ISSN 0970-8669 Review

he history of religion in medieval Odisha from controversies to establish their own theories. T12th Century AD onwards is of immense Ramanuja was the Alvar, who was the successor importance. Different religious cults flourished side of Yamunamuni. The philosophy of Ramanuja is by side and every faith had its culmination in the called Visistadvaita. From the commentary on cult of . There are three distinct features. Brahmasutra, the keynote of his entire work can First, the continuance of the cosmopolite be summed up. Himself a devotee of Visnu, he homogeneity in the midst of diversity. Second, derived his metaphysical doctrines from the predominance and supremacy of Vaisnavism as Upanisads and Brahmasutras. R. G. Bhandarkar a major religion of Odisha as well as the erection opines that, the Vaisnavism of Ramanuja is the of remarkable religious structures. Third, the Vasudevism combined with the Narayaniya and inspired influence of the saints of Odisha. The role Visnu elements. of Ramanuja and Chaitanya created a magnificent chapter of dedication and devotion in Odisha. Most of the historians agree that Ramanuja visited Odisha between 1122 to 1137 Medieval period in Odisha was a great AD. His visit to Odisha was a great event indeed. age of religious achievements. The suitable P. Mukherjee states that Ramanuja visited

History of Medieval Odisha - Religious Perspective

Rajashree Patnaik

geographical location and the favourable cultural atmosphere of Odisha have provided opportunity to preach his faith, as a part fulfillment of his since ancient times for the growth and progress mission. The religious history of Odisha reveals of various religious cults like; , , the fact that, popularity of any religion used to Saivism, Saktism and Vaisnavism. This age is also depend on royal patronage. Anantavarman remarkable due to the contribution of religious Chodagangadeva (1078-1147 AD) of Ganga personalities. Proofs exist to show how they won dynasty was at first a Paramasaiva. But innumerable number of hearts for their sparkling Ramanuja, a Srivaisnava exerted a remarkable humanity, brilliant optimism and catholicity. Among influence on Chodagangadeva. As a result he was the Vaisnavas of South there were two classes of mentioned as a Paramavaisnava. The grand teachers, viz, the Alvars and the Acharyas. The temple of Lord Jagannath was built by him. This Alvars were interested in devotion for Vishnu or fact is mentioned in Chodagangadeva’s grandson Narayana and they expressed their loving Rajaraja’s Dasagoba Copperplate of 1198 AD. devotion in composing songs, while the Acharyas Even some of the functions of the Srivaisnavas were engaged in their arguments and were introduced in Jagannath temple. W. W.

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Hunter points out that, during thirteenth and popular in the coastal area of Odisha. During the fourteenth century AD, a reformation took place, reign of Anangabhimadeva-III, Narasimhadeva I as a result of which Vishnu worship became the and Narasimhadeva II, the cult of Gopinath ‘National Religion of India’. Vaisnavism flourished was popular. In this way several places in Odisha and at last it had its culmination and of religious significance are situated all over synthesisation in the cult of Jagannath. Jagannath Odisha. is regarded as Visnu and Jagannath temple became the centre of various religious cults. K. Particularly ‘Puri’ became a magnetic C. Panigrahi opines, “Jagannath grew into an centre of pilgrimage. Predominantly this place is institution embodying the principles of all the sects connected with Bhakti or devotion. The doctrine and cults known to India”. It has been a historically of Bhakti or loving devotion is the most important established fact which has been accepted doctrine of the Vaisnavas. It created a sharp unanimously by historians like K. C. Panigrahi, difference between sacrificial and devotional M. M. Ganguly, H. K. Mahtab and P. Mukherjee religion. Non-violence or Ahimsa is an important that the important centre of religious movement doctrine of Vaisnavism. The worship of the in Odisha during medieval period was Puri, which Avataras or incarnations of Vishnu forms another is otherwise know as ‘Srikshetra’, ‘Visnukshetra’ doctrine of Vaisnavism. The purpose of and ‘Purusottamakshetra’. But Odisha was Avataravada is connected with the benevolent studded with several religious centres connected aspect of divinity. Jayadeva, the great poet has with Buddhism, Jainism, Saivism, Saktism and beautifully described the ten incarnations of Vishnu Vaisnavism. The worship of Panchadevas or the in his literary work ‘Gita Govinda’. Singing of Gita five deities was quite popular. , a Sakti Govinda, in Jagannath temple was introduced Pitha, is famous for Viraja temple, during the reign of Narasimha –II (1278-1306 for Lingaraj temple, is a silent AD). Not only literature but also architecture testimony of Sun worship while Mahavinayak is depicts the popularity of incarnations. In Odisha famous for the worship of Lord Ganesh. the ten incarnations are Matsya (Fish), Kruma Especially Puri became the highest centre of (Tortoise), Varaha (Boar), Nrisimha (Man Lion), Vaisnavism, delighting in religious activities for the Vamana (Dwarf), Parsurama, , Balabhadra, magnificent Jagannath Temple. Buddha and Kalki. Scholars have used the terms, ‘Anthropomorphism’ and ‘Theriomorphism’ while The worship of Saptamatrukas was describing the incarnations. Vaisnavism had its prevalent in Belkhandi in . culmination in the cult of Jagannath. Chaitanya Hirapur and Ranipur Jharial are famous for Mahaprabhu was a great devotee of Lord worship of Yoginis. Hirapur is situated near Jagannath. He was a Gaudiya Vaisnava who Bhubaneswar and Ranipur in Bolangir district. belonged to Nadia in . In 1510 AD he Rise of Tantrism expressed itself in several arrived in Puri. Impressed by the religious temples, like temples of Chamunda, Varahi and atmosphere he cherished the desire to stay at Puri. Saptamatruka. Even after the construction of He was so popular that, his name has become a Jagannath temple at Puri, Sakti cult gracefully household word in almost every village and town. retained its former popularity. Subhadra and Chaitanya always identified himself with Sri Vimala both of them are regarded as Sakti. So Radha, the beloved of Srikrishna. As he was Vaisnavism, Saivism and Saktism were devoted to Lord Krishna, for him there was no interrelated. The cult of Gopinath was very difference between Lord Jagannath and Lord

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Krishna. Chaitanya was the contemporary of 3. Banerjee, R. D. , History of Orissa, From the Earliest Prataprudradeva, the then ruler of Odisha who Times to the British period, Calcutta -1930. ruled from 1497 to 1534 AD. Like his 4. Bhandarkar R. G., Vaisnavism, Saivism and Minor predecessors he was also a man of spiritual Religious System, Varanasi – 1965. disposition. He was very much impressed by 5. Brown, Percy, Indian Architecture Buddhist and Chaitanya. Panchasakhas in Odisha were deeply Hindu period, Bombay-1976. influenced by the outlook of Chaitanya. He used 6. Bharadwaja, S. M., Hindu Places and Pilgrimage in to experience the vision of God in ecstasy. India (A study in cultural Geography), Delhi-1973. 7. Bhattacharya Haridas, ed., The Cultural Heritage Jelal Uddin (1207-1273 AD), Hafis of India, Vol.-III, Vol-IV, Calcutta – 1969. (1300-1388 AD) and Jami (1414 – 1493 AD), were Muhammadan Sufi poets who expressed 8. Das Chittaranjan, Studies in Medieval Religion and Literature of Orissa, Santiniketan – 1951. similar feelings. Not only Hindus, but also Muhammadans were impressed by his personality. 9. Ganguly M. M., Orissa and Her Remains. Ancient Chaitanya made people acquainted with and Medieval (), Calcutta – 1912. Nagarsamkirttana. Sama, a kind of devotional 10. Jaiswal Suvira, Origin and Development of dance prevalent among the Sufis has similarity with Vaisnavism, Delhi- 1967. Samkirttana. The Sama was introduced by Rumi, 11. Mahtab, H. K., History of Orissa, Vols-I, II, who was the founder of Vedantic type of Sufism – 1959-60. in Islam. Embodiment of love, Chaitanya was the 12. Mukherjee, P. History of Medieval Vaisnavism in champion of equality, compassion and above all Orissa. Calcutta – 1940. the angelic messenger of Hindu-Muslim unity. 13. Ibid, History of Chaitanya Faith in Orissa, New Delhi – 1979. Medieval period is remarkable for the 14. Idid, The History of the Gajapati Kings of Orissa study of religion. The study is fact revealing as and Their Successors, Calcutta – 1953. well as enlivening. Different religious cults had their 15. Panigrahi K. C., Archeological Remains at origin and every faith attained a process of Bhubaneswar. New Delhi-1961. development. No doubt excessive devotion and 16. Ibid, History of Orissa, Cuttack – 1981. admiration for Lord Jagannath, gave rise to a cult 17. Rajaguru S. N., Inscriptions of Orissa (1045-1190 and other religious faiths such as Saivism, Saktism AD) Vol – III, Part – I, Part – II, Bhubaneswar – and Vaisnavism absorbed themselves in this cult 1960. without losing their identity, because there was 18. Ibid. Inscriptions of Orissa. Vol – IV, Bhubaneswar enough spiritual space for the growth of faith and – 1961. worship. Different cults contributed generously to 19. Sahu N. K. Ed., A History of Orissa, Vols – I & II, the cultural heritage of Odisha. The deity and the Calcutta – 1956. saints, the ruler and the ruled, the divinity and the devotee played an epoch-making role in the 20. Ibid, Buddhism in Orissa, Cuttack – 1958. religious history of medieval Odisha. 21. Anncharlott Eschmann, Herman Kulke, Gaya Charan Tripathy, Ed. The Cult of Lord Jagannath References : and the Regional Tradition of Orissa, Delhi-1978.

1. Aiyangar S. K., Early History of Vaisnavism in South India. London-1920. 2. Aiyangar S. C. R., Life and Teachings of Sri Rajashree Patnaik, Research Scholar, Ravenshaw Ramanuja, Madras 1908. University, Cuttack.

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here is a village today called Damilo close to Sanskrit. The place name of Dharma (Dhamma) TBhubaneswar. Presiding deity of the village as time passed could also have been called is Jagulai, also called Janguli. Janguliki it is said, Dhammilo. was the name of princes who was an ‘La’ or ‘Lo’ was a very ancient tribe of expert in Tantra, having specialized in removal of Vietnam (Indo-China) in the South East Asia. all forms of poison from the human body through Within a radius of fifteen kilometers of Tantrik rituals. Bhubaneswar, there are many villages with names Janguli is also the name of a Buddhist ending with ‘Lo’ which are as follows. They are goddess who like goddess Manasa Devi, Kanchilo, Andilo, Dandilo, Gandilo, Barubilo, worshipped by Hindus, was a dispeller of all forms Pampalo, Sisilo, Kwainlo, Arislo, Shathilo, of poisons. Worship of Janguli as a Goddess Suaanlo, Ratilo, Mahulo, Subalo, Amilo, Dedhalo, whom the Buddhists adopted later as their own Gavilo, Harilo, Sailo etc. was prevalent in Kalinga ages before the birth of Bouddha "Jataka" says that in Majhima Buddha. Desha (Middle land) there was a river called

DHAMILO

Dr. Ajit Kumar Tripathy

‘Dhama’ stands for upward direction and Mil stands for mix-up or mingling. Dhamilo is also Solavati. By the side of Dhamilo flows today a a Sanskrit word having local origin which stands stream called Sola. In Vietnam and other ocean for a particular hair style which ties the hair of a of South East Asia, there used to live a tribe known woman and makes it stand upward in a form. as ‘Lo’ or ‘La’ around 150 B.C. These tribal Dhamilo stands for a beautiful woman with a rich people could have come to Toshali, Utkala, growth of hair nicely tied upwards. Very often Kalinga and Koshala by the sea and the river this Dhamilo stood for braided hair of a woman routes and some of them staying in these areas is decorated with flowers and ornaments. In Odia not ruled out. ‘Lo’ as a suffix is used as a mark of Dhamilo means Juda, Braided hair of a woman. affection in addressing daughters and girls even From a few Bouddha Jataka stories it is today in Odisha (The Early Voyagers of the East, known that the name of mother of was Vol.-I, Published by Pratibha Prakashan, Delhi, Dhamma. Dhamma in pali stands for Dharma in Page-417).

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