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A Comparative Study – Lord Jagannath Temple and T.T

A Comparative Study – Lord Jagannath Temple and T.T

Orissa Review July - 2010

A Comparative Study ± Lord Temple and T.T. Devasthanam

Sarat Chandra Mahapatra

The idol worship is an integral part of Hindu (9th Century AD.), the Cholas (10th Century Religion. The scholars have traced worship of AD.), the Pandyas and the kings of idols in Temples, even in 4th or 5th century B.C.1 Vijayanagaram (14th to 16th Century AD.). Hindu law confers the status of a The region was personnel - on Gods worshipped in temples, conquered by the Sultans of Golkonda, by about capable of holding and enjoying property. They the middle of the 17th Century and remained under are perpetual minors. Only in an ideal sense, the Muslim Rule for about a century and a half. This property can belong to them. But, the possession was a period of confusion, chaos and disorder and the management of the same lies with a person and there was practically no Government worth or body of persons, variously known as Sebayats, the name in this region. The Hindu Empire of Marfatdars, Managers or Trustees. Vijayanagaram had vanished and various In the temple, the divine is always interested parties like Qutub Shah, the Mughals, potential, but only on occasions it is manifested. the Nizams, the Marhattas, the Nawabs of Arcot, Rituals and ceremonies are essential to promote Hyder Ali, the English and the French, entered such manifestation of the divine. Infact, the the arena and added to the confusion and misery priesthood of a temple is resident in order to of this area.3 maintain the continuous presence of the Lord.2 The present Temple of Lord Jagannath Thus, the administration of a Temple at was constructed in the first quarter of the consists of two categories of personnel, i.e. 12th century A.D., during the reign of the King managerial and priestly order. Choda Ganga Deb (1078-1147 AD.), the most , the Supreme Lord of the prominent ruler of the Ganga dynasty.4 Choda Universe, is the presiding Deity, both in Tirupati Ganga Deb, was the son of Rajasundari, daughter Temple and Jagannath Temple. These two Vishnu of Kulotunga Chola, the of Kanchi. Kshetras are sacred and celebrated historical His great grand son Anangabhima Deb temple towns, known all over the world, where III (1211-1238 A.D.), completed the Temple, only are allowed. prescribed elaborate rituals and constituted Lord Tirupati Venkateswar Temple was µChattisa Nijog¶, i.e. 36 categories of ritual patronised by the south Indian Kings like, Pallavas functionaries.5 He dedicated his entire empire and

52 Orissa Review July - 2010 declared it as ³Purushottam Samrajya¶ and 1801 A.D.7 In the year 1803, the Collector of designated him as µRauta¶ or a servant of Lord Chittor, within which district, Tirupati is situated Purusottam.6 had sent a report to the Board of Revenue, Forte Such µServant¶ or deputy of St. George, giving a full account of the institution, Orissan Kings crystalised in ritual system of Sri together with schedules, showing the Pujas, Jagannath Temple, wherein annual Car Festival, expenses, extent of lands etc., known as Statton¶s the Gajapati King sweeps the Chariots before Report, on the Tirupati Pagoda. These reports, multitude of devotees, called µChhera Panhara¶ though small in volume are in the same lines as which exhibits the height of religious humility and the earliest report submitted to the British casts a holo of reverence around the µPersonnel¶ Government on Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri by of the Raja, and confers a dualistic role on him as Mr. Grome and Mr. Garrett. British rulers the Supreme Administrator of the Temple and first controlled the management of the institution till a among the Temple functionaries as the µAdya set of rules for the management of the temple and Sevak¶. The ritual relationship of Lord Jagannath the servants attached thereto, were framed in with the Gajapati Kings of Orissa is so inextricably 1821 A.D. known as µBruce¶s Code. blended, even legislation could not disturb it. On In case of Sri Jagannath Temple for the the other hand, He continues to be the hereditary first few years the East Company followed Chairman of Sri Jagannath Temple Managing the same system as the Marhattas, who had Committee. annually made up the difference between the The last Hindu ruler of Orissa, Mukund receipts and the expenditures of the Temple. The Deb was killed in the battle of Gohiratikiri, near result was that, there was a deficit every year, by Kalapahada, the General of Suleman which the company had to make good. In 1806 Karani in 1568 AD. The Temple was under Afgan A.D. the Government decided to get rid of the rule from 1568 to 1590 AD., when Raja minute supervision of the Temple, which this Mansingh, the Army General of defeated system involved and by Regulation IV of 1806, Afgan and included Orissa in . The the superintendence of the Temple was vested in Muslim rule continued till 1751 A.D., when an assembly of three Pandits, nominated by the Marhattas took over administration of Sri Collector of Pilgrim Taxes and appointed by the Jagannath Temple. During this period the temple Government. By Regulation IV of 1809, the was invaded many a times by Muslim Subedars assembly of Pandits was abolished and the and deities were removed to different hideouts management was made over to the Raja of for safety. Thus, the period from 1568-1751 A.D. Khurda, who was appointed hereditary was a period of anarchy, which is comparable superintendent. He was not granted, however, with the contemporary period of Tirupati Temple supreme authority, but in order to prevent any under . abuse of power on his part, three of the principal servants of the Temple were appointed to assist After the Mysore wars, the company him. They were not to be removed from their tried to restore order in the Carnatic region. The office, except with the sanction of the Government successors of Mohammed Ali opposed it. But the and were required to report to Government any company forced the Nawab to retire on a pension cases, in which the Raja issued orders inconsistent and took over the administration of the Temple in with recorded rules and institutions of the Temple.

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The Raja received a fixed allowance on the then, the litigation and agitation by the people understanding, that the sum allotted shall be spent against management of the Mahanta continued. wholly for the maintenance of the temple.8 The scheme proceeding had also gone to the Privy From 1803, when the British Government Council on appeal. In the year 1927, the Madras began to manage the Temple, a Parichha was kept Hindu Religious Endowments Act was passed and in charge of the management and in 1805 the the scheme settled by the district court and as Collector was authorised by the Board to receive amended by the Appellate Courts was deemed applications from the Parichha in connection with as a scheme framed under the said Act. Even after the administration of the Temple. Mr. C. Grome, that there were persistent complaints against the Collector of Jagannath (known as such in revenue Mahant. The scheme framed and as amended by records), prepared the first report in 1805, which the Privy Council was found to be defective and virtually served as the basis for the subsequent the Madras Act referred to above was not found policy formulations. adequate to carry out necessary requirements. Therefore a special Act called the Tirumala Tirupati Due to change of policy of the British Devasthanam Act was passed (Madras Act XIX Government not to interfere into the management of 1933). According to the said Act the Temple of the Hindu Temples, by an Act (Act-X, 1840), of Venkateswar and its connected endowments in 1840, the Company abolished the Pilgrim Tax and Temples vested in a committee of 7 members and vested the then Raja of Puri, with full authority and a Commissioner appointed by the Provincial in regard to the management of the Temple and Government, it further provided that the its properties. This act forbade the Temple Government while appointing members of the authorities to impose restriction of any kind upon committee should take the Mahant of the the pilgrims for admission into the Temple and Hatiramji , if willing to serve, to be taken performing ceremonies free and the right of free as a member. Section 13 of the said Act stipulated admission and free worship became a recognised that the Mahant, if a member of the committee privilege of the General Body of the Pilgrims. was to be the President for a period of 3 years. In case of Tirupati Temple, in pursuance An advisory council was constituted with the of the change of the policy of the British hereditary Sebaks and hereditary Archakas and Government, not to interface with religious other Sebaks for advising the committee in institutions of the natives, the management of the religious affairs and another committee consisting Tirupati Devasthanam was transferred in the year of the representative of the tenants of the Temple 1843 by a Sanand to the then head of the Hatiramji lands for-advising the committee for management Matha, Tirupati, who was styled as - Vichara of estates. Karta and began to manage the Temple and its The Temple was managed in accordance connected institutions and after him, the with the said Act, till 1951 and superseded by successive Mahantas did the same. During this the Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable period of management by the , suits in the Endowment Act of 1951. With the constitution civil courts were filed at various periods safeguard of a separate province of Andhra Pradesh, the the funds and property of the institutions and the said Act was redesignated as µThe Andhra District Court had settled a scheme of management Pradesh (Andhra Area) Hindu Religious and which was amended by the High Court, but even Charitable Endowment Act 1951¶, which was

54 Orissa Review July - 2010 repealed by the Andhra Pradesh Charitable and no provision to initiate surcharge proceedings Hindu Religious Institutions & Endowment Act, against the Executive Officer or the Officers 1966 (No. 17 of 1966). The said Act came into concerned on Audit Reports. An anomaly existed effect from 26th January 1967 to achieve the in Section 31 of the Act, which provides for the objective of an integrated enactment applicable Executive Officer to complain about any to the whole of the state of Andhra Pradesh in encroachment and also make an enquiry and pass respect of all the Hindu Public religious institution orders on his complaint against which, there is no and public charitable institutions and endowments provision for appeal. The greatest anomaly was in the state. contained in Section 15, which empowers the Commissioner of Endowment, who is a member The Temple of Lord Venkateswar Tirupati of the Board, to tender proposal for supersession had the statutory control of the above Act till of the Board. 1979, when it was considered expedient to formulate a special Act in view of importance, To streamline the administration of wealth, and to cover some decisions criticised in Tirupati Temple and to tide over the statutory public regarding Tirumala Tirupati Devasthana difficulties, the state Government appointed a 3 management¶s compromise with hereditary member Commission, with retired Chief Justice Archakas (Mirasi) to pay several lakhs of Rupees of Andhra High Court, as its Chairman. The towards µHomasesa¶ (Residuals of Sacrificial Commission submitted its report on 28th Fire) with retrospective effect from 1974. This February, 1986. decision of the management provoked bitter The Commission recommended two vital public criticism. Thus, a special Act (Act 20 of things among other recommendations. First is the 1970) was enacted, which provided for enactment of a law, that enables every Hindu constitution of a Trust Board of not more than 13 irrespective of caste, including Scheduled Castes members, with Executive Officer and and Tribes, to become eligible for the selection to Commissioner of Endowment as Ex-Officio the office of priesthood, provided he is qualified members. In previous Act, they were not in respective Agamas, Vidhana according members. The management board assumed full to and strictly adhers to the code of power of decision to enter into compromise with conduct prescribed therefor. The selection shall any body, including Mirasi Archakas and be strictly on the grounds of merit, ability, Mirasidars (the owner of hereditary functionaries character and qualification. of the Temple). The second important recommendation, This Act continued to be in force till 1987, is to formulate a common Act for all the religious when it was found defective in many ways. Most and charitable institutions of State, including of the powers are, in real terms of operation, Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam, by repealing this concentrated in and around the Executive Officer. special Act of 20 of 1979 and reviving the Act 17 By being a member of the board of management of 1966, with incorporation of a separate he acted both as prosecutor and judge in the same provision of Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam. The matter as the Board is to review the actions of Commission felt the necessity of an intermediary the Executive Officer. There was no provision in authority between the Government and the the Act for alteration of religion of ¶Dirtam¶, which Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam Management is very important for administration. There was Board.

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Pursuant to above recommendations, the Temple establishment shall continue to hold such State Government of Andhra Pradesh, repealed office or post on payment of only emoluments this Special Act of 1979 and incorporated special and shall comply with the conditions of service provision (chapter XIV) in the general Act of contained in Section 35 of the said Act. Andhra Pradesh Charitable and Hindu Religious The validity of the aforesaid provision of Institutions and Endowment Act, 1987 and came abolition of hereditary rights was questioned by into force on 23rd May 1987. This Act envisaged the hereditary functionaries of the Tirupati Tirumala a Board of Trustees, constituted by the Devasthanam in a writ petition (No. 6403/87, in Government for the Tirupati Tirumala the Andhra Pradesh High Court) and direction Devasthanam, consisting not more than 13 was sought for maintenance of the status-quo members, including the Chairman to be appointed which was allowed. The matters instituted in by the Government. There shall be a person Andhra Pradesh High Court was transferred to belonging to the Scheduled Caste and one woman the Supreme Court by the latter's decision, dated member in the Board. The Executive Officer shall :- 22.05.87. be the Ex-Officio Member Secretary and the Commissioner of Endowment, shall be a member The Hon¶ble Supreme Court, in a case Ex-Officio. The Board shall exercise the General of A.S. Deekshitulu, Petitioner Vs. Superintendence and control over the Tirupati State of Andhra Pradesh and Others, Respondent, Tirumala Devasthanam and empower to fix the challenges the constitutionality of Andhra Pradesh µDittam¶ in the temples. The term of the Board is Act as violative of Act 25 of the Constitution, for a period of 3 years. relating to the Religious Freedom (AIR 1996). The most revolutionary and controversial The Hon¶ble Court has observed in the provision in the Act, is the abolition of hereditary Para 120 of the Judgment, that the hereditary rights of hereditary Archakas and other rights as such is not integral part of the religious functionaries of all religious institutions and practice, but a source to secure the services of a endowments. It is said to be in tune with the priest independent of it. Though performance of instructions of Government of India, the Ministry the ritual ceremonies is an integral part of the of Law and Justice, dated:- 6th October, 1972, religion, the person who performs it or associates to all the State Governments to make suitable himself with performance of ritual ceremonies, is amendments to their existing laws or make new not, therefore, when the hereditary right to laws for abolishing hereditary priesthood and perform services in the Temple is terminable by make all Hindus, including , eligible to be an owner for bad conduct, its abolition by selected or appointed for the office of priesthood sovereign legislature is equally valid and legal. The in Temples, which would be a great step for social apex court upheld the legislative competence to take away the hereditary right as such. reform. The Act further declare, any usage or practice relating to the succession to any Officer, The administration of Sri Jagannath service or post in Temple Establishment to be null Temple, came to a crisis in 1877, when the Raja and void. It also extinguished all rights and had, by the neglect of his duty as Superintendent, emoluments of any nature in cash or kind or both been the indirect cause of serious loss of life on accruing to any Officer, or service on a hereditary the occasion of a Festival µGovinda ¶. basis. All the hereditary functionaries of the This again succeeded by the trial and deportation

56 Orissa Review July - 2010 of the Raja for murder on 8th April, 1878. The honorary committee, with the Raja as a titular head. sentence brought about a very anomalous state A draft bill was submitted to Government of India of things, as under Act X of 1840, the in 1881, which was not approved by the superintendence of the temple remained with the Government, due to peculiar relationship of the Raja, even after his deportation. Raja with Lord Jagannath. Government was It was contemplated to repeal the Act X reluctant to be dragged into direct opposition to of 1840 and to amend Section 539 of the Civil Hindu feelings in a matter, in which any real Procedure Code to bring any trust created for improvement might prove to be impossible. religious purposes within the preview of that The Raja was persuaded to appoint a Section. The intention of the Government was to Manager (A Deputy Magistrate on deputation), declare the Office of the Superintendent of the to manage the Temple and endowed estates. Temple vacant and to appoint new trustees to The successors of the Raja Mukunda function according to a scheme of management. A civil suit was filed in the Court of the District Deb, proved equally ineffective and public Judge, in 1868, which was hotly agitation mounted. contested and ended in a compromise, the In view of grave and serious irregularities superintendence of the Temple was vested in the in management of the affairs of the temple and its grand mother Surjyamani Pata Mahadei and properties and to provide better administration in guardian of the minor Raja, Mukunda Deb. Such supersession of previous laws, regulations and compromise further provided for appointment of arrangements and having regard to the ancient a competent manager till the minor Raja comes customs and rituals of the temple, the Puri Sri of age. Jagannath Temple (Administration) Act 1952, was Raja Mukunda Deb, assumed the power enacted. According to the provisions of the said of Superintendent from 1897-1926. On 28th Act, a Special Officer was appointed, who October, 1901, an accident occured inside the prepared the Record of Rights, containing Temple, in which two persons were trampled to traditional Nitis and Rituals, with the traditional death and several other seriously injured. It was privileges of hereditary Temple Functionaries. On urged upon the Government of to introduce the basis of the report of the Special Officer, a reforms by way of a Legislation or a Civil Suit, comprehensive legislation called Sri Jagannath since it is not possible to bring the Raja under the Temple Act 1954 was enacted. provisions, if the Penal Code or to enforce his According to the Section-6, of the said personal responsibility in any other way, when a Act, a committee consisting of 12 members was bad accident happens within the temple precincts formed. The Raja of Puri, is the hereditary involving loss of life of people. The civil litigation Chairman of the said committee, the Collector as as such being slow, costly and with uncertain the Ex-Officio member and Vice-Chairman, the results, and in face of sad experience of the past Administrator, appointed, under Section-19 is and the above legal status of the Raja, it was Ex-Officio Member Secretary, the Commissioner considered not acceptable to the authority. of Endowments appointed under the Orissa Several attempts were made to bring a Hindu Religious Endowment Act 1 of 1951 is comprehensive legislation for formation of the Ex-Officio member.

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One person to be nominated by the State problems, except their own Nijoga and hence, Government from among the persons entitled to their views are one-sided. Some are of opinion sit on the Muktimandapa. Four persons to be (by Dr. H.K. Mahatab, Ex-Chief Minister of nominated by the State Government from among Orissa) that the non-official members should be the Sevaks of the Temple. One person independent minded people, not affiliated to any representing the Mathas and other institutions political party. He suggested a small committee connected with the Puja and Nitis of the consisting of the Governor, Chief Justice and Chief Temple, to be nominated by the State Government Secretary of the state for selection of members and two persons to be nominated by the State of the Managing Committee. The Commission Government from among persons, who do not was of the opinion that the Collector is the only belong to any of the categories above as members. person, who can efficiently control the No person, who does not profess the Hindu administration, but this being not done the Religion shall be eligible for membership. administration is left to work without exercise of The committee can co-opt members not any control over him. The Government should not exceeding four, from among the persons not be influenced by any consideration other than the 9 indicated above. suitability as the members. If at any time, the Raja of Puri happens In the same year, a High Power to be a minor, in the opinion of the State Committee, under the Chairmanship of the Government, suffers from any of the disabilities Governor of Orissa was set up to suggest covered by Section-10, thereof, the duties of the measures for improvement of administration of Chairman shall, during such minority or so long the Temple. It has also tendered the identical as such disability lasts, be exercised by a person opinion of politicalisation of Temple Management professing the Hindu Religion, when the State and too much State interference. Government, may by order, specially appoint in The most vital recommendation of both that behalf. the commission and the committee was rethinking Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri is one of the on hereditary rights of Sevaks in lieu of four important Dhams of the country, the other compensation and their rationalisation of the basis three being , and . of basic minimum need of Sevaks for rituals of Entire Hindu community of the country, is the Temple. But, such necessary recommen- interested for its proper maintenance. Government dations have never been implemented due to lack of Orissa had set up a commission of enquiry, of political will. with Justice B.K. Patra - a retired Justice of Orissa Out of the four Dhams in India, Jagannath High Court in the year 1977. After probing into Dham is foremost and known for lord Vishnu¶s details of administration of Puri-Temple, he µbhojan kshetra¶. The King is the lowest servitor tendered very valuable recommendations. as a sweeper of the Chariots of the Lords, Eminent witnesses before him (like Late nowhere found in India. Sri Jagannath, Dr. and Dr. H.K. Mahatab) have , and Sudarshan are four opined that the members from Sevak community fold God heads, worshipped on one pedestral, do not take an objective view of several called µRatnavedi¶. Their wooden idols, renewed

58 Orissa Review July - 2010 periodically between 8-19 years, according to Administration of a temple is an integral Lunar Calculation, when an extra month of Asadha part of the cult. Under independent Hindu Kings, comes. The Car festival of Lord Jagannath is now the administration was central and authoritarian. popular all over the world, where the great Lord With the abolition of kingship, the traditional comes down to the street to meet the commoners, system was disturbed. who can touch, embrace and offer their devotion. Under the Foreign Rulers and in a His µMahaprasad¶ is µAnnabrahma¶, which is democratic system, the administration assumed taken together by even with a scavenger. new dimensions. In case of Jagannath Temple, The Deity and His Mahaprasad transcends all the traditional system still continues, which got barriers of caste, creed, colour and religion. Such degenerated with the passage of time. It needs elements of universal humanism are unknown and reforms, which presupposes a strong political will. unparallel in any shrine of the world. His abode is The hereditary Pandas and Archakas, pilgrim variously known as Srikshetra, , guides or Jatri Pandas, have developed vested Purusottam Kshetra, Sankha Kshetra etc. interest with consequential dissatisfaction and The cult of Jagannath constitutes an exploitation of pilgrims. It is high time, that the eclectic system, which has assimilated many administration of Temple should be reoriented to creeds and sects with divergent philosophies. cater to the present need of pilgrims and devotees. Monism of Shankar, qualified dualism of Both the Commission of Enquiry and High Power , Cult of , Nimbarka Committee have suggested reforms with a note and Ballabhacharya, Achintya Vedaa Veda of Sri that all that is necessary is the determination to Chaitanya have merged in all comprehensive cult implement them. Implementation of some of the of Jagannath and enriched it. Three major systems suggested reforms may be met with resistance of Hindu relating to Saiva, Sakta from those whose interests are likely to be and Vaishnava are represented in the holy trinity adversely affected. But, I hope and trust that in of Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath. the interest of the fair name of this famous There are 307 Mathas and at institution and interest of the thousands of pilgrims Puri, belonging to different sects of Ramanuja - who visit the shrine everyday, Government would , Nimbarka, Vishnu Swami, not hesitate to bring about certain necessary Madhava, Goudiya and others. Even non-Hindu changes in the system of administration to ensure devotees like Santh , Haridas, Jaban that Nitis are performed regularly, that the finances and Sikh have their Mathas of the Temple are placed on a sound footing and in Puri. Most of them have ritual relationship with that the economic condition of the Sevaks actually Sri Jagannath Temple. doing the Seva of the Deities is improved.10 Such came into existence at Since independence, there has been different points of history, centering around Sri considerable socio-economic changes and Jagannath Temple, to propagate their philosophy. changes in our attitude towards religion and They have contributed much towards the growth religious organisations. It has to be studied, if the of a composite and all comprehensive cult of democratic and socialistic ideas have invaded into Jagannath and unequivocally accepted Him as the the traditional administrative philosophy of the God Absolute or µParamabrahma¶ - Purusottam. Temples.

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