Nrisimha, I Bow Down on Thy Feet

Orissa Review * July - 2009 Nrisimha, I Bow Down on Thy Feet Dr. Harihar Kanungo Jagannath Dash, (1491-1550 A.D.)on Oriya poet the Sanskrit Bhagabata was written, the derivation of the sixteenth century, translated the Sanskrit of the word Nrisimha and the practice of Nrisimha Shrimad Bhagabatam, written by Vyasa in to worship had coincided with it and continued in Oriya. The book opens with the following lines : the years that followed. However, some research "Namai Nrushinghacharana Anadi Parama scholars and commentators of religions scriptures Karana" i.e. Nrisimha, I claim the mention of bow down on thy feet. Nrisimha in the Vedas Thou hast no beginning and Mahabharata - the and art the supreme cause works which preceded of every thing." Shrimad Bhagabata. The Original But those who hold a Sanskrit Shrimad different view claim such Bhagabatam contains the presumption to be episode of unrealistic and a post- Hiranyakashipu, his son dated entry. The Prahalad and Lord protagonists of Nrisimha. But by offering Brahminism portrayed homilies to Nrisimha at the Nrisimha as Vishnu - very beginning of his incarnate and attached translated work, the poet importance to His Jagannath Dash lays worship. As a result of emphasis on the their efforts, worship of importance of Nrisimha gained worshipping Lord prominence in Orissa as Nrisimha. By the time well as in different parts Jagannath Dash was translating Shrimad of ancient Kalinga. They also initiated the special Bhagabata into Oriya, Nrisimha-worship had worship of Nrisimha near the Mukta Mandap of already spread in Orissa as well as throughout Jagannath temple, Puri and installed Mukta India. We can correctly assume that by the time Nrisimha there. They also installed Yajna Nrisimha 1 Orissa Review * July - 2009 at the Gundicha Temple, Marjara or Bidala would not have happened had Puri not been one Nrisimha in Paikmal of Bargarh district and Baraha of the places he conquered. Now the question Nrisimha in Simachalam. In addition to this, is : why he had to make a search for Nrisimha has also been recognised as the Parsva Nilamadhava ? From the mythological anecdotes Devata in many temples of Orissa as well as in mentioned in Mr. Sahu's article, we know that ancient Kalinga. king Indradyumna learnt about the disappearance of Nilamadhava from his place of worship. This We cann't be definite as to exactly when disappointed the king no doubt, but he still Nrisimha worship was introduced in Orissa or continued his search. In page 367 of his article, ancient Kalinga. However, from the informations Sri Sahu has mentioned that, after the obtained so far, it is known that during the 8th disappearance of Nilamadhava, Indradyumna and 9th centuries following the Bhoumakara rule conducted a yajna sacrificing one thousand or sometime after, His worship was initiated and horses. As a result of that Yajna, Indradyumna widely propagated. The procedures of worship had the good luck to locate the indeterminate in the Jagannath temple at Puri attach primacy to wood-god, the representative of Lord Nrisimha worship. Sri Pankaja Sahoo has made Nilamadhava and he built a temple for his worship. a thorough discussion about this in his article Now the question is, why did the king so "Shree Jagannath Pratisthare Nrushimha frantically searched for the Darubrahma and had Upasanara Baisistya." This article is entirely to sacrifice a thousand horses ? In subsequent based on facts collected from different Puranas. years. Lord Nilamadhava assumed the form of Citing many facts Sri Sahu mentions that Sri the Chaturdhamurti (the all pervading deity) of Nrisimha was the household deity of Lord Jagannath. Indradyumna, the mythological king of Malava. He carried this deity in a Palki all the way from So we find how at first, king Indradyumna Malava and installed him in Puri by Narada on had installed his household deity Nrisimha at Puri the auspicious tithi of Dwadashi accompanied by in a temple and afterwards built a second temple Jyestha Sukla Swati Naksatra. The idol of to install and worship Jagannath, the Darubrahma. Nrisimha installed in the temple is the first idol of To attain a symmetry between both the worships, Nrisimha. Indradyumna, the king of Malava also efforts were made to link the worship of made efforts to search for Nilamadhava, the Darubrahma with that of Nrisimhanath and to attach greater importance in some respects to the earlier form of the Chaturddhamurti of Lord worship of the latter. To prove this view, Sri Jagannath and has begged the favour of his family Sahoo quotes from Puranic verses, "At the time deity Nrisimhanath to be successful in this of observing the secret rituals of Navakalevara, mission."1 Sri Nrisimha is installed first and all the activities Although this article of Mr. Sahu is entirely concerning Navakalevara are conducted based on mythological events, at least from that afterwards. The worship of Nrisimha attains view point it is clear that, Indradyumna, the primacy during the rituals of Banayaga yatra and legendary king of Malava had conquered a part Parabhaga Pratistha that are observed as the or whole of Kalinga. Having attained victory He rituals preceding Navakalevara.2 But in the temple brought his ancestral deity Sri Nrisimhanath from of Lord Jagannath, we find Him as the main deity distant Malava and installed Him in Puri. This and Nrisimhanath as a parsvadevata (subsidiary 2 Orissa Review * July - 2009 god). Now the question arisen as to why an constructing a temple for Daru Brahma worship ? element of dualism and contradiction found place These episodes are mainly found in Skanda in the religious belief of Indradyumna ? As a Purana or Purushottam Mahatmya, Vishnu Purana victorous monarch, he could have promulgated and Brahma Purana. Although these Puranas are the cult and worship of Nrisimhanath only claimed by the research scholars to be of a very throughout the state he had conquered. In the ancient origin, in later stages many anecdotes were contrary, he gave a grater prominence to the added to them by 8th century and afterwards since worship of Darubrahma Jagannath and new historical facts were unveiled from time to popularised Him as the presiding deity through time. But xactly when these sporadic episodes out Orissa and the ancient Kalinga. However, he found their inclusion in the Puranas can not be could not forget the god he was earlier devoted said with certainty. Similarly it can not be definitely to - his household deity Lord Nrusimhanath. To ascertained in which period of time the episode harmonise the worship of these two gods, in of Indradyumna and subsequent events related certain matters, he attached greater primacy and to it found place in the Skanda Purana. In this importance to Nrisimhanath. What is the mystery connection, Dr. Ekadashi Padhi mentions in his underlying this act of his ? Possibly it might have unpublished research work entitled, "Cultural so happened that much before Indradyumna's Heritage of Jajpur." It is also known from the conquest of Orissa, the worship of Lord Chatesvara temple inscription of Anangabhima Darubrahma had gained immense popularity in Dev-III (1211-1238 AD) that a new recension ancient Kalinga and Udra and was recognised as of the Puranas was made in Orissa through the the States Religion. Having conquered Orissa, efforts of his efficient Prime Minister Visnu Indradyumna did install the god of his heart - Lord Acharya by name, incorporating the glory of Nrisimha in that land, but this alien god failed to different sacred places of Orissa in an elaborate win the hearts of the Oriyas. So the king was manner. Some of the eighteen Puranas contains forced to patronise and encourage the worship brief account of the holy places of Orissa like of Lord Jagannath whose worship was already Viraja Ksetra, Ekamra Ksetra, Arka Ksetra, state-side. Hence, this practice of dual worship Purushottama Ksetra and the Mahendra and greater importance was attached to Nrsimha Mountain, etc. when the texts were revised in the in certain contexts. It might as well have been Pre-Ganga period (before 1100 AD), but possible that, where as Nrisimhanath was the independent chapters or books giving elaborate recognised god of the alien. Brahminic faith, Lord descriptions of these sacred places began to be Jagannath was worshipped by Orissa general incorporated into some of the Puranas when their public largely consisting of the Sabara tribals. new recension was made during Ganga period Therefore, a clever attempt was made to establish (1100-1435 AD). Thus it appears that the a compromise between the two worships, with elaborate treatment of the glory of different sacred Nrismha accorded importance in some respects. places of Orissa might have been included during 3 Now the question is :- Is there any historical this period." truth behind the legends of Indradyumna, So it can be well guessed that the episodes Nrisimhanath being brought from the distant of Indradyumna and Vidyapati found in Skanda Malava and installed in Puri, Indradyumna's search Purana and Brahma Purana are cases of for Nilamadhava or Daru Brahma, and his subsequent inclusion. However, in the 3 Orissa Review * July - 2009 Mahabharata, we find the mention of a legendary By the time the above fact was recorded character, Indradyumna. But the characters in the Madala Panji, the legend of Indradyumna resemble only by name. Probably to prove the did not exist. Madala Panji is a record of events ancient nature of the Puri temple, the authors of in their chronological order. Although the Puranic Puranas have cited their Indradyumna as a Indradyumna finds no mention in its early part, it character of the Mahabharata. But their has, however, mentioned about Raja Ramchandra Indradyumna is a concocted character creating a Dev of the Bhoi Dynasty changing the outer form new and different episode.

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