Orissa Review * November - 2004

Tantra Manuscripts in the Collection of State Museum

Dr. C.B. Patel

India has a rich legacy of Tantra and namely Vaidika and Tantrika. The Tantra is culture since remote past. Buddhist and generally regarded as the spiritual authority for Brahmanical literature are replete with this the age. For this it is also called the 5th mystic cult which had great impact on social Veda. But in common sense, it is a creed life, literature, music, art and architecture. connected with Sakti and Fertility cults. Orissa as one of the adipitha of The origin of Tantra is shrouded Tantra has produced a series of in mystery. It seems to have been Tantric literature. Orissa State gradually evolved through Museum alone has nearly 200 centuries. Many scholars opine that Tantric manuscripts both in by 7th century A.D. Tantrism Sanskrit and Oriya. These witnessed fuller efflorescence and manuscripts highlight various got connected intimately with the Buddhistic and Brahmanical Saiva and Sakti cults. religious and ritualistic order. In Orissa however Tantra vidya Interestingly some of the tantric was known to have been popular doctrines and ritualistic systems from 6th century A.D. which are still in vogue in the State. The marked the beginning of decline of script used generally Oriya. Buddhism. Many Tantric texts However some manuscripts connected with Sakti worship were written in Bengali and Devanagiri composed during this period. are found as well. Mostly these Many Sakti temples like Mohini, manuscripts are written in Vaital and Gauri at Bhubaneswar, palmleaf. Early and original Vimala at Puri, Kichakeswari at Khiching , manuscripts are few as most of the Tantra Viraja at Jajpur, Mangala at Kakatpur, manuscripts are copies of 18th,19th and 20th Charchika at Banki, Harachandi near Puri, century. at Chaurasi, Sarala at Jhankada, Tantra is derived from the root word at Bhadrak, Sameleswari at ‘Tan’ which means to pervade or spread. It is Sambalpur and Pataneswari at Bolangir were believed that there are two types of scripture constructed and were worshipped in their

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myriads of worship of other divinities. We find epigraphic forms. Side by reference of Sakti worship in the Terasinga side the cults of copperplate grant of Maharaja Tustikara who and was known to have been worshipper of also Stambhesvari. She is represented in the form evolved in of a pillar which is interpreted by D.C.Sarkar various parts of as the composite emblem of Siva and Sakti. Orissa. This type of pillar worship is popular in the hilly tribal areas which has often Tantrik From stratified association. deposit, a two handed Tantric Authors of Orissa image in Orissa State Museum has seven Tantric archer’s pose palmleaf manuscripts which have been written with her vehicle by Oriya authors. In recent times, more such Lion has been works have been reported from other collection excavated from of Orissa by Manuscript Resource Centre, Maraguda Orissa State Museum, National Mission for valley by Dr. Manuscripts Cell Mundamalini Bhairava N.K.Sahu. There is an inscription in it which Tantra has been discovered at Bada Odiya reads Mahesvari Bhavada. The excavator has Matha of Puri. Durgajanana dipika has been assigned this deity to 5th century A.D. on written by one Jagannath Acharya. He belongs palaeographic ground. This image may be to the 17th century A.D. He was known to have identified as the earliest image of Durga in born at Purusttama Kshetra of Utkaladesa as Orissa. evident from his Tantric literary work. The text Another temple of Durga found on the is dedicated to top of a small hill near Patiakila has been goddess Durga. assigned to the Gupta period by Dr.M.P.Das. The manuscript The deity is carved out of a single stone. The was known to religious history of Orissa has been eclectic have been through ages. The Pancha devatas were copied by one worshiped in the State with great religious Maguni fervour. The concept of Gane narayane rudre Mahapatra. On ambike bhaskare tatha, bhinna bhinnana the basis of its nakartavyam panchadeva namasute was script it has popular here. Ganesa was worshipped in his been assigned to traditional pitha at Mahavinayaka,Visnu at Puri, 17th century Siva at Bhubaneswar, Ambika at Jajpur and A.D. It also at Konarka. In fact, the worship of refers to an Ambika initially symbolizes Sakti worship earlier work which was popular in Orissa along with known as

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Samatasara Pradipa which is a dated work of Bhubaneswari Prakas was known to have been Harihara Bhattacharya of Bengal dated to 16th scribed by one Vasudeva Ratha. He was a century A.D. native of Bira Harekrusnapur Sasana near Puri. The 2nd Tantra pothi ascribed to Oriya He belonged to 18th century A.D. The writer is Tarinikulasudha Tarangini. manuscript Vidyapradipa has been written by Ramachandra Udgata was its author. In the Krisna Misra who flourished in the 18th century Mangalacharana and Colophon there is A.D. The 7th Tantric text known to have been reference about Lord Lingaraj of written by Oriya author Raghunath Dasa was Ekamrakshetra. From the Banadurga puja. He was a native of Gadagada colophon, we know that the on the Prachi valley. book has been copied by Recently a series of one Kesava Ratha. It has other Tantrik texts been dated in Amka year ascribable to Oriya writers which is equivalent to 18th has been identified by the October 1770, Monday author while taking up the Mahanavami in the lunar survey and documentation of month of Aswina. nitherto unknown palmleaf The next Tantric text manuscripts of Orissa in the of Oriya origin is the National Mission for Saradasaradarchanapadhatti. Manuscripts Project. It is written by Godavara The large find of Misra who flourished in the Tantric works in Orissa 15th/16th century A.D. speaks of the popularity of From the text, it is evident Tantra Culture since remote that the writer was a great past. This fact is further scholar. He was the son of corroborated by discovery Balabhadra Misra of Kautsa of wide and varied Tantric gotra. His mother was figures especially of Arnapurna. He was a devotee of Ambika Durga Vajrajana Buddhism in different parts of the and Prime Minister of Prataparudra State. Celebrated Siddhas and authors like (1447-1534). He was also known to have Indrabhuti (writer of Jnanasiddhi, 8th century scribed some other Tantric works like A.D.) his sister Laxmikara and Tantrachintamani. He was also worshipper of Padmasambhava who flourished in Orissa have Lord Jagannath. The 4th work is Durgosava also significantly contributed to the Tantric Chandrika written by Vardhana Mahapatra, the Heritage of the State. son of Kavidindima Jivadevacharya. He Early Tantric Pithas of Orissa flourished during the rule of Ramachandra Deva I (1668-1700) of Bhoi dynasty. In the Hevajra Tantra known to have been text it is mentioned that he has written this on compiled in 7th century A.D. mentioned four the orders of the king. The Tantric text important Tantra pithas of India namely

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Jalandhara, Chakukya record and Halagondi epigraph of Oddiyana, Andhrapradesh we find mention of sixtyfour Purnagri and Yoga pithas. But such epigraphic evidences are Kamarupa. singularly absent in Orissa, although we find Of these four, inumberable sculptural pantheons of two pithas deities. Yoginis are mother goddess. They were have been associated with fertility cult as malevolent assigned to deities. Their number was initially seven or Orissa. eight but subsequently their number increased Oddiyana to sixty four and got mingled with Tantric cult pitha of and rituals. The Markandeya Purana refers to Orissa was seven Matrukas. the fountain At present there are four existing 64 head of all yogini temples in India. Two are located in Trantric Madhya Pradesh one at Bherghat and the other knowledge one at Khajuraho. In Orissa one is located at since early Ranipur Jharial in Bolangir district and the time. This other one at Hirapur in Khurda district. The word finds existence of the two Yogini temples in Orissa, mention in one in western part and the other one is eastern various part speak of the popularity of the cult in the epigraphic records. Similarly Puspagir i.e. State. The Ranipur Jharial circular Yogini present Chatus pitha complex of Ratnagiri, temple can be assigned to 7th Century A.D. on Lalitgiri, Udayagiri and Alatigir is also stylistic consideration while the Hirapur popularly mentioned. This place is described specimen may be dated to 8th/9th century A.D. as Polomolokili in the travel account of Hieun This Yogini cult was known to have reached Tsang. This contention is also supported by coastal belt from the upper Mahanadi valley. recent excavated materials of ASI and Rudrajamqala Tantra, Kularnava Tantra. OIMSEAS. These two centres were intimately Astadasa pitha and Kubjika Tantra etc. refer associated with early Buddhist Tantricism to a number of other Tantric pithas of Orissa since 5th century A.D. like Viraja , Ekamra, Udissa, Jaleswar and Yogini Pithas Srikshetra, Puri etc. The four early pithas of Tantricism Jajpur proliferated into one hundred and eight pithas Jajpur is situated on the bank of the holy later on. Few epigraphic references are found river Baitarani which finds mention in the in this connection in all India perspective. In Mohabharata. Purana calls it Nabhigaya an inscription of 12th century A.D. of while the Purana , Kapila Samhita Maharastra there is mention about describe the place as a sacred centre. It is Mahayogesvari Ugrachamunda as the presiding mentioned as one of the 42 Siddhapithas of deity of the sixtyfour Yoga pithas. Similarly in Kubjika Tantra, one of the 50 pithas of

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Jhanarnava Jantra, Sakapitha of Brahmanila century A.D. with the popularity of Tantra and astadasa pithas of Sankaracharya Vaishnavism. She was incorporated as and Pithanirnaya. It also finds mention in the Subhadra in the cult of jagannath. Paralakhemundi copper plate of Prithvi The influence of Tantric rituals is Maharaja who flourished in the 6th century discernible in the worship of Jagannath. This A.D.. The plate of Bhanudatta of 7th century Tantric traditions evolved various Vyasas such A.D. also refers to Viraja. Unmatta Keshari as Matruka vyasa etc Sri Jantra, Bhubaneswari had established his capital at Viraja. In a grant Jantra, various mudras and Vijamantra are of Bhaumakara king Shantikara Deva an introduced in the system of Jagannath worship. inhabitant of Viraja has been mentioned. The Many believe that Jagannath, Balabhadra, place was also identified as the capital city of Subhadra and Sudarsan have originated from Bhaumakaras. Initially they were Buddhist. But Yogic tantrik system for which the deities are later one Brahmanic system of Sakti worship worshipped as one by the of the entered in here. priests. After the decline of the Bhaumakaras the Thus vedic and tantric mode of worship Somavamshis under the hagemony of Yayati II, of Jagannath clearly indicates tantra influence. Mahasivagupta made Jajpur (ancient The panchamakara which is a tantric Guhesvara patak) his capital. Muslim records conception is vividly noticed in the worship like Tabaquat-I-Nasir, Tarika-I-Firozsahi of Jagannath. Fish is substituted by green called this Jajatinagar as Jajnagar from which vegetables mixed with Hingu, meat by the present name Jajpur is known to have been adapachedi (ginger) wine by green coconut derived. water, grain by Kanti, a preparation of flour Viraja was the popular deity of this town. and sugar and Mithuna is substituted by the She is said to have originated from the altar of dance of Devadasis and offering of flowers. Brahma in course of the celebration of ten Animal sacrifice has been substituted by fish aswamedha sacrifice. The deity is a two armed offering to Vimala as well. The Madala panji, Durga mounting on her vehicle Simha. The the temple chronicle of Puri speaks of the image is assigned to pre-gupta era by knowledge of Tantra and Mantra by the builder R.P.Chanda. of the temple of Lord Jagannath Chodaganga Deva. In Rudrajamala Tantra The place was also a famous centre of datable to 10th century A.D. amply reflects that Vajrayana Buddhism. Figures of , Heruka, Tantric system of worship was in vogue in the Kurukulla and Aparajita etc. found here testify worship of Jagannath at Puri. Since early time to the contention. this was a Tantrik pitha. Puri Balarama Dasa in his Bata Avakasa Tantric texts identify Puri as a pitha of (16th century A.D.) has described that Jagannath Bhairava and Vimala-. She Jagannath was attended by the sixtyfour is also called Kshetrasakti. Subhadra of the Yoginis Katyayinis, Sapta Matrikas, Vimala Jagannath triad is identified as Ekanamsa or and Viraja. The same work also says that Katyayan a form of Durga. By about 12th seventy six mother goddess like Sakambari,

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Durgeswari, Kali, Ramachandi, Kothesvari, siddhi. Ardhanariswara, Mahisa Mardini Bhayavati, Vaseli, Hadimai, Kotambachandi Durga and Saptamatrikas are also found in this , Savitri, Sarla , Aparajita temple complex. We find tantric deities in the Pingala, Sasakama, Marakarama, Heryula, Gauri temple, Ananta Vasudeva temple, Kalapati, Kalijai, Kalaratri, Kalika, Pateli, Sisiresvar Markandeswar, Dvaravasini, Kalasuni, Charchika, Chhayamaya, Vijaya, Uttaresvara and Mohini temples etc. The large Chandraghanta, Kalashanta, Kalamukhi, variety of erotic figures in various temples of Trutikhai, Hemasanti, Sarpamukhi, Jagulai, Bhubaneswar are reminiscence of tantric Hadabai, Samalai, Mangala, Karunai, Barunai, practices of Kapalikas and Tantrikas who Terasuni, Tareni, Jareni, Mareni, Sapanacheti profess various philosophies about sex and and Kanakesvari etc. The Prachi Mahatmya mokshya through sexual mahasukha. also mentions deities like Chandaghanta, References: Ramachandi and Bhagavati. Sarala Das 01. N.K.Sahu – Buddhism in Orissa. describes Ugratara, Chachesvari, Baseli, Mahesvari, Kalika, Konkali, Abhimukhi, 02. C.B. Patel, Dynastic History of Nalas. Janguli and Sarla in his work Arka Kshetra to 03. Descriptive catalogue of Sanskrit have been incorporated into the fold of manuscripts of Orissa. Vol.V. Jagannath Triad 04. H.H.Wilson, Essays and Lectures on the religion of the Hindus, E.R.EXII. Bhubaneswar 05. J.K.HAS, Vol.II, No.2 Sanskrit texts like Ekamra Purana, 06. J.A.S.B. N.S.,Vol.XIII. Ekamra Chandrika, Kapila Samhita and Tirtha Chintamani etc describe Bhubaneswar as 07. E.I. Vol.XXVIII. EkamraKshetra. The place is called a 08. I HQ, Vol.VI. Saktapitha in the works like Namostottrasata 09. Inscription of Orissa, Vol.IV. and Brahama Nilatantra. Find of innumberable 10. N.N.Vasu – Archaeological Survey of archaeological remains of Tantra Pantheon Mayurbhanj. amply hints at the Tantric heritage of the place. 11. Annual report of Epigraphy, 1906. The temple of Vaital or Kapalini built in 7th 12. T.Watters, Yuanchwang’s Travel in India. century A.D. bears Tantric figures with central figure of a terrific emaciated . The name of the temple seems to have been derived from the tantric word Vetal or spirit who were Dr. C.B. Patel is the Superintendent of Orissa State invoked by the Kapalikas and Tantriks to attain Musuem, Bhubaneswar.

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