Contributions of Panchasakha Literature to the Socio-Cultural Life of Odisha Dr

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Contributions of Panchasakha Literature to the Socio-Cultural Life of Odisha Dr The Journey of Indian Languages: Perpectives on Culture and Society ISBN : 978-81-938282-5-0 Contributions of Panchasakha Literature to the Socio-Cultural Life of Odisha Dr. Rashmi Prava Panda Former Assistant Professor of History Currently Visiting Professor of History Calorx Teachers‟ University, Ahmedabad When there was an all-India phenomenon of Bhakti movement and Indian literature was fully saturated with the writings of mighty saints in all over India, Odisha shared this common platform and trends through a band of five fellow saint poets, generally known as Panchasakha. They were Balarama Dasa, Jagannath Dasa, Achyutananda Dasa, Ananta Dasa, and Jashovanta Dasa. They were all contemporaries of Sri Chaitanya. It is a common belief in Odisha that the epithet Panchasakha was used by Sri Chaitanya to refer to these saint poets. Their writings, enriched with philosophical ideas, religious themes, mythological episodes and socio-religious reforms, are famous as Panchasakha literatutre in the history of Odia literature and culture. Following the footstep of Adikavi (primordial or first poet) Sarala Dasa (who wrote Mahabharata in Odia language), Panchasakha wrote many sacred Hindu religious literature in vernacular language(odia) and made them available to the common people . They reflected in their writings that complex thoughts and abstract feelings of Hindu philosophy could not only be expressed in Sanskrit language but also in common people‘s language. Their literary works are very valuable in bringing the socio-religious reforms in Medieval Odisha as most of these writings protested against Brahminical supremacy, superstitious practices in Hinduism, rigid caste system and externality in spiritual life, etc. Their writings like ‗Odia Ramayana‘, ‗Lakshmi Purana‘ of Balaram Dasa, ‗Odia Bhagabata‘of Jagannath Dasa, ‗Harivamsa‘ and ‗Sunya Samhita‘ of Achyutananda Dasa, ‗Gita Govindachandra‘ of Jashobanta Dasa provided so much life learning lessons to the common people that in each odia village, Bhagabata Ghara (place for preservation of ‗Odia Bhagabata‘ and other religious scriptures ) was established and these books were worshipped and recited every evening. Not only village but also every family of Odisha felt proud to keep these books in their houses, and read and recite them on important events and occasions. The language used by Panchasakha has gone so deep to the people of Odisha that even after centuries, people take a fancy to get by heart several lines from them and use them in their conversation as models of expression. The literacy rate of Odisha during that time was gradually increased for people‘s zeal to read ‗Odia Bhagabata‘ and other books. In spite of modernization of society, Panchasakha literature is still popular and inspiring the life of the people of Odisha. Nowadays Odia T. V. Channels are telecasting some of their works through different programmes like dance, drama, song, serials etc. in order to reach them to the common people. The present paper makes an attempt to highlight the reflection of socio- religious reformatory ideas in Panchasakha literature and its influence on the life of the people through an analytical and explanatory approach of study. The paper also tries to focus on the contributions of their works in shaping and enriching the society and culture of Odisha. KeyWords: Panchasakha, Bhakti movement, Panchasakha literature, Socio-religious reforms, philosophical ideas, Vernacular language, culture The literature of Odisha has consistently played a significant role as a champion of reforming and enriching the Odia society and culture. It has produced famous Sanskrit works like ‗Gita Govindam‘, ‗Sahitya Darpana‘, ‗Ekavali‘, ‗Saraswati Vilasa‘, ‗Kapila Samhita‘ and the like. From the 15th century Odia language was developed with its independent literary identity as Volume:2| www.baou.edu.in Page 303 The Journey of Indian Languages: Perpectives on Culture and Society ISBN : 978-81-938282-5-0 derived from ‗Odri‘(Magadhi) apabhramsa.[1] Poet Sarala Dasa pioneered Odia language and literature by translating Mahabharata into Odia language. Odia literature was then consolidated and flourished by five fellow saint poets of Odisha, famous as Panchasakha of Sri Chaitanya‘s times. They dominated the realm of Odia literature for about quite a century, from 1450 to about 1550 AD. The period dominated by Panchasakha is famous as Panchasakha age in Odia literature. Although the dates of their activity span was one hundred years, they are collectively known as ―Panchasakha”, since they adhered to the same school of thought, Utkaliya Vaishnavism. Sri Chaitanya has referred to these five friends as Panchasakha and stated that they are like Pancha Atma, i.e. five souls .[2] They were not only Vaishnava saints but also poets, philosophers and reformers. The literary works of Panchasakha have been a dearest possession of every family in Odisha and powerful influence on the society, culture, belief system and values through the centuries.Their religious ideas and philosophy enriched the Utkaliya Vaishanavism.The Panchasakha literature had also exherted profound influence on poets, philosophers, and men of literature in later period of time. Even when society has been changing under modernizing forces, the importance and influence of their writings on the life of the people of Odisha is still noticed. Panchasakha contributed a vast body of religious literature to Odia language and literature. Most important writings of Panchasakha are ‗Jagamohana Ramayana‘, ‗Vedantasara Gupta Gita‘, ‗Brahmanda Bhugola‘, ‗Bhaba Samudra‘, ‗Gupta Gita of Balarama Dasa ; ‗Odia Bhagabata‘(translation of Srimad Bhagbat Gita), ‗Tula Bhina‘, Gaja Stuti‘, Mruguni Stuti‘ of Jagannath Dasa;‗Harivamsa‘, ‗Sunya Samhita‘, ‗Gopala Ogala‘, and ‗Gurubhakti Gita‘ of Achyutananda Dasa; ‗Govinda Chandra Gita‘, Sivasvaradaya‘, ‗Premabhakti Brahma Gita‘ of Jashobanta Dasa and ‗Hetu Udya Bhagabata‘, Bhajanas of Ananta Dasa . Most of the Panchasakhas had also written a number of Bhajanas (prayer songs) and Mallikas (speculations and predctions about the happenings of the future). The present work analyzes few of their writings to get a vivid picture of their contributions to the society, culture, religion and philosophy and literature of Odisha. Panchasakhas were great socio-religious reformers. Through their writings , they wanted to abolish all barriers of caste, creed and other man-made discriminations. They openly challenged the Brahminical supremacy in society and advocated for common man‘s access to Shastra(Holy scriptures) and Sadhana(Spiritual practice).They looked forward to an open society based on new values of equality, human dignity and equal rights to attain self- realisation. It is known from the writings of Balaram Dasa and Achyutananda Dasa who rejected the Chaturvanya (four divisions of caste system) , given in Purusasukta of ‗Rig Veda‘. Balarama Dasa has described Chaturvanya in an unconventional manner in his book, ‗Gupta Gita‘. [3] ―The Vaisyas are the eyes of God, the Kashtriyas are His ears; the Brahmains are the air of His breath; the Sudras are his mouths. Thus four varnas emanated from the divine light‖. In his ‗ Shri Gurubhakti Gita‘, Achyutananda described that for taking initiation from a guru, one has to invite four persons from four varnas and treat them equally.[4] This equal treatment of four varnas was particularly directed against Brahminical supremacy. Volume:2| www.baou.edu.in Page 304 The Journey of Indian Languages: Perpectives on Culture and Society ISBN : 978-81-938282-5-0 In `Jagamohana Ramayana‘, Balarama Dasa did not find any distinction between a Brahmin and a Chandal (low caste), and to him all were human beings of the same blood and flesh. To prove this, he has described about the close friendship between Purushottam Rama and Guhaka, a tribal chief of the forest. Both of them were so close that Rama delivered the message of killing Ravana first to Guhaka. Secondly, the poet also described about how Lord Rama was happily eating the berries already tasted by a Sabari (hunter woman) while he was in exile in the forest. [5] Balarama Dasa protested against caste system and untouchability in his book, ―Lakshmi Purana‖. This book is about the Thursday puja of Goddess Lakshmi or Sriya Chandaluni story in which once Goddess Lakshmi of the Jagannath; temple at Puri, is punished by Lord Balarama and Lord Jagannath; for going to the house of Sriya, a scavenger woman, who worshipped her with all devotion on a Thursday. For entering into the house of an untouchable, the Lords, particularly Lord Balarama, is terribly angry and being an obedient brother, Lord Jagannath finally compels to banish his spouse, Goddess Lakshmi from the precincts of the sacred temple. After Goddess Lakshmi leaves the temple, the miseries of the two divine brothers begin. Being suffered by poverty and hunger for 12 years, they at last came to the door of Goddess Lakshmi who served them with sumptuous dishes. Then Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Lakshmi reconciled and returned to the Great Temple. Thereafter Goddess Lakshmi was permitted to visit the houses of her devotees freely irrespective of caste and creed. Lord Jagannath and Balabhadra also accepted the wish of Goddess Lakshmi that people of all denominations, from Chandal to Brahmin, would take Mahaprasad (food offerings to Lord Jagannath) together in the premises of the Jagannath temple. This practice is still continuing in the temple precincts of Jagannath temple at Puri . [6]
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