isms like Jainism, Brahmanism, Shaivism from the object. Both are the same in essence and and Saktism), it has been accepted that He was yet both are humanly. This is the cream of our being worshipped in India as a tree by a proto- culture - Indian culture. Australoid tribe from the pre-Mahenjodaro period and even from the time of the ancient Babylonian The peculiar imagery of the Daru Devata civilisation. After some time the tree became a Daru, is much more wonderful and mysterious. God is which means a branchless trunk. This has been not a human being. Flesh and blood are unessential very significantly called in Oriya as the Madala. for the construction of the Divine Corpus. There is Then the Madala was transformed into an unfinished no necessity of ears or legs and hands as in the image with two large round eyes and a projected human form, because He only observes things and nose. Subsequently it was believed as a keeps quite. He neither rescues nor does He take manifestation of the Supreme Power. revenge on any one directly. He has no hands. But, He is the Great, Omnipotent, Almighty, yet But belief is not of a divine Godhead. No touchable by all. Untouchability is a hideous sin in one does see anything divine in it since it is a clear the society of mankind. He is a man (Purusha), symbol of a social and rational concepts as : the greatest man (Purushottama). So He has a in the Rigveda. right to lead the most luxurious life like an emperor. Here the concept of Indra is that of a god, but the From morning until midnight He enjoys fifty-six treatment is completely human. So also with Sri varieties of food (bhoga) and thirty-six kinds of Jagannath. Otherwise neither any social function services (khatani Niyoga). Here the conception of like Deepavali and Paya-Shraddha in the temple God is fully human and majestic. nor the cremation ceremony of Sri Jagannath at the time of Naba Kalevara (the new form of Sri Besides, trio-worship in Jagannathism is Jagannath) would have been observed. Here the more than religious. The trio are of three different God is treated as a social being, almost man like colours - white, yellow and black. The first but at the same time the Supreme Being. He is a Balabhadra is white, the second Subhadra is yellow first class host and friend of all. and the third Jagannath is black. These colours meant for the gods represent the colours of the When a friend or relative comes into a human races. In the colour conception the yellow house there must not be any fetters in meeting faced Chinese, the white skinned European and him. So also is the rule in the temple of Sri the black coloured Afro-Indian races are clearly Jagannath. Here the devotee treats Jagannath as indicated. In other words, the Austro-Asiatic family a friendly host but dedicates himself to Him as his of the Indian peninsula, the Chinese race of the Supreme Lord. In this manner one can enter the Tibetan land, and beginning from the Turkish and temple whenever one wants. From such a faith, we Mongoloid family of North and Central Asia with can say, the concept of Dhulia Darshan has arisen the Indo-European descendants to the Negroes of (to see the Lord even with dusty feet). Here one Africa and the tribal races of South America are does not feel the godliness in the worship, divinity also included. in aristocracy or the difference between the mortal and the immortal, but expresses pure love, sincere For this reason, we can assume that the devotion and true friendship. King of Nepal coming from a distant Himalayan region acquires his right to step on the Ratna Whenever and whatever is offered to Him Sinhasana and worship Daru Devata whenever he in the real spirit of devotion He readily accepts, but wants. For the same reason, the holy-treasury of

18 ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 Sri Jagannath (Kotha-Bhandar) is full of golden 'Aahe Nila Saila Prabala Matta Barana ornaments and precious stones and pearls of the Mo Arata Nalini Banaku Kara Dalana' kings of Kashmir. So the god is called by the significant name of Jagannath, the nath or Lord of on the other. Notwithstanding the above prayers the Jagat, which means the universal flux; He is gay Adivasi damsels of distant Kalinga forests the prime mover of the universal flux. dance to the accompaniment of the melodious song Besides this, the secular idea in the 'Udisha (Puri)ku jibibali kinithili pata worship of the Daru Devata is also magnanimous. Udishara luka mate na chadile bata'. In this self-centred age integration is the most We can now conclude that the symbolic important factor to survive in society. Everybody colour adopted for the trio is nothing but the colour talks of national integration, but how to bring it of the most civilised Aryan-Brahmins including the about ? The way selected is not a correct one. white skinned inhabitants of Europe and the National unity cannot be achieved through orthodox people of the Savara tribe, coupled with celebrations or exhibitions. the Afro-Asian black skinned people and the yellow Articulation of a word without knowing its faced Sino-Japanese races of Central Asia. So, the implication is very dangerous like Indra Satru in Daru Devata is not only the symbol of the Indian the Vedas. It is known to Indians from the beginning mind but also of universal unity, which is the of civilisation. So the Savara-Devata Jagannath was essence of Indian culture. Here we enjoy liberty in being worshipped by Jains and Brahmins alike worship and equality in religion and fraternity of assimilating the Kaivalya and Purushottama mankind. This is called Jagannathi culture which concept with Darubrahma and Vaikuntha. But the is the essence of Indian culture. element of the image is as it was. Besides, devotees of other religious cults also accepted Him It is said that idol worship was adopted by as the Supreme God. the Aryan immigrants from Jainism in later days. Whatever it may be, this much is true that in no So He is worshipped by all without other religion brothers and sisters are worshipped distinction of caste and creed. All are equal here. in one temple as at Puri. This is unique. This is the sectarianism is out of question. Beginning from the pure expression of universal fraternity. The relation highest to the lowest all can take Anna Mahaprasad between Sita-Ram, Hara-Gauri or Radha-Krishna (meals dedicated to Sri Jagannath) from the same is matrimonial. Here the trio are exceptions. Though plate. By doing this the Jainas achieve their in the later stage Sri Jagannath was supposed as Kaivalya (salvation) and the Brahmins can reach Vishnu and Mahalakshmi as His spouse, She has Vaikuntha. So the Jainas pray no right to sit by the side of Her husband. She has a separate temple. Moreover, at the time of the Ratha Yatra, sister Subhadra and brother and the Brahmins sing Balabhadra join with Sri Jagannath but not Mahalakshmi. Here Indians establish the sweetness of fraternal relationship through their Daru Devata at Puri. The implication of this is that all human beings should love each other as brothers and sisters. This relationship is the loveliest tie in the world. Men must realise this fact and try to conduct themselves like their God. This is Indian culture and the cultural deity is Daru Devata, the as the Vajrayanis pray on one hand loftiest manifestation of universal brotherhood.

the Muslim devotees sing N.B. : Reprinted from Orissa Review, July, 1969.

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