Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

Shree Consciousness and Culture

Dr. Dibyajyoti Moharana

eligious liberalism and peaceful coexistence Russia, German, France and other countries also Rseem to be base of the Shree Jagannath come to during the time of Car Festival in consciousness which has spread all over the world. order to avail the scope of having a glimpse of This consciousness has helped spread the feeling Puri Triad. of friendship among the human fraternity and nations sending messages for upkeep of Puri, one of the most sacred and religious integration. It has created miraculous vibration of destinations of India, is identified in different humanity regardless of caste, colour and creed. nomenclatures like Shreekshetra, Sankha Shree Jagannath consciousness is above all the Kshetra, Niladri Kshetra, Martya Baikuntha sects, colours and communities and languages. It Kshetra, Nilagiri, Nilasaila, Nilakandar, has encouraged the world brotherhood to be Shreedham, Jagannath Dham, Bhuswarga united and inseparable. Because of these qualities (Paradise), Purusottam and Nilachandan etc. the Jagannath consciousness seems to be gaining Puri is the most ancient religious place of ground in most of the countries in the world. India which has gained popularity as one of the There are four religious dhamas in India. important pilgrim cities of world. A place of This dhama culture is prevalent in India since pilgrimage is a tirtha or tirthasthana. A ancient time. These dhamas (places of religious pilgrimage is a tirthayatra and pilgrim is a activities) include Puri in the eastern part, tirthayatri. The meaning of a tirtha is a sacred Dwaraka in the western part, Badrinath in the place charged with the power of Gods and northern part and Rameswar in the southern part Goddesses and resonant with purity. A tirtha of India. Puri, which is otherwise known as possesses three elements that make it so sacred- Jagannath Dham, is said to be the ancient dham it is suchi, pure; it brings punya; merit and of India. Devotees not only from inside India but goodness and it is shubha; auspicious. This makes also from Nepal, Shree Lanka, Myanmar, a tirtha a place where you can gain Nirvana; Malaysia and Mauritius come to Puri to have a enlightenment and achieve Moksha or liberation. darshan of Lord Jagannath to feel the Pilgrims aspire to attain salvation by visiting holy completeness of their lives. This apart, people of shrines to prepare for release from the temporal different religious sects from America, England, world. Moksha cannot be attained before fulfilling

July - 2016 39 ISSN 0970-8669 Review

one’s duty towards one’s family and society. reach a great height of success. The culture builds Pilgrimage, thus, came to be consciously up a human being in an orderly manner in the promoted by traditions that have grown up around social, political and spiritual fields. Shree a shrine and its locality. They are used to explain Jagannath culture and consciousness bear identity and sustain the shrine’s claim to sanctity. Thus, of a great ideal spreading messages of Triguna. arose a large corpus of literature called Culture is a thought- provoking process. It Sthalapuranas (Ancient stories of a sacred site) exposes the hidden qualities of a person and or Mahatmya (greatness of a shirne). A sacred strengthens the human spiritual process by guiding geography is created by the process of bringing a human being to the path of theism. Considering together cult centres of a particular tradition these definitions’ of culture, it is ascertained that through myths and symbols. In India this has Shree Jagannath Culture is ideal one to be happened at various levels i.e. local, regional and followed by human beings. The theology pan-Indian. Cults created their own religious concentrating on Jagannath culture has been topography through links with other regional described in different (mythological texts) centres by means of myths and legends evolving like Skanda Purana, Brahmanda Purana, around a specific cult. Purana and Matsya Purana. It is interesting to know that in this The Jagannath cult and culture has Kshetra, layers of cultural or historical traits are encouraged the whole world to be bound on seen in the way of living traditions such as rituals world brotherhood giving up separatist ideas. The and festivals. It could be observed that such car festival of Lord Jagannath has spread the powerful ethos pertaining to the cultural layers in message of love for one and all besides Indian context are also observed in some of the encouraging one to resort to brotherhood amongst sacred Kshetras like Kasi, Kanchipuram, Gaya, all. Ujjain, Nasik, Tirupati, Madurai, etc. and kept One vital essence of Jagannath alive the Indian tradition which is some way or consciousness is complete surrender. The other bounded by divine order written in the consciousness is based on devotion. One can scriptures, believed in practice. Puri is such a feel the miracle of Lord Jagannath when he or place where the living Godhead play like human she completely surrenders himself or herself to being, suffer like a common man, partake among the Lord. At that time only communion with the the ocean of humanity in the way of festivals like Almighty can be possible. Humanistic appeal is Rath Yatra that exhibits all the Godly and human one of the aspects of Jagannath consciousness. traits. Although Lord Jagannath is the Lord of the whole The definitions of culture are many. One world, He keeps up His style in royal manner in of them is –The culture helps the human society this brittle mundane world. Puri temple is like a

40 July - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

royal palace and each bit of activity in the temple As part of , the deities of is royal. In the past the kings and emperors of Jagannath, Balabhadra and along with Odisha considered themselves as representatives Sudarshan are taken out in a procession to and servants of Lord Jagannath. From this kind and remain there for nine days. of mentality borne by the kings prove that the Then the deities return to the Main temple. The physical power has been vanquished by the return journey of Puri Jagannath Ratha Jatra is spiritual power. This is the unique feature of known as Bahuda Jatra. Jagannath consciousness. The Ratha Yatra festival has become a Lord Jagannath comes down to the midst common sight in most major cities of the world of sea of humanity during Rath Yatra and becomes since 1968 through the ISKCON Hare one with them. Everybody irrespective of caste, movement, which successfully transplanted the creed and colour can openly have the darshan festival which now happens on an annual basis in of Lord Jagannath on the chariot. It is said that places all over the world in over 100 cities Lord Jagannath meets the devotees during including Lagos Nigeria Dublin, Belfast, Rath Yatra on the Grand Road of Puri to Birmingham, London, Bath, Budapest, exonerate their sins. Therefore, Rath Yatra Melbourne, Montreal, Paris, New York, is called Patita Paban Yatra. The thought of Singapore, Toronto, Suva in Fiji Islands, being one amongst others is another vital Antwerp, Kuala Lumpur and Venice, California. essence of Jagannath consciousness. The Rathajatra in Dhamrai, Bangladesh, is one of Ratha Jatra or Chariot Festival is a Hindu the most important occasions in Bangladesh. Many festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at of the European nations observe Rath Yatra Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is the oldest pompously. The Indians and Hindus living in Rath Yatra taking place in India and the world, foreign countries celebrate Rath Yatra in a religious dating back to 10 - 11 century and its descriptions way. can be found in Purana, Padma Purana, Jagannath culture and consciousness and Skanda Purana and Kapila Samhita. teaches us to be humble in our each effort of This annual festival is celebrated on building the society in a righteous manner giving Ashadha Shukla Paksha Dwitiya (second day in up false pride and self-elation, clinging to the bright fortnight of Ashadha month). The festival honest ways and methods. commemorates Jagannath’s annual visit to Gundicha Temple via Mausi Maa Temple (aunt’s Dr. Dibyajyoti Moharana, Shree Shree Ayurveda home) near Balagandi Chhak, Puri. Hospital, Kanakpura Road, Bangalore.

July - 2016 41