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Home , Jagannath, Krishna, Mirabai, Neela Madhava, Radha, Rath Yatra (Nabha)

Orissa Review June - 2004

Sri and Lord

Somanath Khuntia

efore dealing with the system of the "Srulantu Sarbe, Amrutasya Putrah" Bgreat Jagannath Temple of , we must Let all sons and daughters hear they first look into the real definition of the terms are born from immortal source, and that Vaishnava and . According to He will Protect You." Indian epics, there are three , known as In this Vedic sloka, it is stated simply Trishakti, Trideva, or Trio. They are , that it is the duty of , who is the divine the Creator, , the Protector, and , force behind every common man, every blade the Destroyer. These three attributes are of grass, every cosmos in creation, to come indispensable in all matters, even now in and protect His house. In Bhagavat Geeta the science and in the simple construction of a same is told; building. Every thing we think, feel, and hear is subject to these three influences, as told by "Jada Jadahi Dharmasya the ancient rishis in the days of yore. Glanirvabati Bharat Avyuthayan Swadharmasya It is most interesting to note, however, Jadatman Srujamyaham that Avataras, or Divine beings who incarnate Paritranayan Sadhunam." on earth as man from time to time to uplift humanity, are never born. They come to earth "Whenever Problems Overwhelm the World, in a divine way, from Vishnu, the protector to uphold , or Righteousness, Himself. There are no of Brahma or I incarnate from age to age." Shiva. According to Ishabashya Upanishad, the From the world "Vishnu", to maintain, whole creation is filled with Divinity. to protect, the word "Vishnava" is derived, that "Ishabasyamidam Sarba Jat Kichnitya is, one who worships Vishnu, the protector. This worship or spiritual practice is known as dagatya Jagat." "Vaishnavism". That which is created is easy to destroy, In Vaishnavism, we do not give so much but difficult to maintain and protect. For this emphasis to 's , such as : reason, Lord Vishnu Himself comes in the form of a divine man, or , as a father would 1. : Non-violence, having truth, come to protect his children. , forgiveness, purity.

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2. Nityama : Spiritual practice, puja, childhood days, , was the foremost worship, or telling holy names, giving example of this . When Krishna left alms. Brindavan for Dwaraka, He did not return. Four days became four years and more, 3. : such as . although He had promised to return. Radha one 4. Pranayama : breathing exercises. day tells her friends : 5. Pratiyahara : worship through forms, "Krishna is now busy in Dwaraka. He is not known as Sakara, formless worship, known as coming. I will die one day. Please, my dear Nirakara and seeing God in all known as sisters, you can do this one thing for me. At Atmabhava. that time, carry my dead body on the path where 6. Dharana : one-pointedness, or He once walked you throw a cloth over it on forbearance. which is written only Krishna, Krishna, Krishna. Write His name on my breasts. If by 7. Dhyana : chance the sound of a sweet is heard, turn 8. : God realization. my head so that its sweet music will enter my ear. This is my last to you, my dear Here what alone is essential is Bishwasa sisters. Let my dead body also be content that I or Faith, and Anuraga, or Loyalty and Affection have been with Him and let all remember that and most importantly Abhimana or here is a lady who liked Him so much." Unconditional Love. In Vaishnavism complex rituals are not "Bishwasa" means having complete faith at all necessary. The essential thing is only this with no doubt, blind faith even. With such faith Radhabhava. The Love of Radha for Sri in her Lord Krishna, while utterring His name, Krishna and Anurakti. The feeling that Radha the poet-saint drank poison. The was inseparable from God, this Anurakti is the poison turned to nectar. "Anuraga" is the feeling feeling of treating God as a man; no third party of loyalty, even if it is only one sided. The is required. There is just the devotee and God, child meditated in the forest, not to get not a God made of wood or brass. What is any thing. But when he had a of Lord true to us is true to Him also. A true Vishnu, he was given a place in the sky known or is not far away. But right here in the as Dhruva Star. When one gives flowers to God midst of the home. God is with us like a member brings food to God and meditates on Him out of the family. Krishna Himself said in Bhagavat of such deep affection with no thought of results, Geeta. but simply as an offering, this is Anuraga. " Bhaka Gayanti Tatra Tistami "Abhimana" is the highest feeling for a Narad." Vaishnavite. It is that found only between a husband and wife, or a devotee and God. It is "I do not live in Vaikuntha or Dwaraka. love of the deepest kind, as in the union of the But where my devotees sing and remember Me, sun and its ray, a flower and its scent : or sugar I am there." and its witness. So mixed with good feelings A true Vaishnavite is a selfless servant is it that even is not anger, and sadness and surrenders to this presence of Almighty is not sorrow. The main of Krishna's before acting. He does not believe in his own

26 Orissa Review June - 2004 strength or worldly power or wealth. To him, called the "Poorna Avatar." The full Avatar his body and the whole world consist of only having all 16 Kalas, or divine arts or attributes two things. Chetana and Achetana. "Achetana" within Himself. means lack of awareness and refers to the They are as follows : physical transient blood and bones that make up the body. "Chetana" means awareness and 1. Daya - Compassion refers to the invisible and pure supreme 2. Dharjya - Patience purusha, or divine being residing within this 3. Kshama - Forgiveness shell. When a Vaishnavite surrenders, he forgets the misery of "Achetana" and 4. - Justice communicates directly with the invisible God 5. Nirapeksha - Impartiality dwelling inside himself. 6. Niraskata - Detachment , Mohammed, Buddha, 7. Tapasya - Meditation and Adhishankar, Chaitanya, , they all Spiritual Powers had glimpses of Godhood. Their ways and means were different. But their goal was the 8. Aparchitta - Invincibility same. But Sri Krishna came to be the symbol 9. Danasheel - Beneficience, for Vaishnavism because what He said and did Bestower of all no one before or after was able to do in Garge wealth in the world Sanhita, the following sloka tells. and nature. "Purmh Puranah Purusottam 10. Saundarjyamaya - Beauty Incarnate Parataro Purushah Parameswar. " 11. Nrityajna - Best of Dancers I am full, all the epics in one, 12. Sangitajna - Best of Singers yet I to the wish of My Devotee, and come in whatever form he wants. 13. Neetibadi - Embodiment of Honesty If a devotee thinks God to be his inner master, closer than the eyelid to the eye, Krishna 14. Satyabadi - Truth Itself comes as Krishnachandra; as Gopi Krishna : 15. Sarvagnata - Perfect master of all as cowherd boy, Gopala Krishna, as the one arts, such as poetry, who steals all hearts, Chitta Chora; as the most drama, painting etc. attractive in the world, as Krishna Himself. 16 Sarvaniyanta - Controller of All The word "Krishna" means to attract and from the derivative word of Krishna, "Karsayati eti So even though many sages and seers Krishna." His name also means the one who have come, having divine attributes, such as excuses all mistakes. Taking any one name and compassion, Dharma, Sacrifice, which have its substance, a devotee can reach Krishna. In helped the World, none was having the spiritual such a way was He a peculiar and unique power of Sri Krishna. Avatar to the World. In Brahma Sanhita, it is also stated by Many divine souls and Avataras have Saint . "Govindamadi Purushan come to the World, but only Sri Krishna was tamahanvajami"

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"Krishna is the Supreme Being, the full In the last part of Mahabharat, a Avatar, whose name should be taken and mysterious connection is made. Sri Krishna told repeated by devotees. : now that the war is over, hear what I want, I wish to take rest in Seealee Lata, a From Garge Sanhita, it is stated. distant forest of Creepers. I know all. There "Asankhya Brahmandapati, Golakedhanyi while sleeping. I will be killed by a tribal man rajate". of Yuga." That dense forest was the ancient Krishna is Brahmandapati. Lord of all site of Jagannath Puri, as stated in Rig Veda. the universes of which this world is only a "Ato Jutta daru Plabate small part. There are numerous universes not Sindhupara aparuseya." even seen or known. Narada tells that for this "Ato" means here. "Jutta" means that. reason alone all should take shelter in Him. "Daru" means Wood. "Plabate" means floating. In the Oriya version of it is "Sinshupare" means that side of the ocean. told, "Aparuseya" means not man-made. "Brahmanda mala mala hoi, "Some thing will be carved from a log to Lomakupe Jhuluthai." of wood floating on the ocean here (describing the origin of the of Lord Jagannath along "Whole universes are revolving around Me. the beach of Puri) that can not be man made." I am here to care for all." About that dense forest more details are In Narada Pancharatna, it is said. given in the ancient text of Jagannath "Jatha renura Sankhya Sacha, Temple, called Niladri Mahoday in which the Tatha biswani Narada." origin of the temple and the basic outline of the puja system are described. It is stated that "The whole creation is My will-My wish, the great Niladri Temple of Lord Jagannath was All are my children." once on a huge hill surrounded by a dense In the sacred book Kalanidhi, it is said. forest. The inhabitants worshipping Lord Jagannath here were tribal people called "Parama Karana Krushna Govindeti Dayitapatis. Even today a street of the temple Paratarama." community bears their name, Dayitapati Sahi. "From birth to death, if the name of Krishna is Lord Krishna came here and while recited, men will have peace of mind." resting under a tree, the hunter Jarasabara Lastly, in Chaitanya Charitamri ta, it is written. appeared. He thought the two feet of Sri "Brahma Vishnu Hara Krishna to be the ears of a deer, so soft and ai Srustira Ishwara. red in colour they were. When he realized he had killed this Krishna with his bow and arrow, Tineagma Kari Krushnera he tried to burn the body. But it was the body Krushna adhiswar." of Purusha Himself : it could never be "The three , so-called masters of creation, burnt. So he left it at a place by the sea in Puri Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, have but to follow called Banki Muhan. It become a fossil of what Krishna dictates." wood. This marked the beginning of .

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After some thousand years passed, King Krishna with Radha and Madan Mohan, to of Malaba had a dream and in dancing are taken in procession in that dream, he was told to find the log of wood bimanas or palanquins to a reservoir and there in Banki Muhan, carve an image from it floated on boats for 21 days. This celebration as he saw in this dream and install it in the is said to be in rememberance of the loving great Jagannath Temple of Puri. Thus Sri boat journey of Radha and Krishna on the River Krishna became Lord Jagannath for the modern . One of these dancing Krishnas is age and all of His Leelas and pastimes continue worshipped every day inside the main temple today in the Sri Kshetra of Puri, as they once beside Lord Jagannath Himself. Only for Rath did in Brindavan. , the great Car Festival of Puri the According to the Neelamani of Lord Jagannath emerge from the temple. For and Niladri Mahoday, it was this same image all other holy days, it is in His image of Sri of Sri Krishna that was being worshipped by Krishna that he comes out. Bishwabasu, the tribesman who met King During Jhulan Yatra, the Festival of Indradyuman's minister, who had been sent to Swings during the rainy season, the images of find the divine murti. Radha and Krishna are set on a flower- The image was called Neela decorated swing in front of Lord Jagannath. or Neelakanta Bigraha. "Neela" means the The love songs of 's immortal poem, colour of the sky and "Kanta" means beautiful. the Geeta are sung before them for This "Bigraha", or deity was none other than seven days. On smaller Jhulans the same is done Ghanashyam or Sri Krishna Himself. On in many monasteries and ashramas of Puri reaching the tribal man's hut, the minister was during this period. An inscription on the great fed a sumptuous meal, which he called temple reads that only the songs of Krishna as "Mahaprasad" or the food of the gods. written in Geeta Govinda must by tradition be Wonderful rice preparations and exotic fruits sung nightly in the temple. They were sung by were offered to him. The minister wondered Kokila, the last living or temple how such a poor man, who himself ate not a dancer, before Lord Jagannath while the deity grain of rice could afford or even find such was being dressed for bed. Earlier in the food ! The tribal man said it was the prasad, evening, the Bhagavata recording the childhood or of his beloved Lord. All the gods pastimes of Sri Krishna and the is sung and of the world bring with them inside the main temple and in every tiny street the best foods to offer at the feet of the murti. temple of Puri as well. The minister begged Bishwabasu to take him The name of Sri Krishna is not directly to this strange god. But after the minister saw associated with Jagannath, but is the the deity, it vanished. He could only give a same sister Subhadra of Dwapara Yuga and description of it to the King. is called brother Balaram also, the Thus the birthday of Lord Krishna is name of Krishna's elder brother. No epics observed every year in Jagannath Temple, depict such a Trinity : they are names alongwith many holy days connected with His associated only with the glorious life of Sri life. in the spring is a festival Krishna. However, in describing Lord Krishna, in which the images of Jagannath as Gopi Narada gave Him the epithet of "Jagannath"

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"Jagat" means universe and "Natha" means motive, no cause or effect. He is ever Lord. Narada says He is the Lord, the directing mysterious and about whom the only thing that Force behind the Universe. The entire universe can be said is that He exists always. He is proceeds from Him and rests in Him. called Basudeva, as is stated in the . "Sayab bigrahabyare "Basu" is derived from the root "Bas", which Parichhanaha sa Yabhi. means to exist. "Deba" is derived from the root Yakashyabaeikada Chhashya "Dib" to glow. Thus "Basudeba" means the dueirupatwam birajate" (Krishna Sthava) lustre that exists. His lustre is every where and in everything. Everything rests in Him and "He is the total beauty in the manifested proceeds from Him. This is how Basudeva is universe. Without Him, there is no attraction described by those who knew. anywhere." Basudeva also means Lord Krishna, the In Vaishnavism too the Supreme Lord has illustrious son of Basudeva, or Basudeva been described as having two shapes, one with Nandana, in the "Krishna Avatara" as the form and the other formless. He is "Akshaya" mysterious bond between the form and formless imperishable, beyond birth and death and is ever present. "He alone", Narada says is to "Akshaya" the universe itself having 100,000 be known. forms. The universe is His dress, His Vishwarupa. He is the uppermost and the Surjya Sanhita states that those who were nearest. The entire universe is pervaded by Tapi, sages or seers in Sathya Yuga, became Him, as it proceeds again into Him. As is said Kapi monkeys with in Tretya Yuga, and in Brahma Sanhita. Gopi, cowherd companions of Sri Krishna in Dwapara Yuga, and now Sevakas, or "Eksada Bipra worshippers of Lord Jagannath in Kali Yuga. Bahudha Vabanti" At least that is the feeling of persons born into "From one, I have become many." families of worshippers in Jagannath Temple, how blessed they are to again be connected Mind, which is ever fluid like a river with and serve Sri Krishna. Not only do they and whose speed exceeds even that of wind is feel themselves to be Gopis, but the three main ever drawn to Him, held in Him, the one who worshippers of the three deities are bound by attracts all, like an iron is drawn to a pure tradition to wear their hair long. They do puja magnet. His five coloured garland, known as as a lady before the supreme Purusha. Not even Baijayanti Mala, is the garland of the senses. a day went by that the gopies were without All the senses, or Indriyas, the five outer ones Krishna, so for the sevaks not even a single meant for service to man and the five inner day can go by without going to Lord Jagannath ones for God realization are held by Him as in the Temple. They think of Lord Jagannath arrows. The Lord who has no shape assumes for every thing, from birth and naming shape, out of his great Love for the good of ceremonies, to travel, marriage, and death, "He created beings. is life and death to us, without Him what are He is Prema Swarupa, the essence of all we to do". Such was the feeling of the gopies. . He is fully self-contained and free from All worshippers in Jagannath Temple may not destruction of any kind. He knows no birth, no be true seekers, but the feeling is universal

30 Orissa Review June - 2004 among them that "Lord Jagannath gives us On first meeting, or sight He is Abyakta, everything." unknown. Seeing His strange form and manner, There are four types of devotion. First, one may not like it and may be full of doubts. a devotee remembers God in times of trouble. But after some time, Jagannath becomes Byakta This is Artee or danger. When a devotee he known. The devotee or sevak has felt faces a tiger, he calls on God. But when the something, some divine touch, or divine tiger is gone, he forgets. Droupadi called on intervention. He thinks as if he knows Krishna when was in distress in the Jagannath. He feels Him, he slaps his own Court. Krishna heard and gave her a sari of cheeks in front of Jagannath for all his stupid such length no one could disrobe her. mistakes. He closes his own ears to block out other's doubts. However, again after some time, The second type of devotion is Artharthi, it becomes the daily habit to go for darshan of or worldly desires. Like to a loan officer in a Jagannath in the temple and Lord Jagannath bank, one submits an application before God becomes again Abyakta; unknown. and prays for this or that to be given be it wealth, health, fame or a good marriage. Arjuna These feelings of Byakta and Abyakta sought Krishna's help to win the war and regain are the day-to-day experiences of a devotee the lost kingdom. with God, just like the ever changing movements of the ocean and its waves, or the The third type of devotion is Jignasu; a play of light and darkness or the indescribable true seeker. The one who is eager to know of beauty of clouds passing across the sky. Jagannath, divinity, this world and the meaning Worshippers in the temple take Jagannath to of life. Krishna's companion in be their Lord and Master, as a woman takes Dwaraka, was a true seeker and Krishna sent her husband. They sing lines form Adishankar's him to Brindavan to seek realisation from the poem "Kadachit Tata Bipine" as the cars move gopies. down the Grand Road on days. The fourth and final type of devotee is a "Jagannatha Swami Jnani, one who knows God; who has some Nayana Pathagami Bhava Tume." direct experience of Him. Sankaracharjya was such one and so were Radha and all the gopies. Oh Lord Jagannath ! When Uddhava asked them about Krishna, May our eyes ever follow simply cried and Radha and the other In Your footsteps. gopies were silent and could not utter a word. This sort of Gopi-Bhav develops from Finally Radha said : childhood as the father teaches his son how to "He has not gone from us. He is Kalia Kamala, do his hereditary in the temple. It is the black lotus : He is the dark rain cloud. How strange how in the modern world sevaks can He leave us ? He is the very Life Force in maintain their families. Some have outside us : He is never apart from us." careers, but for their temple service they receive no salary. They rely solely on Jagannath Just as Sri Krishna was to the gopis in Himself to maintain them. If food offered to Dwapara Yuga, Lord Jagannath is now to Jagannath called Mahaprasad from its earliest sevaks and devotees alike in Jagannath Puri. origins, is not arranged, no marriage ceremony

31 Orissa Review June - 2004 in the temple community can be performed. This of Puri. If a worshipper or devotee of His had holy food of Lord Jagannath must be distributed one hundred percent faith, He will even or no rites are sanctified. manifest Himself in an ordinary piece of stone, This is the attachment which Radha had where no puja has ever been done. His with Sri Krishna. As Radha had only Krishna presence is felt to be all pervading, in to see, touch, and talk to daily, so the everthing, and so all things are to be worshippers of the temple have only Jagannath worshipped as His form. in their lives. In previous generations fathers When a worshipper of Jagannath Temple knew only two places, the home and the temple. is about to die, he has two last wishes. One is So during Car Festival days, when Jagannath to taste mahaprasad, the holy food offered to left the main temple for nine days, the Lord Jagannath, in his last hour. The second is worshippers also left their houses for the same to hear at that same time Bhagabata where period and slept on the road beside the huge Radha's love for Krishna is described. Thus cars and ate only prasad of fruits thrown to in his last moments, the form and the formless Jagannath. This is again the feeling of Radha, merge into one. Banamali, a famous Vaishnavite as she left her house, her husband everything poet of Orissa, expresses it in this way. when she heard the call of Krishna's flute. If "Jagannath Yashodanandana there are sorrows and difficulties, it is His Shreemati Chitta Chatak nutan Jaladhar wish. If it is His wish we will also be saved. Laban Jaladhitat The word Radha, or Radhika is Niladree nama Prakat." composed of "Ra + adhika" "Ra" means beauty, "Oh Jagannath,Mother Yashoda's dear foster strength, deep meditation and devotion. son, Your Radha is like the Chataka bird, "Adhika" means more. So "Radha" means the Drinking only the pure rain drops most beauty, the most spiritual power, the most you shower as Your Grace." communion with God, as well as deep devotion. The gopis and Radha herself had As stated at the beginning of this chapter, been great sages in the past, who desired to rituals are not at all necessary for a Vaishnavite. get Krishna as God. The worshippers of If heart and mind are pure and one-pointed Jagannath Temple think themselves to be towards God, spontaneous devotion will flow. Radha. For them, not this or "nasti nasti" which However to help arouse such sublime feelings, is the attitude of Netibada or nihilism is not rituals are performed. To purify the mind, the present. Such persons tell that God is not small, body and the place, rituals are done daily in not great, not tall, not white, or black, not all temples and churches. In giving a garland having any shape at all or any symbol. All this to God, the heart becomes filled with joy and is felt to be not true. Rather Lord Jagannath is the disturbed mind becomes redirected. felt to be all this in the half formed black murti The rituals of the great Jagannath Temple of Jagannath. God is felt to be very much alive of Puri may appear complex and obscure at and aware. With His huge round eyes, called first glance, as in comparison with even those Chakadola, He sees everything. With His of the Catholic Church. Because of the long handless arms He embraces all. This same God history associated with the temple, tinges of Jagannath is also ever present in every house Tantric Mother worship of and

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Saivism can be found in addition to pure duty given to him by hereditary tradition. The Vaishnavism. It is said in Manu Sanhita. man who carries flowers to Jagannath offered "Jatha Dehi by devotees can not decorate him with them. Tatha Debe." This is the sole seva of another family of worshippers. Why is this discipline imposed ? "What is true to man Perhaps the words of the great Vaishnavite saint is true to God also." Sri Chitanya Mahaprabhu best express it. Unlike the temples devoted to the Mother, "Only when man feels himself to be where there is blood and animal sacrifice, and lower than a blade of grass complicated to be followed exactly, or can he see the glory of God." Shiva temples, which are dark places of austere meditation, Vishnu temples, such as the great On Rath Yatra day, thousands of Sevaks Jagannath Temple of Puri, are felt to be the must help to bring the deity of Lord Jagannath Lord's own earthly home. The powerful hand out of the temple to the awaiting cars, each gestures performed during puja and the Sanskrit one doing his allotted seva only. One has the slokas recited must be memorized and vision of a great black elephant being moved understood, but their meaning is simple. They by thousands of tiny ants. By discipline and simply invite the Lord to come to sit close and ritual, , the feeling of ego, is slowly take the food offered, and then to bless all eliminated. No one alone can carry Lord present. They act simply as a powerful medium Jagannath, but only by all working together. The to draw God to us, to humanise Him. So we way of life in the temple must be like that of a can feel Him, feel His divine Energy, talk with very large family. Then it becomes a Him and serve Him. Our minds, like the raw powerhouse of love and peace and it blesses iron drawn to the pure magnet, are transformed the whole world. Such is the grace of Lord by this association with Him. Jagannath for all in the modern World. Whether one lives in Jagannath Puri itself, or in some Secondly,even in daily life we have our far off region of the globe. If one lives under little personal rituals to perform for ourslaves, His influence, there is peace in one's home. such as washing, dressing, putting scent and And as is stated in Surjya Sanhita. make up. But we never think of these as rituals. So too worshippers in Jagannath Temple give "Basudeba Kutumbakam." the deities daily bath, change their cloth, brush "Where there is peace in the home their teeth, feed them and put them to bed at there is peace in the World." night. They never think these to be imposed rites, but the natural things to do for a loved one. However, discipline in the puja must be strictly followed. Each family of worshippers Somanath Khuntia lives at Manikarnika Sahi, Hazuri has the right to serve, but only to do the one Lane, Puri 752001.

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