Evolution of Iconography - Shree Jagannath Cult

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Evolution of Iconography - Shree Jagannath Cult ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review Evolution of Iconography - Shree Jagannath Cult Padmanabha Mahapatra n the high pavilion of the sanctum sanctorum abode of Shree, the goddess of wealth, luxury Oof the great temple four prominent wood- and lustre. That ancient temple is not the present- made images of Shree Balabhadra, Shree day’s edifice of Lord Jagannath, which has been Subhadra, Shree Jagannath, and Shree Sudarshan subsequently transformed and modified to present along with another miniature wooden replica of shape in course of time. On the Ratnabedi in Shree Jagannath called as Madhab attract the between Shree Balabhadra and Shree Jagannath, notice of the in the middle is sitting Maa Subhadra, devotee devotees. touching and Besides these, bowing head on there are two the backside of female images of Garuda pillar Shreedevi can see Devi (wood-made Subhadra in full image with gold- shape and one coating in the hand each of front side) and Balabhadra and Jagannath. The Bhudevi (image great Gurus and made of silver) Preceptors have on both the sides accepted Her as of Lord Jagannath. When so many deities are the Prime-mother and Her temple is the worshipped together why the nomenclature of the Shreemandir. The above-stated four wooden temple is Shreemandir? Such nomenclature deities are worshipped jointly as Param Brahma, cannot be justified without recounting the the absolute Supreme Being. reminiscences of its deep past. Scriptures describe that from long long ago it was famous as Shree- Worship of the formless Brahma — (The kshetra, Shree-dhama and Shree-tirtha and initial phase) subsequently the first temple of the place was The Self hidden in the heart of all the widely known as Shreemandir, the deluxe divine beings was not revealed to all. Sages possessed 10 July - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 of keen intelligence alone could see It with the Subhadra), ‘Sushuptisthanah’ (Shree Jagannath), help of their sharp and acute reason, and through ‘Prabhava-apayayau’ the place of origin and direct knowledge of embodiment of Sat, Cit and dissolution of ‘bhutam’ –Turiyasthanam (Shree Ananda. ‘Hiranyagarbhah Samabartatagre’ Sudarshan). [Yajurh -23-1]. ‘Hiranyagarbhah’ is infinite Shree Jagannath is the symbolic of effulgence without any definite shape. ‘Na tasya Supreme, Devi Subhadra represents to Maya the pratima asti yasya nama Mahadasya illusion, Shree Balabhadra is Jiva the Mortal soul. Hiranyagarbhah’, initially He had no image. It When the Supreme Soul Brahma is enlivened by has been propounded in the Upanisad that there the illusory energy Maya, the Universe is created. was only one and one unique Parambrahma, Therefore from the unification of the Param with without a second, in the beginning – ‘Sadeva the Maya the Jiva is thriving in the sphere of somyedamagra asidekamevadvitiyam’. creation. Therefore the joint worship of the above [Chandogya -6-2-1] Only that Primordial deities is the worship of the Supreme, the Supreme God became diversified into many – Brahman. ‘Tadaiksata bahu syam prajayeyeti’ [Chandogya -6-2-3], He resolved –‘Would that A brief, as regards the chronology of I were many! Let Me procreate Myself!’. ‘Eko evolution of iconography in Shreekshetra, phase basi sarbabhutantaratma, ekam rupam by phase in course of time from the Vedic period bahudha yah karoti’ – The one controller, the to-date is being discussed as below. inner Soul of all the things, makes His one form (1) From time immemorial Shree Devi was manifold. [Katha -2-2-12] Despite being worshipped in Shreekshetra by its founder diversified into many, He remained one alone, preceptor Bhargaba Parasuram. (so the Kshetra manifoldness could not occur in Him – ‘ekopi is still surrounded by the river Bhargbi in memory san bahudha yo bibhati’ – He manifests Himself of Bhrugu Rishi, who was the Guru and as many, though He is one. ‘Sarbam khalwidam Grandfather of Parasuram) Parasuram’s disciple Brahma’ [Chandogya -3-14-1]- Hence, this sage Medhas worshipped Shree Devi whole universe is Brahma. continuously for many years and this holy place ‘Sarbam hi etat Brahma ayam atma was Medhas’s hermitage at that time. In course brahma sah ayamatma chatuspat’. [Mandukya of time king Surath of Chedi dynasty (the -2] This means – All this is surely Brahman. This predecessor of Kharabela, the powerful king of self is Brahman, The Self, such as it is, is Kalinga of 2nd century B.C.), being defeated by possessed of four phases. Then, what are these the enemies, went away alone into a deep forest four phases? Those are – ‘Jagaritasthanah’ (Shree and took shelter of Maharshi Medhas. King Surath Balabhadra), ‘Swapnasthanah’ (Mother as per direction of Maharshi, in association with July - 2016 11 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review Samadhi Baisya who lost his business, adored (mauna), prayer (dhyana) and Yoga He is the Mahamaya (Shree Devi), after construction of Her epithet of Madhab. At a later period, image in bare sands, at the outlet of the river Malini ‘Brahmabaibarta Purana’ described Madhab as and by the side of the sea-shore (at present the the husband of all the Saktis. place is known as Banki Muhana near Maa ca Brahmaswarupa ya Mulaprakrutiriswhari, Chakratirtha), continuously for three years and Narayani iti bikhyata Vishnumaya Sanatani// due to Her grace got back his Kingdom. Then Mahalaxmi swarupa ca Bedamata Saraswati, the rulers of the then Kalinga came to know the Radha Basundhara Ganga tasam swami ca Goddess, built a temple which was reputedly Madhabh// recognized as Shreemandir. Shree Devi was In Mahabharata there is mention of a decorated by two elephants on the top of both of “vedi” within the ‘Brahmabana’ near the sea coast Her sides and was reverentially attributed as Gaja- of Kalinga which was crossed by the Pandabs Lakshmi. A similar image of Gaja-Lakshmi was with Pachali in course of their Agnyata Banabasa carved within the Hatigumpha inscription of as per the direction of the sage Lomasha. Samrat Kharbela on the Dhabalagiri hill during (Mahabharata –Bana-parba- 114 – 16 to 28) 2nd century B.C. This Vedi (altar) uprose from within the sea-water, was the creation of Agni and Surya, it was the “Shree-nivas”. The Bhumi was created out of (2) During the period of worship of Shree Yagnyagni (fire sacrifice made by Brahma) and Devi, the worship of Madhab was initiated in Shree Vishnu (Madhab) was the Yagnya-purush. Brahmabana (the prior name of Shreekshetra). Hence the worship of Madhab was initiated in Madhab is Gana-devata, Mangalayatan Murti this khetra on or before the period of and Agrapujya in the cultue of Odisha. “Madhabo Mahabharata all along with the upasana of Madhabo Vishnuh Madhabo Madhabo Harih, ‘Shree’. Smaranti Sadhabo nityam sarbakaryeshu Madhabam’’. His name has been uttered five Since Shree Devi, the main goddess was worshipped in Her own temple; a separate temple times, the meaning of ‘Maa” is “Laxmi’, Her other along with a descent platform was constructed names are – ‘Padmalaya’, ‘Kamala’, ‘Shree’, for Madhab in course of time. Instances of worship ‘Haripriya’, ‘Indira’, ‘Lokamata’, of Madhab images by the side of the river Prachi, 'Khirabdhitanaya’ and ‘Rama’ (Amara Kosha – around the then ‘Mahavijaya Prasad’, the state Prathama Kanda/14), Their husband is Madhab capital of Samrat Kharabela, at Niali (the predominant Father). Madhaba is usually a (Madhabananda), Chaurashi (Lalitmadhab), Chaturbhuja Vishnu image. The Mahabharata Mudgala (Mudgala Madhab) etc are ample in the puts forth – ‘Maunadhyanasca yogasca biddhi history of Odisha. The same Madhab bharat Madhabh’, on accounts of His silence consecrated during the time of Mahabharat in 12 July - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Shreekshetra, has been worshipped at different the worship of Durga- Madhab, Shiva-Parbati, stages as Shree Nilamadhab by Biswabasu, Laxmi-Nrushimh etc were emphasized. This trend Shree Nrusimha in course of arrival of Maharaja ultimately resulted in worship of seven deities on Indradyumna and Shree Purusottam by Acharya the Ratna Simhasan one after another in course Sankara respectively. of time. (3) When Shree Devi and Madhab (6) Because of the Buddhist influence were worshipped in separate temples within the male and female images were treated as brothers campus of Shreemandir the influence of and sisters. Under such analogy Jagannath and Brahmanism was reduced in the-then Kalinga and Devi Subhadra are worshipped as brother and the Buddhist-tantra’s influence captured the sister on the Ratna Simhasan. Similarly during the entire state. They initiated the worship of Tara Gupta-Gundicha festival in the month of Aswina, and Bhairabi along with Shree Devi. The elephant Durga and Madhab are also worshipped as and the lotus were their national symbols, so they brother and sister. In olden days the images were easily accepted Shree Devi (Gajalaxmi) as their made of stone or metal, subsequently in course goddess. Hence all the three deities Shree Devi, of time this system was also modified. Previously Tara and Bhairabi were worshipped together for the images were subjected to direct worshipping quite a longer period. system in their bathing and brushing of teeth etc. (4) Gradually in course of time the unlike the present day’s system of reflections on Buddhist influence was humbled in Odisha, their metallic mirrors. three images – Tara, Shree Devi, Bhairabi were (7) Acharya Sankar, the spokesman again accepted by the Brahminic followers and of Adweta Darshan, consequent on his arrival in were worshipped as Dakshinakali, Mahalaxmi Shreekshetra initially desired to worship the and Bimala respectively. All these three goddesses unique Purusottam image as Shiva but were being worshipped, in those times, within a subsequently modified his opinion and decided south-facing temple, on which the present day to accept Him as Vishnu. His mission was to revive Ratna Bhandar (Treasure-house) of Shreemandir the Vedic system of worship and to eliminate the stands.
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