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Jagannath Cult in North - East India Odisha Review June - 2012 Jagannath Cult in North - East India Prof. Byomakesh Tripathy Dr. Prabhas Kumar Singh Govindajee Temple, Manipur The renowned temple of Purushottama Jagannath and how the Jagannath cult became popular in at Puri, Odisha, is one of the sacred centers of Assam. However an analysis of the Kalika India, which attracts pilgrims and devotees from Purana, which was composed in Assam in or every part of India. With the erection of new around the 8th -9th century AD. leads one to Jagannath temples in different parts of India, the understand that at the time of the compilation of cult of Jagannath is assuming Pan-Indian this text, Jagannath was already a known deity. popularity and the Rath (chariot) Festival has The Kalika Purana, considered to be the earliest almost become a national festival. Studies are literary document of Assam glorifying the revealing that Jagannath, Lord of the Universe has Jagannath cult, mentions that the first Brahmanical been worshipped not only in Odisha but also in Tantric Pitha in India originated and developed in other parts of India since medieval times. Odradesa (Odisha), where the goddess resides Historical sources in the form of literature, in the form of Odresvari Katyayani and Her epigraphs, sculptural art, paintings, monuments, consort as Odresa Jagannath. The Yogini Tantra, folk art and folk traditions provide indications of another Tantric text of Kamarupa, of the 16th the worship of Jagannath ever since the early century A.D. while mentioning the greatness of medieval period. The geographical unit of north- Jagannath, attempts to link the celebrated eastern India, which consisted of three Hayagriva Pitha of Kamarupa with that of independent states like Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Jagannath at Puri. The work provides an account and some tribal area, before 1947 AD, has had a of the origin of the stone image of Hayagriva long tradition of the cult of Jagannath and this is Madhava, the celebrated Vaishnava Pitha of well attested by literary as well as archaeological Assam in the light of the story of the wooden evidences. images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra Jagannath Cult in Assam : of the great temple of Puri as recounted in the Brahma Purana. The text recounts how King The State of Assam, earlier known as Indradyumna of Odisha, came across, in Pragjyotisha and Kamarupa, had close contact accordance with a dream, a big nameless tree, with Kalinga (Odisha) at least from the early which was floating by the seashore and he made historical period, which facilitated some socio- seven pieces of the log; two pieces of wood were cultural exchanges. It is not certain as to when taken to Kamarupa to prepare images of Vishnu 24 June - 2012 Odisha Review and still another piece to Manikuta, to be Asam Buranji said to have compiled in latter part converted into an image of Hayagriva Madhava. of the 17 century AD. The Assamese work, Manikuta of 1680AD. repeats the same tale. In fact the system of A mention has been made of Lord worship and various Mantras of Hayagriva Jagannath in the biographical literature of worship recorded in the final chapter of the Yogini Mahapurusha Shankaradeva, the great reformer Tantra, are based on or are copies of the code of medieval Assam. Shankaradeva is said to have Jagannath as recounted in the Brahma Purana. visited the Jagannath Dham, Puri, twice: once in Besides, those in the charge of the administration 1490 AD and again in 1550 A.D. In those days, of the Hayagriva Madhava temple have tried to the Jagannath Kshetra was the seat of Vaishnava keep the traditional similarity between their temple inspiration. It is said that while staying at Puri, and the Jagannath temple at Puri. The Buranjis, Shankaradeva used to read and explain the the traditional historical literature of medieval Brahma Purana which centered around the cult Assam, while providing some insights into the of Jagannath, to the priests of the deity and other Assam-Odisha relations, throw light on the people. Aniruddha Kayastha, a Vaishnavite writer Jagannath Cult in Assam. One Assam Buranjis, of the 17th century has beautifully described written by Harkanta Sadar Amin, states that the Shankaradeva’s visit to Puri where he is said to Ahom king, Suhungmung or Swarganarayana, have served the feet of Lord Jagannath and (c.1497-1539AD) deputed one Chankham Ghar returned to his native place (Assam) after receiving Sandikai as head of a delegation to proceed to ajanya or divine orders. Ramnanda Dvija, a the Jagannath Thakur (Puri) for worship and for biographer of Shankaradeva further states that constructing a tank for the deity. It is recorded once he visited the temple of Jagannath, that on behalf of the king, the pilgrim offered to Shankaradeva resolved not to bow his head to the deity, a gem, which they had collected from a any other deity. It is also mentioned how at the cobra at Suryapahar, situated in the modern bidding of the Lord, one Brahmin from Puri Goalpara district of Assam. The chronicle further named Jagdish Mishra, came to Assam to hand mentions that the Ahom king had provided two over a copy of Bhagavata Purana to hundred gold coins to the deity, Jagannath, and Shankaradeva. The Vaishanava literature the remaining forty to the king of Odisha. The Kathaguruchitra corroborates the fact and tells text throws some light on the management system us how after having receiving the Bhagavata of the Jagannath temple and states that both the Purana, Shankar praised Lord Jagannath in twenty king as well as the people of Odisha were the one Kirtanas. The Uresavarnana section which subjects of the Lord. The chronicle further seems to be the earliest Kirtanas of Shankaradeva, mentions that the visit to Jagannath Kshetra was describes the mythological origin of Jagannath, arranged through Vikramisena, the then king of Balabhadra and Subhadra, besides describing the Odisha. Chronologically the contemporary of the story of the legendary king Indradyumna, and the Ahom king Suhungmung in Odisha was installation of the three deities at Puri. The twenty Prataprudra Deva (1497-1533AD) the Gajapati first Kirtana speaks of the results that accrue from ruler of Odisha, who was probably referred to as singing the glory of Lord Jagannath and taking Vikramisena in the Ahom Buranji. This story has Mahaprasada. Daityari Thakur, another been attested by another Buranji known as Purani biographer mentions how at Shankaradeva’s 25 Odisha Review June - 2012 instruction, an image of Jagannath was made by notice various images of Jagannath made of pith, one Karala Badhari, an artisan and was installed particularly in the princely state of Gauripur in at Dhuwahat. The praise of Lord Jagannath is Goalpara district of Assam. reflected in the writings of Shankaradeva. Specifically in Ajamil Upakhyana, Anadipataka The worship of Jagannath in Assam was and Sansara Chakra, another work, entitled so popular that the Assamese womenfolk of the Ghunucha Kirtana, composed by the famous district of Kamarupa not only composed prayer medieval Assamese poet Sridharakandli of the songs but also performed various ceremonies 16th century AD made people familiar with the regarding the deity. During the months of episodes of the life of Jagannath. There is no doubt Vaishakha-Shravana (May-July) various group that Shankaradeva had a major role in Kirtanas take place at places of worship, made popularizing the cult of Jagannath in medieval especially for the deity and various devotional Assam. songs are sung in His honour. The most interesting ritual is that of the unique mock marriage of the That the Jagannath cult was in vogue in Lord with Ghunucha. The people believe that by medieval Assam is attested by a copper plate land propitiating the deity they would be protected grant, dated Saka 1709 (1787 AD) found at a from floods, various ailments and diseases Vaishnava institution named Ketakibari Sattra near throughout the year. Even the medieval smriti- Gauhati. In the preamble of the land grant, it is literature of Assam like the Smriti-sagara-sara and stated that a Vigraha of Jagannath was given to a vyavahara Darpan attest to the popularity of the Brahmin along with the donated land and the Jagannath cult in medieval Assam by stating that donee has been specially instructed to perform the people not only participated in the Ratha Yatra daily bath along with nama-kirtana three times but also used to observe fast on that day. daily with recitation from the Bhagavata in the Sattra. A few temples of Jagannath though of late Jagannath Worship in Manipur period, are noticed in district Kamarupa, particularly in lower Assam area. Mention may In the adjoining state of Manipur, one also be made of the Jagannath shrine of the late notices the influence of the Jagannath cult in the medieval period, in the village near Khetri railway life of Manipur Vaishnavites. Though Vaishnavism station of Assam, which was famous for its entered Manipur fairly early,it was not a popular th sculptural art depicting icons of Jagannath, religion till the beginning of the 18 century. King Balabhadra and Subhadra. Other temples of the Charai-Rongba (1697-1709 ) was the first deity are noticed at places like Kotalkuchi, Manipuri king who was formally initiated into Belbari and in various parts of the district Vaishnavism. It is said that a Brahmin, Rai Vanamali Kamrupa. At Khetri, three wooden icons of an authority on the cult of Radha-Krisna, who Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are noticed arrived in Manipur in 1703 AD from Shveta besides the four wheels of Mahaprabhu’s stone Ganga, Puri (Odisha), initiated the King and some chariot near the temple. A banyan tree called of his subjects into the fold of Vaishnavism.
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