Odisha Review June - 2012

Angada Singh and Sri Jagannath

Durga Madhab Dash

Sri Jagannath is the all-merciful Lord. He is the as the Sacred Divine Spirit related to all religions ocean of profound divine love and fathomless and all sects of the world. He is a multifaceted compassion. One cannot guess when He crowns divine expression on earth. His devotees with mercy fulfilling their desires. The offerings to the Lord are known as Sri Jagannath is said to be the enigmatic Lord of Mahaprasad. It is a unique divine practice. This the Universe. Scriptures say that He represents system is not prevalent in the other three pilgrim all religions. He is adored in myriad ways centres namely Badrinath, Rameswaram and representing the various forms Dwarika. It is believed in this connection that of gods in Hindu religion. Mother Laxmi, the consort of Sri Narayan The devotees of Sri Ram prepares all the food in the Grand Temple. say that He is Sri Ram The Supakaras-the Cooks-are only the incarnate on earth. mediums of this divine performance. It is Vaishnavites say that He further believed that Ma Bimala, the is worshipped in the chief goddess of the Temple, wooden form as the supervises all the food offerings. incarnation of Lord The food offerings, after their Krishna. Buddhists oblation, are known as describe Him as the Mahaprasad. Buddha, the enlightened Divine There is a Form and the epitome beautiful story in this of wisdom. Jains regard. This would show portray Him as Lord that one Angada Singh, a Mahavir. And so on. very powerful general of The Lord’s the kingdom of Sainyagarh, became abode at Puri is known inclined to embrace as Purusottam Kshetra. It is one of the four pilgrim centres as per the Jagannath Dharma as his own religion attracted spiritual diction of Hindu Mythology. His temple by the divine miracles of Lord Jagannath, so much is known as the Grand Temple which is a so that over the period of time, he became a mysterious shrine. Sri Jagannath is thus venerated Servitor of the Lord. The story runs as follows.

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In the good old days, there was a most is the life-style of Dasyu Ratnakar. The kingdom in the north of India known as Dasyu was a killer of human beings. He eked out Sainyagarh. It was a powerful kingdom for its the livelihood of his family by robbing others in general, Angada Singh by name. One Din Salaha the deep forest. For that, he even did not mind Singh was the king of the said kingdom. He ruled taking the life of any human being who came on his subjects with the advice of his general. All the his way. One day wisdom dawned upon Ratnakar neighbouring rulers of his time were morally afraid with the mediation of Rishi Narad. He became a of Angada Singh when they heard his name. virtuous person by repeating the name of Sri Ram. Because of Angada Singh, others dared not Later, he was known to the world as Rishi Valmiki. attack Sainyagarh at any point of time. The king He became the author of the Ramayan, a very therefore loved Angada Singh as his own son. popular scripture of the Hindus. Angada Singh Angada Singh was highly materialistic in too had a similar influence in his life. He had the his general behaviour. Puffed with the love and meditation of his beloved consort. affection of the king, Angada Singh spent his time One day Angada Singh was out on some in worthless merriments. He was habituated to work as per the orders of his king. In accordance drinking and hunting. He considered himself very with the schedule of his programme, he was to great in his outward dispensation and viewed return his home after four to five days. Angada God’s great universe as a small earthen pot at his took leave of his wife and set out for his disposal. So the subjects of the kingdom destination. Angada’s wife was naturally alone in pretended to respect him out of fear. They had the big palace. She therefore thought that in the no love for him from the core of their heart. absence of her husband, she would arrange some Nobody ever knew that a person like him would spiritual programme at her residence to spend her have the blessings of Lord Jagannath over the time. Thus she invited her Gurudev and organized period of time. Angada’s life was therefore a great a Satsang for three days. She invited her spiritual mystery. neighbours to the spiritual programme. The As time passed by, Angada Singh married Stasang was organized in pomp and ceremony. a simple and virtuous woman of his kingdom. On the occasion of the auspicious celebration, Angada’s wife was gracious in many ways. She she fed the poor and the destitute of the capital. was a devotee of Lord Jagannath. She loved the In the evening hours, the Guru delivered spiritual poor and the destitute. She patronized an discourses. However, one day after, Angada Singh orphanage. Everyday, Angada’s wife performed returned home by restricting his programme. At some spiritual ritual or the other. Angada followed that time, the Guru was delivering a spiritual his wife’s instructions in all spheres of his life. Both discourse. The return of Angada Singh contrary lived happily. Although Angada Singh was to his programme was a surprise to his wife. When materialistic by nature, he was never averse to Angada Singh entered the palace, he saw a big his wife’s mode of living. Angada’s wife had a spiritual gathering. He became wild seeing the strong belief that no man is born bad, sinful or presence of so many common people at his immoral in life. Actually, the outward surroundings residence. Everything around pricked his ego. In mould his character. We have many instances in a huff, he proceeded straight to his room and our scriptures that subscribe to this spiritual truth. scolded the servants indirectly aiming at his wife. One such example which strikes one’s attention The Guru came to know Angada’s reaction. In

73 Odisha Review June - 2012 haste, he concluded the spiritual programme and bounds. She felt as if she had achieved everything left for his Ashram. Following him, all others in her life. Gradually, all austerities started in the dispersed to their respective places. The turn of life of Angada Singh. Nonetheless, he performed the event shocked Angada’s wife very much. She his duties as a very good general of the state. He was complacent about her husband’s change in performed Rajakarma like Arjuna with a spirit of the usual behaviour. She had a feeling that her total surrender at the lotus feet of the Lord. He husband had become spiritual-minded over the listened to scriptures from his Gurudev with rapt period of time. But it was not so. Angada’s wife attention. He embraced Lord Jagannath as his could not withstand her Guru’s sudden departure tutelary deity. He repeated the Mantras of Lord from her place. Soon she swooned at the place Jagannath everyday as initiated by his Gurudev. where she was standing. Angada Singh got the information, ran to his wife and sprinkled water One day king Din Salaha Singh informed on her face. After some time, his wife regained Angada Singh that the emperor of Delhi was consciousness and looked at the disturbed face making preparations to attack their kingdom for of her husband who was full of remorse. reasons best known to him. He told Angada Singh to remain in readiness to fight a battle with the Angada Singh expressed his repentance emperor’s army when necessary or else the for his unsavory behavior and apologized to his sovereignty of the kingdom would be at great wife for the disastrous happening. Controlling her stake. Angada Singh by then had made a tears, his wife said,” My dear! You have programme to go on a pilgrimage to Puri with his committed a great sin today. You disrespected wife. With the information of the king, he cancelled Gurudev Maharaj and hurt his feelings. Guru is God. He is the living God of his disciple. By his programme and remained alert in the capital displeasing your Gurudev today, you have of his kingdom. Angada Singh assured his king displeased your living God. For attainment of your that victory would be on their side if there was a sin, you should now go to his Ashram and battle with the emperor of Delhi. Angada Singh apologize for your misdeed. And at the same time, had utmost confidence in himself this time. He was you should take a vow that you would not be fortified with the spiritual strength of the Lord. succumbed to this sort of behaviour in future. He had the blessings of Lord Jagannath in all his Angada Singh did all that his wife advised him to plans and preparations. do. The emperor of Delhi, as per his Man is the slave of time. He is the victim programme, waged the battle against the kingdom of circumstance. Over the period of time, an of the Sainyagarh. The Subedar of the emperor emperor may become a beggar or a beggar an was leading the emperor’s army that was steady emperor. There are many examples in scriptures in the mission. However a miracle happened while which subscribe to this truth. Angada Singh who the emperor’s army was marching towards was an angry man of his time turned out to be a Sainyagarh. The Subedar received a message saintly person as time passed by. A big change from the emperor that he was soon to divert a came over his life due to the tiring efforts of his portion of the army to Delhi for some other reason wife. A ferocious animal in Angada Singh actually not known to the Subedar. The Subedar was to became devoted to god under the advice of his reluctantly carry out the orders of the emperor. Gurudev. At this, the joy of his wife knew no Despite a good portion of the emperor’s army

74 June - 2012 Odisha Review thus withdrawn to Delhi, the Subedar had still Din Salaha Singh had no wisdom to strong confidence in his people. The battle was understand the heart of Angada Singh. He had fought on the outskirts of the territory of Din Salaha no devotion to the Lord. He was not happy to Singh. Angada Singh however won the battle. The mark the note of obstinacy in the behaviour of his emperor’s army was crushed to its last soldier. general. He knew very well that by showing his The Subedar was beheaded. At last the crown of red eyes, he was not in a position to control his the Subedar rolled on the ground. Angada Singh, general. Angada Singh was extraordinarily found to his surprise that the Subedar’s crown powerful. So he decided to gently to cut his throat was an expensive royal insignia. It was studded through dubious ways in a well-hatched with rare gems with a very nice piece of diamond conspiracy. at the centre of the crown. Angada Singh was After some days, Din Salaha Singh called attracted to the diamond of the crown. He took it Angada’s sister to his palace and said to her, out from the crown with the help of a sharp “Look, oh you! I make it clear at the outset that weapon and wished to present it to Lord your brother has at last come out a traitor. I want Jagannath. you to take his life away by giving him poison in his food which you are serving him every day. In Next he appeared before Din Salaha lieu thereof, I shall give you plenty of wealth. If Singh and formally conveyed the news about his you refuse to carry out my order, I shall behead victory in the battle. Thereafter, he presented the you right now and here.” crown of the Subedar to Din Salaha Singh as a token of his rare achievement in the battle. He Hearing the impious words of the king, also informed the king that from thence onwards, Angada’s sister was flabbergasted for a while. he would retire from the royal assignment and live Out of fear, she had to agree to what the king had in Puri as a servitor of the Lord. Hearing the news said at that moment as she had no other way to about Angada Singh’s decision to retire from the save her life. However, she was terribly upset in royal army, Din Salaha Singh was very much her mind. disturbed in his mind. By then, he had got Angada Singh always liked the food information from the royal spies that Angada Singh prepared by her sister. That night too, he sat down had taken out from the crown of the Subedar the as usual to take his dinner. As per the daily costly piece of the diamond. He incidentally asked practice, he first offered his food to Lord his general, “Angada! I hear, you have taken out Jagannath. Next when he was about to raise his the expensive diamond from Subedar’s crown. hand to his mouth, his sister shrieked at the pitch You have no right over it. Please return the of her voice and blurted out how she had mixed diamond to the Royal Exchequer.” poison in his food at the instance of the king. Angada visualized the entire scenario. He did not Angada couldn’t believe his ears. He was say anything to his sister. He knew very well that surprised at the unkind words of Din Salaha Singh. she was innocent in her behaviour. He simply said Immensely hurt, he said to the king “Revered Sir, to her sister, “My dear, everything that has yes, I have taken out the diamond but it is not to happened is the cosmic game of my Lord. He my personal benefit. I wish to offer it to Lord watches me right here whether I am taking the Jagannath who, you know very well, is the food myself which is already offered to Him.Hey presiding deity of my heart. The Lord has actually Prabhu, since you have received the Prasad in brought victory to our side.” my oblation, I shall take the same whatever be

75 Odisha Review June - 2012 the after-consequence in this regard.” And so the pond. Helpless they returned to the kingdom saying, he started taking the food offered by her and narrated to the king the details of the entire sister. His wife and his sister were observing his happening. Din Salaha Singh at last kept quiet. actions. Angada told his wife, “My dear, are you That day, in dream, Lord Jagannath really worried? You should not, because I am appeared and said to Angada Singh,”Angada, taking the Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath. This you had thrown the diamond into the pond; is not is not like any other ordinary food. This is the it ? However I have received the same and the ambrosia of heaven.” diamond is now set in the middle of the locket of Angada Singh did not have in him the the necklace I am wearing. You come to the effect of the poison. Rather after consuming the temple and see it for yourself.” The dream broke food, he had a mark of spiritual resplendence on the slumber of Angada Singh. He got up his face. The cosmic game of the Lord is beyond overwhelmed in divine ecstasy. In the next everybody’s comprehension. One has to have morning, he resumed his journey to Puri. indomitable faith in him to understand the After some days, Angada Singh reached implications of his divine sports. At last, Angada Puri. He went inside the temple and standing Singh made up his mind to renounce the material behind Garuda pillar, he had the Darshan of the world and settle down at Puri. Next morning, he deities seated on the divine throne. He saw the set out in his journey. He carried the diamond in diamond nicely fixed in the middle of the locket his possession to offer it to Lord. Din Salaha Singh of the necklace which the Lord was wearing. He came to know of this from his spy. Without the felt as if Prabhu was smiling at him extending his knowledge of anybody, he ordered his trusted powerful hands to receive him on his lap. soldiers to kill Angada Singh on the way and snatch the diamond from his possession. From that day onwards, Angada Singh lived in Puri. He spent his time singing the Bhajans Angada Singh was on his way to Puri. of the Lord and repeating His Name. The glory Two days’ after the soldiers rode on their horses of Angada Singh began to spread far and wide in and caught Angada Singh in the deep forest while the country. Din Salaha Singh got information he was sitting in meditation. The soldiers shook about the spiritual achievements of Angada Singh. him from meditation and demanded the diamond One day he came to Puri and took him to at the points of their swords. Angada was at first Sainyagarh where he lived for the rest of his life. baffled. He had no sword to fight with the soldiers. The king became his disciple. He prayed to God saying,”Hey Prabhu ! You are the Lord of the helpless. I am in a helpless situation The cosmic sports of the Lord are beyond now. I have mentally offered the diamond to you. our comprehension. The Lord is indescribable in How can I now hand over it to Din Salaha Singh ? words. His Lilas are miraculous and one cannot You are the omnipresent Lord. You are present ascribe any reasoning to them. One should be here at the moment. Take this diamond which His blind follower to attain Moksha in life. I am throwing into the nearby pond.” So saying, he threw the diamond into the pond near which he was sitting. The soldiers were surprised at the behaviour of Angada Singh. They never thought Durga Madhab Dash, House No.138, Ananta Vihar, that Angada Singh would throw the diamond in Phase-II, Pokhariput, Bhubaneswar.

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