Odisha Review June - 2014 Lord Jagannath, the Deity of Mankind Om Prakash disha and Lord Jagannath’s temple in the past of Srimandira and appointed an A.D.M. to look Ohas faced the attacks of Mughal (Muslim) into the matters of Srimandira Management. th rulers for many times. During the 18 century King Ganapati Bhatta and Lord Jagannath Ramachandra Dev was the then ruler of Odisha. Odisha was frequently experiencing the terror of Ganapati Bhatta was born in a Brahmin attacks from the powerful Subedar Taki Khan. family of Kaniari village of Karnatak State. From his very childhood he was interested in spiritual Taki Khan by nature was an anti Hinduism discussions and worshipping Lord Ganesha. As natured person. So he was always with intention he was deeply loving Lord Ganesha he thought to demolish the temple of Lord Jagannath. At that that only Lord Ganesha is the Bramha (Supreme time few parts of Odisha was also under the regime Soul). Once when he was reading the book of the Mughals. So King Ramachandra Dev was Bramha Purana he found it that in Kaliyug Bramha worried for the safety of Lord Jagannath’s temple. has appeared at Nilagiri (Puri) and his name is Finally according to the conditions of Taki Lord Jagannath. This really created an interest in Khan King Ramachandra Dev accepted Islam Ganapatti Bhatta to see who this Lord Jagannath and got married to Taki Khan’s sister. Thus though is? After a long travel finally he reached Puri and Lord Jagannath’s temple got secured but king there he thought to go to meet Lord Jagannath Ramachandra Dev lost his rights to enter into the instantly. Again he was with the thought that those temple and finally Lord Jagannath’s idol was who will see the supreme soul (Bramha) they will constructed near Lion’s Gate (Singha Dwar) for achieve salvation instantly and they will not take him. And the idol was named as Patitapabana rebirth. Thus after reaching Puri when he found who continued to give Darshan to the devotees people returning from Lord Jagannath’s temple deprived of entering into Srimandira. with Mahaprasad on their hand he got seriously King Divyasingha Dev and Lord Jagannath confused. He thought it that if Bramha is really existing here then how these people are returning Prior to 1972 the managerial aspects of back instead of getting salvation? Thus he thought Srimandira were under direct control of the it that Bramha (supreme soul) is not existing here. Gajapati king who is regarded the first servant of Thus he started returning with a sorrowful heart. the Lord Jagannath. Subsequently the Lord Jagannath knew this and he appeared before Government of Odisha removed the power from Ganapatti Bhatta in the guise of an old Brahmin. them to get involved with the managerial aspects He asked Ganapati Bhatta that what is the reason 146 June - 2014 Odisha Review and why are you feeling sorry? Then Ganapatti I will donate this bell to him. The man told it that Bhatta explained everything and the Brahmin told if you all pray before Lord Jagannath, I am sure it that you are thinking wrong Bramha is existing he will save us because I have seen it in my life here and he is satisfying the desires of the devotees that whenever I have prayed the Lord, He has according to their demand. Thus Ganapati Bhatta helped me. The captain became confident with got satisfied with this answer of the old Brahmin these words and all started praying Lord and then he went to see the lords. That day was Jagannath. Finally at the end of the prayer they Snana Purnima, so the Lords were preparing for found it that the storm has gone away and they all the rituals. Ganapati Bhatta saw the Lords and saluted Lord Jagannath with their heart full of thought it that Lord Ganesha is the supreme soul devotion and finally keeping his words captain and when the Lord here is not Lord Ganesha, came to Puri and donated the bell to Lord then how can he be the Bramha? Thus he got Jagannath, which is still found in the temple confused again. He was about to leave, premises. Mudhiratha, one of the Lord Jagannatha's Sevayat Jabana Haridas and Lord Jagannatha at the instance of the Lord ran to Ganapati Bhatta and told that the Lord can exhibit any form as per Jabana Haridas was born in west Bengal the will of the devotees. When Bhatta returned, and he was brought up in a Muslim family. But he saw the Lord in the form of Ganesha with big from the very childhood he was interested in trunks. From that day onwards, the Lords are worshipping Lord Krishna. He was so deeply dressed in Ganesha form on the Snana Purnima immersed in love with Lord Krishna that all times day. he was chanting the name of Lord Krishna. As his parents were dead from an early childhood Sailor and Lord Jagannath that is why at a very young age he left his home Captain Bito was a sailor and that day he and reaching near the river Ganga he started was bringing a big bell from a port of France to staying at the place called Phulia. There every the church of Pondicherry. The ship was floating day he started singing devotional songs and on the chest of ocean and the sunny morning was chanting the name of Lord Krishna. Seeing this creating a quite pleasant atmosphere. But at that people became attracted towards him and he time the boy at the deck saw it that a big animal is became popular. That made the Kazi of that rushing towards the ship and that may destroy locality envious towards him. He complained to the ship. The boy got terrified he screamed and the Muslim ruler that being a Muslim, Haridas is called the captain. Instantly the captain ran to the going against the religion by chanting the name of deck and could see the alarming situation of a Lord Krishna, the Lord of Hinduism. Listening storm. All the crew members got terrified. But this, the king became angry he called Haridas and the captain found it that amidst all these trouble a asked the reason. Haridas replied it that only person is sitting with confidence in front of a photo names are different but God is one. which has two big black eyes. The captain went Thus listening this king became angry and to him and asked him about what is he doing ? ordered his soldiers to kill Haridas. The soldiers The man told that he is praying to his Lord carried away the order but nothing happened to Jagannath who can save all from the danger. The Haridas. Seeing such incident the soldiers were captain initially did not believe him but finally he scared and they told Haridas that if he will not die got persuaded by the words of that man and he then the king will kill them. Haridas went for told it that if the Lord Jagannath can save us then meditation and the soldiers thought it that he has 147 Odisha Review June - 2014 gone dead. Then Haridas was thrown to Ganga the idols but he will not be able to burn the Bramha, but again floating on the water of Ganga he reached so he jumped into the water of river Ganga. And at Phulia. The ruler after seeing such incident got as a result of that he found the Bramha there. But afraid and begged pardon from him. After that a with the fear of attack he kept the Bramha in the Jamindar tried to prove him characterless but his mridanga. Finally he returned to Kujanga Garh. effort also got ruined. Then Haridas went to Again after a long time Orissa’s king Ramachandra Adwaitacharya, and there he learnt a lot about Dev got his empire back and at that time the Lord Lord Vishnu from Adwaitacharya. After that with again returned to Shrimandira. Again all the temple Srichaitanya he reached at Puri. Haridas finally rituals started once again and the day on which breathed his last when Srichaitanya was Mahaprasad got reintroduced after a long interval performing Kirttan with great devotion. that day Bishar Mohanty prayed Lord Jagannath Bishar Mohanty and Lord Jagannath to make him closer for all times. Due to the introduction of Mahaprasad once again that day Bishar Mohanty was the record writer in the temple was in a festive mood and at the the court of King of Kujanga Garh of evening all found it that Lord has taken Bishar Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha. Though by his closer to him. profession he was the record writer but he was not interested with his profession. He was always Madhabendra Puri and Lord Jagannath interested in listening about Lord Jagannath and Madhabendra Puri was born in West always thought that the servitors of Lord Jagannath Bengal. The man was a great lover of Lord are very lucky as they are serving the Lord in a Krishna. He was always engaged in worshipping close proximity. He was always interested in Lord Krishna and he was also engaged in chanting listening about Lord Jagannath and when any the devotional songs of Lord Krishna. Finally he servitor from Puri visited Kujanga Garh at that got so deeply immersed in the love of Lord time he was happy to listen about the glory of Krishna that he left for Brindaban. After reaching Jagannath. at Brindaban he started searching for Lord Once it happened that one servitor came Krishna.