Orissa Review * July - 2005

Daru Bramha Purusottam as Depicted in 'Sarala ' Sachidananda Behera

"Jai Swami literary creations are not enough to trace the Nayan Pathagami Bhabatume." essence of Lord Purusottama. Duryodhan, the crest jewel of the Kaurava Since time immemorial, the dwelling house race alongwith his younger brothers and warriors of the Supreme Lord of the Universe, Shree like Bhisma, , and others breathed Jagannath is accepted as a holy place of India his last in the great Mahabharat war. On the and glittering with pure Orissan culture and otherhand, the Pandavas and their wife heritage. The magnitude of Lord Jagannath is first started for their eternal journey to . In bloomed as a tribal deity and later on as Bouddha, order to end the mal-administration, growing Jaina and Vaisnab. Although in the past Shri indiscipline and anarchy of the past days and to Jagannath was described as Bouddha and Jina, re-establish religious truth Lord Srikrishna the king the great Jagannath culture is not incluenced by of Dwaraka, destroyed His own race. Later, the any sectarian principle in any age, rather the same sacred soul of Shri merged with the has influenced many sects. supreme soul of Lord as he breathed his last being struck by the poisonous arrow of hunter The greatness of Darubramha has become Jara Savar. During this critical juncture, the royal lively in Sarala Mahabharata. Once being throne of remained vacant. Taking enraged, king Hiranya questioned his minor son all these incidents as the base material, the epic Prahallad about the existence of Lord Vishnu. Mahabharat was written adopting the Prahallad trembling with fear indicated towards a conversation between Agasti and king . The pillar of the palace as his answer. Hearing the bold grandson of mighty , righteous Parikshita answer of Prahallad, Hiranyakashiapu with much adorned the royal throne of Indraprastha. As a cruelity and wrath hit the pillar by his sword. great literary creation of his time Shrimad Immediately, Lord Vishnu emerged out of the Bhagabat was composed adopting the pillar taking the form of a lion-headed human conversations between Shukadev and king being and mitigated the sorrows of Prahallad. Parikshita. Later, Shrimad Bhagabat Gita was According to the great Oriya poet Sharala Das. written incorporating the 575 cantos of Are Jala Analu Tarilu Narayananku Dhyaee | Shrikrishna's version at the begining of Mote Kahakina Tora Narayan Achhi Kahin || , 84 of Arjuna, 40 of , one from Dhrutarastra. The grand total of these Re Re Kara Karina Uthila Bira Nade | cantos comes to 700. Still, all these voluminous Se Thambena Praharila Neye Bama Pade ||

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Hiranya Bidarina Ananta Jagannath | the order of the God. After installation of the Prahallada Kai Chirayusha Dianta Se Natha || deities inside the temple, Sri Jagannath expressed (Sarala Mahabharat - Bhisma Parva.) His extreme happiness and ordered king for soliciting boon as per his desire. The lion-headed God is named as God According to poet Shri Krishna Das in Deulatola - Narasingha, who is also regarded as the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. In his invocation, Tumbhe Jebe Baradeba Maguacchi Muhin | Sharala Das has described God Narasingha as Mohara Bansare Kehi Nathibe Gosain || Shri Jagannath. Both Lord Shri Putra Nati Bolibe Je Deula Ambhara | and Lord Shri Krishna Chandra are also named Ambhara Bolante Dharma Jiba Je Mohara || as Kodandadhari and Dandadhari. Thus, it Such type of sacrifice is indeed rare. The indicates the relation of these Lords with Daru. Gods did not understand the mystery behind this In the Musali Parva of Oriya Mahabharat, it has sacrifice. This symbolises the greatest ideal of Shri been described that the hunter Jara scored an Jagannath Conciousness. arrow to Lord Shrikrishna and the Lord breathed his last and merged with Lord Vishnu. Later, Jara Shri Jagannath Culture represents a voice and Arjuna, while started to perform the cremation of spiritual equality. Being inspired by Shri of Lord Shrikrishna, they heard the heavenly Jagannath Conciousness, Goddess Laxmi made voice, "set fire to my mortal remains using the log her kind presence in the cottage of a low caste on which you would find the symbols conch, woman, for which act of her, she was insulted wheel, club and lotus. As per the direction, Arjun and scandalised. Atlast, victory of equality has placed the body of Lord Shrikrishna on sandal been accepted by all. In the voice of Goddess wood and set fire. But the Pinda (heart) did not Laxmi - burn. During the event, Jara thought that Muhin Chandaluni Jebe Teki Debi Anna | Shrikrishna had earned sins during His life time Bhojana Karibe Tebe Kaliya Ganjana || and thus, the fire is unable to make His body to ashes. According to - This was the forceful promise of Goddess Laxmi, who being inspired by Shri Jagannath Puni Bicharai Ye Rabana Maila | Conciousness, lead to ruin the proudness and Bala Kalare Je Rohini Badha Kala || egoism of both Lords, Shri Jagannath and Shri Gogosthe Pasina Sandhasura Mari | Balabhadra. Balatkare Harila Gouraba Gopastiree || In the concluding analysis, it can be said Jabante Se Dosa badha na kala aba | that Shri Jagannath Cult is rich in its own style Paraloke Ani Lagaila Badha || and not influenced by any other sectarian principle, rather it has influenced other sects and delivered While Jara was thinking deeply, again the the message of equality, peace, salvation and Heavenly voice resounded, "This heart will not harmonious feelings for wellbeing of the entire be gutted in fire. Immerse the body in the sea, it human civilisation. will be worshipped on the Neelasundar hill." After alapse of long years, a Daru was seen floating in the sea. King Indradyumna and Savar Sachidananada Behera is an Officer of the Information Biswabasu brought the Daru to the shore, as per & Public Relations Department, Govt. of Orissa.

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