June - 2014 Odisha Review

Lord Jagannath : The Revered God of Bliss

Parikshit Mishra

t's epistemologically abstract transcendental. joy while trying to understand the mystery of the IThinkers, philosophers, poets, saints, seers, decent of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord historians and learned pundits over the ages have Balabhadra, sister goddess Subhadra and endeavoured to rightly interpret the subtlety of Sudarshan in the present form from the holy Daru the great Jagannath philosophy which establishes or wood log after the disappearance of Lord its divine precept. The creed encompasses love, Nilamadhav in a severe sandstorm even as king compassion, pardon, Indradyumna was on tolerance glorifying his way for a holy peace and non- Darshan. violence unless Shankar(700- terribly provoked. 750AD), Sanskrit Lord Jagannath is scholar, philosopher, the incarnator. He theologian who went was Narasingh round the whole of (Man-lion) in Satya India in his short life Yuga to demolish established four Hindu Hiranyakashipu shrines, one of them at violently emerging Nilachal Puri. He from a pillar to save spent time here his endeared eulogizing the Lord. devotee Prahallad. The present majestic In Dwapara Yuga Lord Krishna killed the terrorist temple was built by the Ganga dynasty. The and oppressive ruler Kansa and other demons. construction work commenced during the reign He demonstrated that the sovereign power of of Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva(1112-1148 Almighty was invincible. The holy Bhagabat AD) and was completed in the first half of the succinctly sang: "The world is a pastime of god. 12th century by Anangabhima Dev. The living beings are in his grips." Ramanuja(1417-1137AD) was an The pilgrims throng the Sankha or eminent philosopher and theologian. He was a Purusottam Kshetra for the attainment of spiritual Vishnu worshipper. He founded a Mutt at Puri.

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He had mastered the Vedas and put importance Sri Krishna. On his way he visited holy places on devotion towards god. In his assessment, the and temples at Jaleswar, Remuna, Bhadrak, Bhagabad Gita and Brahma-sutra made no Jajpur, Bhubaneswar and Sakshigopal of Odisha. distinction between the phenomenal, and the real He spread Bhakti movement and had total world, the Jagannath philosophy is held in highest allegiance in Lord Jagannath. He sang and danced esteem. rapeating God's name with his disciples in Badadanda. It was Hare Krishna Hare Ram. Acharya Ganapati Bhatta was a staunch Some onlookers and servitors frowned upon and believer of Lord Ganesh. When he visited Puri, even called him insane which was later rectified prayed before Lord Jagannath in 1432 AD, he and his sainthood was recognised. Pandit perhaps was dismayed in the form of the holy Jagannath Das, the composer of Odia Bhagabat idols and could not see his beloved Ganesh. The was convinced of the greatness of Sri Chaitanya. Lord who dwells in every heart could listen to the He was initiated by Chaitanya as Vaishnab. Both silent longing of Bhatt. On the full-moon day of of them were having regular holy Darshan of Lord May-June the holy idols were brought to the Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Maa Subhadra bathing altar in a colourful procession called in inner sanctum. Chaitanya was believed to be pahandi donning exquisite crown of grass, an incarnate of Srikrishna. He conferred Atibadi holybasil, flowers, twigs woven with bambos title on Jagannath Das. He stayed at Puri from stripes called tahia. After the bathing rituals the July 1515 to 23 June 1533, the day he departed aggrieved Acharya was amazed to witness the to his heavely abode. idols in beautiful elephant outfit. Now his cherished desire was fulfilled, he pronounced that Lord Saint Kabir(1440-1518) a weaver by Jagannath was his god and was a unison of all profession believed that the essence of all religions faiths. was one. He composed metaphysical poems. He was critical of idol-worship, liturgy and rituals, Superyogi Sri Aurobindo(1872-1950) was but was in accord with the notion of reincarnation a philosopher, nationalist, spiritualist and an erudite. and believed in one's availing the fruit of Karma. He founded an Ashram at Pondicherry and had He also believed in monotheism and followers the world over. He reached thereafter egalitarianism. taking part in the freedom movement. He was also a poet of eminence and his epic Savitri is pure Guru Nanak(1469-1539) born a Hindu, metaphysical not easily comprehensible by all. Sri founded Sikhism. Earlier he resigned his job, Aurobindo said a model society of the amalgamation renounced his family, travelled various places, of human conscience has four wheels of the car(the attracted disciples and became the first Guru of Rath) of Lord Jagannath. They are unity, freedom, the Sikhs. He was proponent of meditation for knowledge and power. The Lord's car (Rath) realisation of salvation. At Srikshetra monks, saints Nandighosh has sixteen wheels but Sri Aurobindo's and seers of different sects and hues found observation is incisive in upholding the sovereignty harmony and adored Sri Jagannath. of the Jaganath cult. To the believers Lord Jagannath is a living Saint Chaitanya, unwavering devotee of god. The ultimate destination of Sanatan Hindu Lord Krishna came to Puri in 1510 from Dharma is Moksha, spiritual freedom. Most Nabadwip by foot chanting the sacred name of acclaimed modern Indian philosopher Dr.S

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Radhakrishnan in his book "Indian Religious Bata Ganesh and Kalpabata and other deities thought" wrote, " Moksha or spiritual freedom is before making it to Garuda Stambha for holy the aim of all human life. It is the destiny of man to Darshan of the trinity manifested on the jewelled reach the summits of spirit and attain immortality. altar called Ratna Singhasan. We are children of God, amrutasya putrah. The Within Sri Mandir premises you are free eternal dream of human heart, the aspiration of to visit other temples apart from the main 214ft the soul to come to its own, is the basis of the lofty temple where the trinity, Lord Sudarshan, Hindu Dharma.'' This is also what the Jagannath Sridevi, Bhudevi, Ramakrishna and other gods philosophy professes. The Jagannath ideology dwell. Sight of faithful praying, singing, dancing, calls upon people, sinners and saints alike, with beseeching, shedding tears of love and sorrow is no material desire, to surrender resolutely to Him not uncommon. Everyone seeks boon, for salvation. He is the deliverer of the fallen as all untrammelled joy and bliss. From early morning mortals are powerless, frail, fragile and weak. The when the gates are open to the late night when belief draws strength and makes life liveable. the gates are closed it is imperative that rituals, A devotional poet Bikram Narendra sings: which are too many, are observed precisly in Glory to Jagannath the consort of Laxmi keeping with the sacrosanct ancient tradition. This Who takes rest at the sea of milk is one of the holiest places where the air, water Whose bed is Anant cobra and earth are sacred and your mind is occupied And conch wheel mace lotus with nothing but pious thought of god. Your adorn his hands. experience is ecstatic, sublime and joyous as it is god's spiritual world. Glory to Lord Jagannath. The faithful poet pours out his heart singing full-throated songs in admiration of God. References : 1. Jagannath Mandir O Jagannath Tatwa by Pt In Tulsi Ramayan saint Tulasi Das, Suryanarayan Dash metaphysical poet and life long adherent of 2. The Bhagabat SriRama wrote one had to worship Lord Shiva to achieve worldly fruits and gain all time devotion 3. Chaitanya Dev by Dr Harekrushna Panda of holy feet of Sri Rama. He was an unparallelled 4. Indian Religious Thought by Dr. S.Radhakrishnan devotee of Sri Rama. He wrote 5. Britannica Ready Reference Encyclopaedia ''Shiva seva karaiha phala bhai 6. Pourusha-July 2013 Abirala Rama charan bhakti hoi.'' 7. Sri Jagannath Bhajan Janana Chautisa While you enter Sri Mandira through 8. Matrubhawan, Cuttack, Smaranika, 2014 Singhadwar(lion-gate) you first meet Patitpaban 9. Baichitramaya Srimandir by Sarat Chandra idol installed during Rama Chandra Dev's time and pay obeisance in the Gumut. You worship Lord Kasi Viswanath, in southern corner base of the 22steps. Thereafter you go half way up to Parikshit Mishra, Rajendra Nagar, Cuttack.

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