ISSN 0970-8669 Review

Madhava vacyam, Madhava madhava harih; Smaranti Madhava nityam, sarva karye su Madhavah. Towards the end of Lord Sri ’s regime in Tretaya Yuga, Sri was advised by the Lord Sri Rama to remain immersed in meditation (dhyanayoga) in ‘Padmadri hill’ till his services would be recalled in Dwapar Yuga. When the great devotee, Sri Hanuman expressed his as to how he would see his divine Master during such a long spell of time, the Lord advised him that he would be able to see his ever-

The Mysterious Controller of the Universe : Neelamadhava - Shri

Dr. K.C. Sarangi

Lord, always desires His devotees to have cherished ‘Sri Rama’ in the form of Lord Sri equanimity in all circumstances: favourable or Neelamadhava whom he would worship in unfavourable, and to destroy their ingorance by ‘Brahmadri’, the adjacent hill and enjoy the the sword of conscience, ‘tasmat ajnana everlasting bliss ‘naisthikeem shantim’ as the sambhutam hrutstham jnanasinatmanah (Ch. IV, Gita describes (Ch.5, Verse 12). Sri Hanuman verse.42) and work in a detached manner was a sthitadhi. Those devotees, whose minds surrendering the fruit of all actions to the Lotus are equiposed, attend the victory over the world feet of the Lord so that the devotee does not during their life time. Since Paramatma the become partaker of the sins as the Lotus leaf is Almighty Father is flawless and equiposed, such not affected by water ‘ adhyaya devotees rest in the lotus feet of the Lord karmani sangam tyaktwa karoiti yah, lipyate ‘nirdosam hi samam tasmad na sa papena padmapatramivambasa’ (Ch.V, brahmani te sthitaah’, (ibid v.19). According Verse 10). The Graceful Lord desired His dearest to the sacred thought expressed in the Gita, the devotee to experience this blissful ecstasy and

122 JUNE - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 unalloyed purity since according to His own saying ‘ananyayogena avyabhicarini’ as ‘matcintah madgat prana……. nityam tusyanti ca explained in verse 10 Ch.13 of the Gita discussed ramanti ca’ (Ch.10, verse9). in the foregone paragraph. The great scholar and Indeed, no sublime thing in this world can sage Swami Ramasukhadasji explains in this be achieved without perpetual context. (perseverance). The Lord, therefore, has also Because of having shelter in this world suggested later, the solution, ‘mayi ca the spiritual practitioner becomes unable to get ananyayogena bhaktih avyabhicarini, rid of the illusion of body. The infatuation for body viviktadeshasevitwam aratih janasampadi’ is a great obstacle to know the ‘’, the (The Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 10). One can have Mysterious Controller. To help the devotee this equanimity of mind and undisturbed worship overcome this obstacle, the Lord advises to have and devotion starying in an isolated and pure place unalloyed bhakti which, in turn leads to unflinching through meditation concentrated (utterance faith in Him. This faith gradually reveals that the of Lords’s name) tapa (penance which literally material body is untrue. This establishes that means to be equally happy in hot and cold, good ‘devotion: chaste and meticulous’, enables the fortune and misfortune, pleasure and pain ‘sukha practitioner to cross the infatuation for the body2. dukhe same krutwa labha labhou jayajayau’ The above devotion is again a (Ch-II, verse.38), (about which the Lord consequence of the much cherished, ‘budhiyoga’. has explained in details in the Gita. What is The Lord has confirmed in the Gita that those essentially required is that the devotee through who are perennially engaged in meditating on Him the prescribed yogic process, should have and uttering His name, He bestows on them the undisturbed faith in the Lord. He should not ‘budhiyoga’ by which the devotee gets Him, develop any inclination towards staying in places ‘tesham satatayuktanam bhajataam enriched with human habitation, surcharged with preetipurvakam, dadami budhi yogam tam materialistic aspirations. Thus, the reasoning for yena mam upajanti te’ (Ch.10, Verse 10). The the advice to Hanuman to stay in Padmadri, an learned scholar and sage, Swami Ramsukhadasji, isolated and pure place is clearly perceptible. The however cautions that the practitioner in spiritual Lord desired that his dearest devotee should line should not develop any desire to get anything continue through unalloyed devotion and yoga and from anybody other than . There should not remain undisturbed against the currents of time. be an iota of feeling in the devotee’s mind that he 1 This is one of the popular ‘Lokakathas’ about can get the ‘adhwatma ’ (spiritual wisdom) Sri Neelamadhava temple at Kantilo. It is now by virtue of his strength, intelligence or eligibility. not a legend but an acknowledged position Nor there should be the feeling that he can be accepted by many scholars that the cult of Lord able to realise the ‘divine wisdom’ by the help of Sri Jagannatha is inextricably linked with the other human beings, preceptors or spiritual books. tradition of Lord Shri Neelamadhava at Kantilo. Only by the grace of the Lord, grace alone, he But the above legend has a secret gets a chance to realise the divine wisdom, the message. Usually where the spiritual struggler ‘Brahmavidya’ His only saviour is the Lord finds difficulty is, how to have this Himself and his total surrender before His lotus

JUNE - 2017 123 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review feet always paves the way. This surrender is a tiger was safeguarding the cave where Lord ‘ananya yoga’ i.e. uncommon yogic practice.3 Madhava was worshipped. Biswabasu, the Sri Hanuman, therefore was advised to staunch devotee of Madhava and the father-in- practice this ‘ananyayoga’ staying in ‘Padmadri’ law of , (the ambassador of King and worship Lord Sri Rama in the form of Lord ) is believed to be belonging to Jara Shree Neelamadhava, the Divine Splendour with Savar’s dynasty. His incomparable beauty and elegance. In the Reference about the present construction prayer of Goswami Tulshidasji for Sri Rama, one of Lord Sri Neelamadhava’s temple is very may observe a hidden prayerful description of difficult to be traced in contemporary scriptures/ Lord Sri Neelamadhava, the Lord revealing literature. Except ‘Neeladri Mahodaya’, Himself with incomparable effulgence and always recorded chronicles are almost rarities in this kind enough to save the humanity from the regard. But the lovable legends around are soul- confusion of Kaliyuga. stirring. One such source says that a king, namely nilotpala shyama kotisobhaadhika Merukalpa, who happened to be in the genealogy sunia tasu guna grama jasu nama agha of Kakabhusandi, constructed the temple of the khaga badhika.4 Lord. Celestial beings from heaven and seventy two local sevayats contributed their combined The Lord, whose body is like a lotus, efforts to build the temple. Originally there were whose beauty defeats the beauty of crores of 752 caves in and around the temple. , listening to whose sacred name, the gives a vivid description of the river devotee destroys all his sins, (as a hunter kills , flowing by the side of the temple. birds), it is beneficial always to hear about the According to the above masterpiece in leela of the same Lord, Sri Rama- literature , by the of ‘suradhuni, Neelamadhava. Tulshidasji has also held that the papanashini Divine Mother , who was Lord’s name is the medicine to cure the disease happy with the penance of ‘Sukanti’ a sage in of the cycle of birth and death. The man or Tretaya Yuga, (son of Sage and woman who hears this, all his/her wishes will be Habirbhu), river Mahanadi situated at the place fulfilled by the ‘enemy of Trisirari’ i.e. Sri Ramaji: of penance to the point of mingling with bhava bhesaja raghunatha Jasu sunahin je Purvasagar was declared as the of the nara nari sacred river, the Ganges. tinhakara sakala manoratha karahi A sacred book namely Neelamadhava trisirari.5 Mahatmya written and compiled by Sri Samsari At a later period, at the end of Dwapar Behera correlates marked similarities in the cult Yuga, Lord advised Jara Savar (as the of Sri Alaranath at and Sri Madhava latter was totally flabbergasted due to his soul- at Niali with the tradition of Lord Sri killing blunder of piercing the Lord’s lotus feet Neelamadhav at Kantilo. The book also describes with an arrow) to go to Brahmadri and see the that Lord Sri Neelamadhava was also worshipped Tiger cave (Byaghra gumpha) there and worship earlier somewhere near the Bay of Bengal, the Lord there. The legends say that in those days proximate to the present Shreekshetra . The

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Lord whom Indradyumna saw in the dream was even today, the principal traditions of Sri Neela the Lord Neelamadhava. But when Indradyumna Madhava, at Kantilo are largely similar to the came with a large number of courtiers and traditions followed in Srikshetra, Puri. followers to offer his prayer to the Lord, Yamaraj There are some exceptions, however. took shelter before the Lord and explained that if One such exception is the Magha Sukla Ekadasi the Lord would give darshan to all those human celebration when a five day long fair is held at beings coming, then everybody would get Kantilo. It is said that those who take sacred salvation and the Yamaloka would be vacant. ablution in Chitrotpala-Mahanadi and get the holy Hence administration in Yamabhuvan would be in shambles. With the request of Yamaraj, the darshan of Lord Sri Neelamadhava especially Lord disappeared from the referred place and on the above sacred occasion, attend salvation. made appearance at Brahmagiri which is at a Sage Bharadwaja, Puskara and the sages living considerable distance from Puri. The Lord also there in, are correlated with the worship of Lord allowed a simultaneous mingling of His cosmic Sri Neela Madhava and his divine cult by some glow with Lord Sri Neelamadhava at Kantilo. The scholars. Be that as it may, it is beyond all Neeladhri Mahodaya, though, does not explain questions however, that the divine grace and all these details but has some similar description, wisdom make the seeker Godward and the about disappearance of the Lord from His abode divinity in him is unfurled. The Gita says, ‘Jnanena near Mahodadhi (The Bay of Bengal). The Lord tu tat ajnanam jesam, nasitamaatmanah is mysterious and his actions are also mysterious. tesam adityavat jnanam prakasayati Words are incomprehensible, they cannot tatparam (Ch.5, verse 16). A seeker of spiritual comprehend the action of the Lord who is the solace through rare wisdom or ‘grace-in first word in the creation and the last word of the explicable’ finds in the Lord Neelamadhava, the creation. He is the ‘ekakshara ’, who alone effulgence of Sri Ramavatara and Sri Krishnavatar exists after the ‘Mahapralaya’, when all other both that is the complete , the ‘Adinatha’. created beings cease to exist. Therefore, there is The Neelamadhava Mahatmya describes: also every possibility that the Lord Madhava You are Raghunath, O’ Lord Neelamadhava whom Yamaraj prayed was Lord Neelamadhava You are also known as Sripati at Kantilo and the ocean water might have You are also Chakradhari, receded or changed its course over the years. As the most potent and powerful weapon At Brahmagiri the Lord was worshipped ‘Sudarshan’. by a namely Allalya. The Brahmin was Adorns your finger in the right hand very truthful, virtuous and religious.6 Due to their In dwapara age, you were Lord Kirhsna stainless devotion, the Brahmin and his son were Winning everyone’s heart, awarded darshan and all his family members got By sacred and wisdom salvation. The Lord is Master of His own And fighting for virtuous and right causes. decision. From Brahmagri he desired to move to To restore . Niali and a part of the divine effulgence again merged with the Lord at Kantilo (his ancient The charismatic, melodious magic of your flute, citadel). Years have passed in the meanwhile. But Showered divine bliss

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In each heart and each soul; they had come out of the realm of illusion and You are Govinda, Gopala and the sacred were ready to obey the Lord’s command Moon.7 ‘sthitosmi gatasandehah, karisye vacanam A concentrated look at the Lotus feet of tava’ (The Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 73). Lord Sri Neelamadhava opens the gateway to The Divine is all pervasive. But His sacred salvation. He is the Mysterious Controller of the presence is visibly felt in certain chosen places. Universe. He is ‘Endless, Infinite and Sanatana’. The Lord and His Leela (divine play) also cast He is ‘anadi’. He is ‘amitavikrama and magnetic and magnificent influence on His creation anantaviryam’ (Ominipotent). He is the father of in general and chosen devotees in particular. this entire universe. He is more adorable than Those who have destroyed all attachments and , He is incomparable in heaven, earth and those whose consciousness is eternally fixed with , ‘Loka trayehapi apratima pravaava’ (Ch- paramatma, ‘gatasangasya muktasya 11, verse.43), He is the Power, the only jnanavasthitacetasah’ (Ch. 4, Verse 23) are knowable, after knowing Whom, nothing exists assured of emancipation. Apart from being to be known. Arjuna after seeing the ‘Viswarupa’, omniscient omnipotent and omnipresent, the Lord the cosmic appearance was extremely moved by has also always been the saviour of the weak, the divine splendour. He sang with all humility his downtrodden and fear-stricken. He has also prayer with awe and devotion: mercifully guided the jijnasu and the devotees. twamaksharam paramaveditavyam The Car-festival in Puri bears ample testimony to twamasya viswasya param nidhanam the same. On this occasion of a cosmic vibration, twamavyayam saswata dharmagoptaa the Lord’s sacred darshan is open to all, sanatanah twam puruso mato me. irrespective of caste, creed, religion, status and power, giving a perennial message of universal (The Gita, Chapter 11, Verse 18). brotherhood, i.e. the great Upanishadic vision The ecstasy was the same with Vidyapati ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’. At Kantilo, similarly when he saw Lord Madhava first. The direction on the occasion of ‘Chandan Mahotsava’, despite to Arjuna was ‘hato va prapsyasi swargam the scorching heat, Lord Sri Madhava moves jitwa va bhokshyase mahim; tasmat utistha around the township in a very informal manner. yuddhaya krutanischayah’ (Ch-2, The Lord moves from lane to lane across Kantilo verse 37). The direction was reiterated later with town. Popularly known as ‘Bhaunri Yatra’, the a more positive indication: ‘tasmat twam Lord moves with His retinue, when ‘sacred utishtha yaso labhaswa jitwa shatrun offerings’ and ‘sapta-alati’ are offered by the bhunkswa rajyam samruddham’ (Ch.11, verse residents before His lotus feet. On this occasion 33). On the contrary, the order to Vidyapati was accompanying Sri Madhava’s representative idol, to return to Srikshetra and await for the Lord’s the idols of Divine Mother Maha-, Divine reappearance there. In both the cases the Mother , Lord and Divine Mother devotees, who took shelter under the lotus feet also move. The Jatra symbolises the have destroyed their illusion and were blessed with concern of the Master for his subjects and the the effulgence of divine wisdom and each felt that Father for his children on one side, and the

126 JUNE - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 acculturation of different types of worship (The Gita 3/15). There are also other ways attributable to the Trinity on the other side. Elders, prescribed by the Lord in the Gita and God youth, and children all equally rejoice on the realised noble saints in other scriptures. occasion. As their Supreme Master is amidst them, The teach us that the jeev gets they get the feeling of spiritual ecstasy salvation by divine grace alone. Needless to ‘bhavasamanwitah’, as the scriptures say. The mention, however, that the Lord is One, the Lord has held in the Gita ‘aham sarvasya Ekaksharam’ ‘Om’. yoga, , pravavo mattah sarvam pravavate, iti , dhyana yoga, yoga, mattwa bhajanti mam buddha astanga yoga, laya yoga, , bhavasamanwitah.’ (Chapter 10 verse-8). yoga, yoga all have been created by the Eventhough, the Lord is the Master of all, He is Lord and the God-realised souls as already so kind and magnanimous that He fulfils His desire discussed to save the humanity, to help them lead to bless all His children alike through such a peaceful life in this world and to reach the celebrations while advising the secular governance heavenly abode thereafter. Goswami Tulshi Dasji to follow His footprints and make the justice and writes in Ramacharita Manasa ‘ hetu rahita jaga governance reach the doorsteps of the citizens. yuga upakari : tumh tumhari sevak asurari8. Swami Simultaneously the Lord is advising the citizens Ramasukhadasji also quotes a devotee singing to follow the enjoinments made by the codified with similar surrender: laws, abide by truth and the rules in a disciplined, ideal and humble manner with a serene sense of divi ba bhubi ba mamastu baso service and dedication leaving no room for anger, narake ba narakantaka prakamam, greed and sense-linked desires. avadharita sarada arabindou, caranou te marane pi cintayami9 tasmat shastram pramanam te karyakarya vyavasthitou A free translation of the above verse Jnatwa shastravidhanoktam Karma means that, O’ destroyer of the , O Lord kartum- ihahhasi Madhava, you may keep me in heaven, in hell or in this world or may also keep me anywhere You (Ch.16. Verse 24) like. Whatever you want to do with me, I have It is irresistible to conclude, therefore, that nothing to say rather I will gladly accept. I have the mysterious Controller of the Universe has only one prayer. I must meditate on Your Lotus guided the humanity across the ages to develop feet always; those feet which defeat in their beauty, equanimity, control of senses, purity, humility, self- the gracefulness and beauty of the lotus flower, restraint, wisdom, self-knowledge and surrender. blooming in early autumn. I should not ever forget In the process the humanity learns that by His your sacred lotus feet even at such crucial hour grace alone the man gets salvation, matprasadat like death. I should never forget your lotus feet avapnoti saswatam padam avyayam’ (Chapter My Lord in any circumstance. Experiences 18, Verse 56). To get the grace, ‘niskama karma’ countries across, reveal that the devotees of Sri is one of the easiest ways. It is said that the Lord, Madhava (Sri Jagannatha) face no obstacles. Himself exists in ‘niskama karma’, ‘tasmad They never deviate from their sadhana, as is the sarva gatam brahma nityam jajne pratisthitam’ case with wise persons. Rather with confidence

JUNE - 2017 127 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review they move across the heads of great generals, least the Lord’s advice to Arjuna which is the perennial caring for the turbulent obstacles on their ways. solace during all difficult times; Srimadbhagavatam affirms: tameva saranam gachha sarvabhavena tatha na te madhava tavakah kwacid bhrasyanti margattwayi baddha souhrudah tatprasadat param shantim sthanam twayabhigupta vicaranti nirbhayah prapsyasi saswatam. vinayakanikapamudhasu pravo (Ch.18, verse-62) To conclude it is appropriate to say that Sri prays in his Sharana the Mysterious Controller of the Universe is the Panjara: real friend, true guide and the wisest philosopher. Those who have surrendered before Him through parameswar padmajara vandhu, undisturbed yoga “avikampene yogena” they are paramananda jaya kripasindhu, purged of their past sins, as they partake of the karuna sindhu namo kambudhari, divine splendour which is capable of destroying vinasha kara vipatti mohari.10 all impurities. Besides, the Mysterious Lord References : graciously, being seated in the heart of His 1. Neelamadhava Mahatmya devotees, destroys their ignorance through the vivacious light of wisdom. The Lord has promised 2. Sadhaka Sanjivani P.905 in the Gita : 3. Ibid tesham eva anukampartham aham 4. Sri Ram Charita Manasa, kiskindya kanda 30(B) ajnanajam tamah, 5. Sri Ram Charita Manasa nasayami atmabhabastho jnanadeepena 6. Neelamadhava Mahatmya P.9. bhaswta 7. Neeladri Mahatmya P.29 (Chapter 10, Verse 11). 8. Ramacharita Manasa (7-47-3) In the vast canvas of time it has been 9. Sadhaka Sanjivani, P. 1279 proved that the lotus feet of Lord Sri 10. Mahapurusha Sri , Sharana Neelamadhava (Sri Jagannatha) are the Panjara, P.52 repository of eternal peace. His grace only gives salvation. As Indians we are fortunate that we are born in a land, where Lord Sri Jagannatha is our Leader and the Guide. It is time that each Dr. K.C. Sarangi, Secretary, Odisha Information son of this sacred soil should carefully treasure Commission, Bhubaneswar.

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