Odisha Review June - 2014

Puri Rath Yatra

Sashibhusan Rath

Introduction: of is a peculiar feature of Odishan Chodagangadev (1078-1147) and history. Jajatikeshari shaped the temple what it looks The Fascinating Deities : today. The ancient temple of Jagannath at The principal deities worshipped inside stands on an area of 10 acres. Its height is 214 the Jagannath temple at Puri are all carved out feet from gound level and is 181 feet above the of the wooden logs of the “neem tree” (Melia inner platform of the temple. At the top of the Azadirachta Indica). Neem has never been a rare temple is an east-facing wheel named species in and over centuries has been Neelachakra (The Blue Wheel). Its height is 11 available in abundance, hard, deeprooted and due feet 8 inches, diameter 7 feet 6 inches; thickness to its bitterness is not affected by borer insects. It 2 inches; central small circle has a dia of 2 feet is therefore said “neem” is the most suitable and 2.5 inches; there are 8 spokes; its weight principal tree for making deities.6 It is considered 15,000 kg and is made of eight kinds of metals.2 to be a male tree. As per the Shabara Tantra on a In 1230 AD King Ananga Bhima Dev no moon night7 of a specific month the primeval III declared that Jagannath was the Real Ruler Purusha manifests only in the predestined neem and that he was His representative only. tree. That day onwards the tree emanates But as time passed in 1568 Kalapahada, sandalwood odour instead of bitterness ! Such 8 a Moghul general marched towards coastal Puri. a tree is cut in summer and the log is ready for In the burning spree the idols of worship in and carving out the deities . around Puri were destroyed. This incident of The average height of the deities is history could have been the end of Jagannath between 2.5 to 3 meters. The deities when cult. touched one feels softness instead of the hardness But soon Ramachandra Dev, a local of wood. It is because of the layers of pure silk princeling managed tactfully, to retain the cult. His wrapped on the core wooden body of deities. descendants are still known as the Gajapatis of The colours of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Puri. Gajapatis are titular kings. They are spiritual are black, white and yellow kings and also the principal servitor1 of the deity. respectively. Social anthropologists interpret these The inseparability of Gajapati kings and the cult colours to represent the three races of mankind

98 June - 2014 Review viz. Negroids, Europeans and Mongoloids. peculiar periodicity viz. at a gap of 8, 11, 19 and However, in the empirical language of physics 27 years and renewal of the gross body of the black is the most ideal absorber of radiation, white deities were also made accordingly maintaining a good reflector and yellow being one of the the same periodicity. Such renewals have unadulterated primary colours. One often wonders occurred, as per available records : why these earless, legless, tribal forms with *During 1000-1800 AD it has occurred at a oversized heads beckon to people for keeping gap of 8, 11 and 19 years. Once after a gap of the ancient traditions continue ! Interestingly the 27 years it has occurred in 1039 AD. eyes of Jagannath are regular circles whereas the eyes of Subhadra and Balabhadra are oval. The *During 1800—2008AD it has occured in head-top of Balabhadra is scalloped with a semi- 1809(+19), 1828(+8), 1836(+19), 1855(+19), circular lobe indicating the hood of a serpant; 1874(+19), 1893(+19), 1912(+8), 1920(+11), Subhadra’s head-top resembles a tiara and 1931(+19), 1950(+19), 1969(+8), 1977(+19), Jagannath’s head-top simply a straight line. 1996(+19), due in 2015. Different meanings have been attributed to the Every year the temple activities are deities through the ages by various sects and suspended for 15 days. During this period the schools of thought in India. tribal relations only are permitted to enter into 10 The Daily Routine: the temple and stay ; others are not allowed. However this closure is extended for one and a 3 The three deities have dress regimen too half months in those years when renewal of the Jagannath is dressed with clothes of prescribed bodies are scheduled. colours viz. Sunday (red), Monday (white with black border), Tuesday (five assorted colours), Renewal activity starts in the month of Wednesday (blue), Thursday (yellow), Friday Chaitra Shukla Dasami. The search team takes (white), Saturday (black). The deities are dressed the betel nut as a token of permission and up differently in accordance with the lunar cycle. commitment for the work to be executed. The The daily routine in the temple spans over the team members go to Kakatpur (NE from Puri ) period 5 AM to 12 midnight. A number of micro- and after taking bath in the river Prachi pray in activities fill between the major routine activities the holy shrine of the reigning Mother Goddess described under Table-A. Mangala and continue to fast and lie prostrated.11 Rationalists will raise their eyebrows high if they A mystic touch is resplendent at the hear that the Goddess directs the senior-most team ‘kitchen’ inside the temple premises and the secret member in the dream about the location of the 4 “6-fold worship” while offerings ‘food-stuff’ to neem trees, destined to be the body of the deities the deities. It is by exercising the ancient Mantras and in utter faith he with all his team members go the “gross foodness” is converted to “the divine 5 to the “dreamt locations” by foot. Though it might food” i.e. a sort of divinity is reinforced through seem incredible, all the four neem trees (fourth the Mantra. Cooking has always been from the one being that of Sudarshana) satisfy the following original produce of the land. qualifying prerequisites defining the suitability of Renewal of the Deities : the trees : A prolonged rainy season (stretched over — Must have a wheel (Chakra) sign on the body two months)9 has occurred over the years in a of the tree,

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— Poisonous snakes like cobra must be hiding The Festive Yatra : under or in nearby anthill, Every year in rainy season17 all the deities — A tamarind tree must be in the vicinity, are brought down to the road from the womb of 18 — A funeral yard in the vicinity of each tree, the temple by thousands of devotees known in Pahandi; each of them is slowly lifted, shifted and — Each tree must have 4 to 7 branches over pushed ahead little by little by the people till they the main trunk, reach the raised platforms of the chariot19 and — From ground level upto 10/12 feet it should occupy the specified seat on their respective be straight and solid, chariots. Chariots are called ‘’ in scripture. These Rathas are made of wood and are pulled — No nest on treetop. by people in the above sequence to cover a The identified trees are cut after the distance of 2 km from Jagannath temple to prescribed rituals like 3 days fire sacrifice12, then Mausima temple (Gundicha Mandir). Rathas are cutting the trees with golden axe, silver axe and decorated with fabrics of specific colours viz. iron axe in succession continues. A small cart with Taladhwaj (Green & Red), Devadalan (Black & four wheels is made out of residual smaller Red) and Nandighosha (Yellow & Red ). branches and the main trunk of each tree is In Upanishad “rath” is defined as “body” transported separately to Puri. The carts are (Atmanam rathinam biddhi shareeram rathameva pulled all the way to Puri by the devotees of the tu) and this distance is believed to represent villages it passes through. After reaching Puri symbolically the path. The ‘body’ (shareera)takes Grand Road the Gajapati is informed about the to reach its ‘destination’(Moksha or Nirvana) and arrival of the sacred logs. the yatra (the journey) is known as Rath Yatra or Then the logs are brought into the main the Car Festival. Sri Aurobindo wrote,”But until temple through its northern gate13 before the Jagannatha’s chariot is built ,the ideal community scheduled date of “annual bathing ceremony” of will not be created. That is the ideal, that is the the deities 14 which occurs in June. The existing best manifestation and image of the deepest and deities are bathed and the new logs are also highest truth. Mankind tries to build it under the bathed with ritual water drawn from specified inspiration of the secret cosmic Person. But due sources. Next day onwards the carving activities to ignorance in its nature, it only succeeds in commence in secrecy. Carving is done out of the creating a different likeness - - either malformed, trunks as per the laid down norms, at the unfinished and ugly or half-beautiful or incomplete prescribed place inside the temple premise15. Silk despite its beauty : a dwarf instead of a Shiva or wrappings and face-painting jobs are done by a Rakshasha, else a half deity of the intermediate hereditary functionaries. Their generations have regions.....the true name of this Chariot of thrived on the land provided by the temple. Before Jagannath is not society but commune. It is not a the specific no-moon night16 the new deities are many-faced, loose-knit human collectivity or fully carved out and on this specific night, at crowd but a free indestructible union, a divine midnight hours the mysterious substance is commune evolved in joy by the power of the transferred from the existing deities to the newly harmonising knowledge of self and God...... a day carved deities. will come when inspired by the Will of World

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Spirit, soul-unity will be manifested as the result Although senses are indicated in Him there are of the synthesis and unification of knowledge, no senses. Although He regulates everything as emotion and work; then will the Chariot of the Supreme and Ultimate yet He gives protection Jagannath come out on the thoroughfares of the to all. Sri Jagannath is the Saviour, the Forgiver, world. Then shall its light spread in all directions. the Compassionate, the Supreme, the The Age of Truth will descend on the earth, the Inexpressible and the Infinite. world of mortal man become the playground of Seeing the deities inside the temple is a the Deity, the temple-city of God, the abode of cosmotheandric experience, an experience which spiritual delight.” contains the emerging religious consciousness. The process is on and we all are in it ! It Eko aham bahusyam (He alone desired to be is only a matter of looking into it and many) - the primordial cause and effect of understanding the meaning underneath. creation. Akaybaham jagatyatra dwitiya ka The legend has it that a famous festival mamapara (In this existence I am alone present, was going on in the eastern India where a deity except me noneelse). He is also the proverbial seated on a chariot was being drawn by the Patitapabana (Redeemer of the fallen). He is the devotees. People were immolating themselves Hiranyagarbha and this word has relevant and under the chariot. One ponders it for the primeval interesting meaning. Hiranya means gold, golden and savage quality of the deity that we want to emanation. Hiranyagarbha means “He within worship or for the sake of tradition that we want whom all radiations are contained “Sun, moon, to pull the chariots lest the ominous might befall stars and all objects are contained in Him. Jajur on mankind or is it a Grand Festival of Joy ? Veda says, “Vishwam jyotijachha” (14/14) meaning the universe is shining from your The Cult as the Ultimate Panacea : emanations only. Jagannath cult is deep rooted, Jagannath transcends all forms and is mysterious and esoteric. Yogis understand a little beyond the limits of an icon . Cults and religious and the wise pray to know more. Many aspects diversities have confluenced in this ancient deity of Jagannatha Mahaprabhu still remains which can possibly save the world when in despair. unattended and this is only a humble effort to For the people of Odisha Jagannath is the Ista present an infinitesimally small aspect of this Dev. W.W.Hunter wrote, “The true source of ancient people-based tradition . Whatever little Jagannath’s undying hold consists in the fact that we know about Him only implies the vast He is the god of the people. As long as His tower unknown that remains. rises upon the Puri sands there will be in India a N.B.: Number shown in bracket are linked with perpetual and visible protest of equality of man the glossary of words provided below : before God." It is also written "Sarvendriya Table-A gunabhasam sarvendriya vivarjitam sarvashye 05.00 AM : Door opens . Arati (offering of lamps) pravumeeheenam sarvashye sharam brihat " which 06.00 AM : Mailamalaagi (robes worn previous night is means He is the Ultimate Giver of Immortality; changed) He is the Guiding Force of the past,present and 06.30 AM : Abakasha (morning purificatory rites of future and also all people who live on food. mundane activities like washing face, brushing teeth,

101 Odisha Review June - 2014 waterings, tongue scrappings, mirroring, bathing with Glossary of words : perfumed water with camphor, curd, sandal paste etc.) 01. Sevak : He who serves. Gajapati king is the 06.45 AM : Mailamalaagi ( robe dressing of deities) principal Sevak of the deities. 02. Ashtadhatu : Eight metals including gold, silver, 07.00 AM : Sahaanamelaa (Deities available for audience copper, prescribed for making auspicious forms, for public at large ) structures, containers for Hindu rituals etc. 09.50 AM : Gopala-ballabha-bhoga (breakfast). Khai 03. Vastra shringar : Dressing. (puffed rice), cocoanut sweets, curd, butter etc .served 04. Prasada : Food offered to the deities of Hindu on three different brass plates (Thalis) pantheon. 08.00 AM : Besalaagi 05. Mahaprasada : Means the grand divine food. Food stuff, after it is offered to Lord Jagannath. 10.00 AM : Sakala - dhupa or Rajabhoga. Offerings are made on Ratna-singhasana (the throne on which deities 06. Nimba pradhan metesham pratima nam binirmitow. are seated. Secret worship is performed. 07. Amabashya mithuna sankranti. 11.00 AM : Deities are again dressed up for giving 08. Daru. It means a log of wood. Darshan to public at large 09. Joda-ashadha is a long period of rainy season as 01.00 PM : Madhyaahna - dhupa (afternoon lunch ) per Hindu calendar. followed by nap 10. Shabaras are the relatives of the deity. They only stay informally. No rituals, no routines. 06.00 PM : Deities are awaken & arati (offering of lamps) made 11. Adhia. It means continuous fasting and prostration before a deity seeking spiritual 08.00 PM : Sandhya-dhup (evening secret worship & guidance, instructions etc. offerings) 12. Homa is fire worship (including sacrifice of cereals, 09.30 PM : Saahaanamela forest products, animal products etc. as prescribed). 10.00 PM : Change of robes 13. Uttara-dwara : The northern gate of the temple. 10.30 PM :Badasinghaara-Vesha (dress up for the The temple has four gates facing east, west, north night). Nocturnal secret worship by Tantriks in & south;each having a history and a significance. panchamakaara (five kinds of ma) upacharas etc. 14. Devasnana Purnima : Bathing ceremony of the 11.45 PM : Deities retire and doors are closed. deities, held annually. References : 15. Koili Baikuntha : An area inside the temple where secret rituals like carving deities, discarding old Aurobindo Sri : The Chariot of Jagannath (1972), deities etc. are executed. Pondicherry, India. 16. Ashadha Chaturthy: A specific date in Hindu Enchmans, Kulke H & Tripathy : The Cult of Jagannath calendar which is in June. & Regional Tradition of Orissa (1986). 17. Ashadha: means rainy month. Kulke H & Rothermund D : A History of India (1990), 18. Garbhagriha is the womb-house. Routlege. 19. Raths are chariots but each has prescribed bird’s eye-view structure. UK Misra K.C. : Cult of Jagannath (1971), Firma KLM, Calcutta. Mohanty Surendra : Lord Jagannath (1982), Orissa Sashibhusan Rath, B-174, Sector-18, Rourkela-769003, Sahitya Akademi. E-mail : [email protected]

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