Evolution and Growth of Nabakalebara : a Historical Analysis

ApƗnipƗdo Javano grahƯWƗ devouts. The abstruse philosophy ingrained in the PaĞyatyacaksuhsaĞrnotyakarƼah Jagannath Cult explains about oneness of the Sa Vetti Vedyam na ca tasyƗsti vetta Trinity, i.e Krishna, Balaram and sister Subhadra. TamƗhuragryam Purusham MahƗntam 1 Ɩdikabi SƗralƗ Dasa’s Odia Mahabharat (Swetaswetara Upanishad) elaborately explains this theory in the following words: “Without hands the Supreme Brahma receives; He walks fast without foot; He faces no “RƗmkrushna SubhadrƗ je, E tini PratimƗ difficulties to see without eyes; He hears ĝUƯ Purushottame vije, Hali Hara BrahmƗ” everything without ears ;He knows all Vedas; But (Mushali Parva, MahƗbhƗrat) how many of us know Him? His mystery is not In an answer to curiosity and interest of known to others. He is the soul and life breath of the innumerable people arises over “why Lord Odia people. Lord Jagannath who is carved in Jagannath is worshipped in a wooden and wooden iconic form as ‘apƗƼipƗdo’. He is 'Ɨru incompleted form?,” it must be explained critically Brahma for lay people and µĝunya NirguƼa (a with clarifying note about the origin and growth great void without attributes)’for intellectual Evolution and Growth of Nabakalebara : A Historical Analysis Dr. Binodini Das of the Jagannath Cult. The present Odisha develops on the assimilation of different territorial units whose existence and extension varied from time to time from ancient times till the formation of a separate province of Odisha in modern times. Once upon a time Odisha was called “SabarasthƗna” because of its predominant inhabiting tribes called ĝabar, Munda, Kandha and Ganda etc. These Tribes spoke a common language called MuƼGƗri which is believed to be the principal root of OdLƗ and Purva MƗgadhi.2 A common cultural trait especially in matters of societal behavior and religious belief was noticed among the MuƼGƗri speaking people in spite of their divisions into different tribes.3 They were 40 Odisha Review # July - 2015 found to follow a common technique while the Brahmins.5 H. Kanungo opines that it might constructing their prime deities. It is well known be a myth of the then time, but in true sense, it is that the tribes of Odisha, even in the present day the background for the origin of Lord Jagannath.6 are the tree worshippers which prevail from time In course of time, the tree worship was immemorial. These tribes in ancient times led a replaced with wood-log(dƗru) worship as the life of hunting and gathering, wandering from place tribes very often changed their settlement in search to place in search of their food and shelter. of food. They started to cut down the trees The selection of a place for settlement was following the same principles and rituals while done through the recommendation of their selecting the trees for worship. They started to respective priest who also identified the trees to worship the wooden pillars placing it inside or be worshipped. There is a deep resemblance in outside of their houses. As these wooden pillars the selection process of the GƗru( timber-wood) were destroyed after some period, they replaced from Neem trees during Nabakalebara of Lord it with new ones following certain specific rituals Jagannath with that of the selection of the tribes and principles which appear to be almost identical for their worship. Further it is elaborated that those with that of the process of selecting the timber– tribes selected a tree with specific signs for which wood till the making of the idols of Lord Jagannath they sought the blessings of their God and priest.4 during Nabakalebara. So it is to be admitted that Regarding the tribal origin of Lord the Nabakalebara rituals of Lord Jagannath have Jagannath, a legendary account is also derived developed upon the tribal rituals of replacing the by Pundit Sadashiv Rathasharma who took an wooden pillars. Further it is argued that the interview with a Sabara Aduni JƗni, a priest of principles and rituals which are followed to place Birijai temple of Niladriprasad of Banpur PS in the Brahma secretly inside the new idols of ĝUƯ the district of Puri who showed him a treatise of Jagannath Trinity is also derived from the tribal five leaves written in the DarpaƼi script and said background. To enliven the wooden pillar with that “When the whole world was submerged life, the tribes secretly placed five metals (gold, under water during the great deluge, only silver, iron, copper and zinc) underneath the MahƗprabhu and BirijƗi ThƗkurƗƼƯ were spared. wooden pillar before installation uttering the Goddess BirƯMƗi gave birth to five sons being esoteric hymns. Besides, the tribes inserted a gold satisfied with the worship of JƗni (the priest of pin in the middle of the wooden pillar as a symbol the Ğabar tribe). These five sons called ĝabara, of heart. This timber-wood (GƗru) worship which GhaurƗ, SantƗl, KirƗto and JƗni sat in meditation prevails among the MundƗri speaking tribes, for twelve years sitting inside water, rain and fire gradually became the prime cult of Odia speaking to appease MahƗprabhu. Satisfied with their people representing both the tribes and the non prayers, MahƗprabhu appeared in one of the tree tribes into a socio-political coherent bond. In the of Nimba forest. JƗni started to worship them. process of Aryanisation the tribes left their hunting- MahƗprabhu also left his body during the death gathering economy and settled down in villages of JƗni. He further reappeared in the Nimba tree adopting agrarian economy as their principal when clothes and sacrifices were offered to Him. source of income but practicing timber-wood This became possible due to the kindness of worship as their cultural faith. During the rule of BirijƗi. Both the MahƗprabhu and JƗnis gave birth different dynasties from 4th century onwards in to each other. Gradually JƗnis did the functions of Odisha, gradually a practice developed upon July - 2015 # Odisha Review 41 assimilating and incorporating tribal cultural faith scientific justification is given in the treatise into the mainstream of national-cult with some ‘PratimƗ LakshaƼa SaudhƗgama’ that the additions and deletions. So, the tribes extended images could be carved out from the trees like their cordial support to the rule of different Asvatha, ĝƗl, PiƗVƗl, MuƼdimuƼdi, SimsapƗ, dynasties. Kendu, Khaira, DevadƗru, GambhƗri, Neema An analysis of the treatise on idol making etc. But the Neem is the best among others (0ǌrti ĝƗstra) reflects that the longevity of the (Nimba PradhƗnameteshƗm pratimƗ idols made from different materials is also different. vinirmitau). The old neem tree possesses a The longevity of the idols made from gems, metals, quality of a Sandal wood. Usually, this type of wood, portraits and clay is ten thousand years, neem tree is not worm- stricken due to its one thousand years, twelve years, one year and bitterness. It is also used as a medicinal tree. In one month respectively. Accordingly the longevity ƖJƗma ĝƗstra, it is stated that the neem tree is of ĝUƯ Jagannath’s idol is twelve years as it is made of three types according to their characters, i.e, from the timber-wood (GƗru) and this change of male, female and other. The tree which possesses iconic form is called as Nabakalebara.7 a strong potential male character is fit for Vishnu idol. ‘VƗmadeva SamhitƗ’ mentions that Neem A question may arise that why did tree is the best for carving of the idols. Bhabhisya MahƗUƗja Indradyumna who constructed such a Purana mentions that: gigantic temple for ĝUƯ Jagannath opt for wood- timber for making Idols ? In an answer to this ‘NimbƗdyƗh Sarva VarnaƼƗm question, P.Mishra asserts that though the worship VrikshƗh sƗdhƗraƼa Smrtah’ of timber-wood (GƗru) idol is influenced by “The Neem tree is worshipped by all ĝƗbarƯ (tribal) culture, but its worship is more VarƼas." As Sri Jagannath is the Lord of whole fruitful than the worship of other metals.8 It is Universe, destroyer of all sins and worshipped reflected in Varaha Mihira’s Vrihat SamhitƗ that by all, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, the worship of timber-wood and clay idols so His idols should be made from the timber- blesses the devotees with long life ,wealth, strength wood of Neem tree. So it is essential to change and victory whereas gems idol is beneficial to the icons of Sri Jagannath at certain intervals which mankind; the gold image brings prosperity; fame is popularly called as Nabakalebara10. is achieved through worshipping silver idols. The One could realize a great truth, i.e., embodied worship of bronze images increases the number in the life and death concept which is explained of children; one gains land by worshipping the by ĝUƯ Krishna to Arjuna in the ĝUƯmad Bhagavat 9 stone or Shiv linga. The importance of timber- *ƯWƗ: wood image worship is also highlighted in both ‘.ƗĞyapa ĝilpa’ and ‘Ɩgama Grantha’. “9ƗVƗmsi jƯUƼƗni yathƗ vihƗya NavƗni grhƼƗti naroparƗƼi A legendary account prevailed in Odisha TathƗĝarƯUƗƼi vihƗya JirnanyƗni that MahƗUƗja Indradyumna was instructed by ĝUƯ Sam\Ɨti NavƗni DehƯ”11 Jagannath to fetch the floating wood logs from the Banki estuary of the Bay of Bengal. “As the man discarded the old clothes Indradyumna constructed three idols from these for new one, similarly jivƗtmƗ (the soul ) leaves wood- logs and worshipped them. Another the old one to enter into a new corporeal being”. 42 Odisha Review # July - 2015 This message of the Srimad Bhagvat GƯWƗ is reached Sonepur crossing through Bhargavi, applicable to mankind as well as to ĝUƯ Jagannath Kuakhai and Mahanadi river.13 Lord Jagannath Who is believed to be the head of the family of all was installed on a pavilion called SudhƗlipta in animate and non-animate being.

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