Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

agannath consciousness has become a Purana, Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana, Bruhat Jwidespread phenomenon on the world at large. Nrusingha Purana, Utkala Mahatmya, Tantra A unique culture projecting Odia identity, it has Jamala, , Kurma Purana , Padma cast its impact on the people of the world. Purana, Narada Purana, Mahabharata is considered a form of Vishnu or his etc highly glorify Purushottama Kshetra and incarnation (Buddha or Kalki). He is worshipped Sankha Kshetra.3 as part of a triad on the ‘Ratnavedi’ (jewelled Many Puranas describe Lord Jagannath platform) along with his brother Balabhadra and as a Universal deity and Srikshetra as a most holy sister . The word Jagannath itself place on the earth. Shiva Purana says, denotes that ‘God of the Universe’.1 From ancient “Purushottam is the only place on earth which can times, Odisha has become the cradle of several confer liberation from earthly bondage, it is the religious faiths. This land witnessed the growth of place where the Supreme God has assumed various religions like Jainism, Buddhism, Saivism, 4 Vaishnavism, Saktism etc. With the progress of wooden form”. The Sankha Kshetra or

The Widespread Popularity of Jagannath Culture : Some Reflections

Dr. Abhijit Sahoo time all these faiths were assimilated in one faith Srikshetra is one of the most important i.e. the Jagannath which is quite unique in the centres of Vaishnavism in India. Hindu devotees cultural heritage of this land.2 From time across the country visit the Purushottama Kshetra immemorial, Puri has been recognised as to offer worship. Lord Jagannath has been Srikshetra and Sankhakshetra and the deity has accepted as the representative of Odishan people, been called as Jagannath, Purusottam, the an embodiment of love, a guiding force behind supreme consciousness. Periodical rituals have the cultural heritage of this land, a synthesis of all been performed near the deity with dignity and the Hinduite faiths and finally as the God of the grandeur. It is believed that Jagannath is a super Universe.5 Jagannath is the symbol of unity and natural being, although the deity itself is made of integrity of the all religions of the world. He neither log (Daru). He is considered as an absolute being represents any religion, division, caste, nor any who is beyond human thinking. Sanskrit Puranas country. He is above all these boundaries. highlight Lord Jagannath as a Universal God who Jagatguru Aadi Sankaracharya has given privilege presents Universal consciousness. The Bamana to the four holy places of India Known as

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‘Chaturdham’. In the east it is Puri, in the west it is Dwaraka, in the north it is Badrinath and in the south it is Rameswaram. In the concept of Aadi Sankaracharya, Puri is the prime and the foremost Dham among the four Dhams. The name of this Dham is otherwise known as ‘Mukti Dham’ and ‘Baikuntha Dham’ and it has its own special peculiarities. In this holy place Bhakta , Dasia Bauri, Bandhu Mohanty, Guru Nanak, Jayadev, Ganapati Bhatta, Adi Sankaracharya and many others had their special emotions. This Dham of God Jagannath at Puri has its own specialities and peculiarities. The special of this Dham is that it has no similarities with any Temple, 6 Church, Mosque etc. Jagannath culture has spread beyond the The significance and uniqueness of God state into Tibet, Nepal, and Burma etc. Historians Jagannath is that it is made up of a piece of Neem and archaeologists have given data about the God (Azadirachta Indica) tree, what we called ‘Daru’ Jagannath that many places across India there is or ‘Mahadaru’ and the God is known as ‘Daru a Jagannath culture. Ancient name of Brahma Desh Debata’, whereas other deities are made with (Burma) was named as Srikshetra. The Peg rock, clay and metals. Except Jagannath Dham region of Burma is known as Ussa which is in other places the Gods are worshipped with their Odisha. Again in Balidwipa Shiva is represented concerts as Radha-Krishna, Rama-Sita, Laxmi- as Jagannath with Shankha Chakra Gada and Narayan, Shiv-Parvati, whereas in this Dham God Padma, Vishnu is treated as Purushottama and Jagannath is worshipped with his elder brother Avatar. In Nepal there had been also the spread ‘Balabhadra’ and younger sister ‘Subhadra’. It of Jagannath culture and consciousness. Still now represents the universal brotherhood and human there are many Jagannath temples found in Nepal. unity and integrity and the untiring family bond. It A Tibetan historian Lama Taranath said that there is unique that the deities have no specific form. It was Jagannath culture in Tibet. The rite and ritual is believed that Jagannath is the first and the last of Srikshetra and Rathayatra are being observed God to give ‘Moksha’ (salvation) that is why the there till now. In America there are lot of Jagannath sacred land Puri is universally popular as the temples, where the triad are being worshipped ‘Mukti Dham’. The form signifies that Jagannath by American people. Like Srikshetra, they are is a Universal deity. His arm is called ‘Mahabahu’, also observing Rathayatra with great enthusiasm His eyes are called ‘Chaka Aakhi’, two round and vigour. There is a saying that Jesus Christ eyes representing the great void of the world. The had come to Puri and stayed there for some time. nine planets immersed in the form of deity. In From the Bible, it is known that Jesus was Ashadha Sukla Dwitiya the deities move to their vanished from Jerusalem for about twelve years. “Mausi Ghara” by the chariots. The chariots have It is a fact that Jesus was in the Srikshetra as said been pulled by the devotees irrespective of caste, by the researcher. During his stay he learned about creed and religion.7 Sanatana Hindu Dharma and spread it among the

104 JUNE - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 disciples. The book titled, The unknown life of out of imagination what Jagannath represents for.10 Jesus Christ, Aquarian gospel of Jesus the Christ There is a controversy among the scholars and and The life and work of Jesus in India proved researchers regarding the evolution of Jagannath that Jesus was staying in Puri.8 culture and its antiquity. Many religions of the In spite of many cultural invasions by world had been mingled in the Jagannath culture. outsiders and cross cultural barriers by few It symbolises a highly electric spirit of synthesis insiders, Odisha is still maintaining its ‘unique of different Indian religions. God Jagannath is the culture’ i.e. ‘Jagannath culture’ of “Unity in God of all religions. The Jainas see him as Jineswar Diversity”. Odisha’s traditional culture is a their beloved God and the Buddhists see him as combination of varieties, so diversity is found in Buddha. Muslims like Kabir, Haridas, Salabega Jagannath culture. Diversity means difference. It devoted their entire life before God Jagannath and means collective differences; such differences sang Bhajans and Janana in praise of the God.11 distinguish one group of people from other. These Sankaracharya, Ramanuja, Kabir, Sri Chaitanya differences may be biological, religious, linguistic and Guru Nanak are said to have also visited etc. The Jagannath culture is a beautiful Dham and they were greatly influenced combination of worldly and cosmic realities. The by the assorted philosophy of Jagannath culture speciality of this culture is that all the religions of which later moulded and shaped their teaching the world have been merged within it to make it and preaching to a great extent. Dasia Bauri, an flexible, open and generous. Like all other religions untouchable, Hadi Das, a blacksmith, Jagannath it has not been narrowed down itself within certain Das, the famous poet of Bhakti movement and idealistic values and principles. The culture is Bandhu Mohanty, an ardent devotee of the God based upon high ideals of democracy, are gifted with the divine blessings of the God.12 humanitarian principle of equality, justice, honesty The Puranic text Purushottama Mahatmya of the and integrity, which purely illustrate against the Skanda Purana Contains the legend conservative outlook of casteism, sectarianism and and the origin of Jagannath’s wooden idol at Puri. any such other barriers for attainment of complete The Puranic texts corroborate that Jagannatha universalism. Therefore, Jagannath has been called was originally a deity of the aboriginal tribes and the God of the whole universe. There is no other was known as Nila Madhava, his image being religion in the world where a common man sees made of some sort of blue stone. Later on, the his God as his own family member who is an God manifested himself in the form of four inseparable entity. It is based upon the beliefs of wooden images, ‘Chaturddha Murtti’ which are Sarbajana Hitaya, Sarbajana Sukhaya which now being worshipped in the Jagannath Temple means for the sake of well being of entire humanity at Puri. of the universe.9 Thus, Jagannath is equally claimed by the God Jagannath is known as aboriginal tribes and the Vedic Hindus to be their Parambrahma. Brahma is the only universal truth original deity of worship. With the visit of Sri other things are illusion. As Aadi Sankaracharya Chaitanya Vaishnavism became very popular in said ‘Brahman Satya, Jagat Mithya, Brahman Odisha. Several festivals associated with Krishna Jibeiba Na Parah’. But it is the only truth that culture like Krishna Janma, Nandotsava, Brahma has no shape, no colour, no gender and Kaliyadalana, Vakasuravadha, Chandan Yatra etc

JUNE - 2017 105 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review were intimately associated with the festival of the References : 13 temple of God Jagannath. The Sikh Guru Nanak 1. B. Tripathy & P.K. Singh, “Jagannath Culture in was influenced by God Jagannath for which he North-East India” Orissa Review, 2012, pp.24–27. visited his temple at Puri. For the Sikh devotees 2. H. Panda, History of Orissa, Cuttack, 2008, p.157. two monasteries had been built by the Sikhs. The devotees come and stay there for sacred Darshan 3. A. C. Pradhan, “Jagannath Dharma”, Odisha of God Jagannath. Even, the Sikhs have been Review, 2015, p.83. allowed to perform certain rituals in the Jagannath 4. Ibid.p.84. temple. Santh Kabir and Hari Das two Muslim 5. H. Panda, op.cit. P.183. devotees had come to Puri to get the blessings of 6. P.K. Choudhury, “Shree Jagannath : God of the God Jagannath. In 1512 A.D. Kabir arrived at Universe”, Odisha Review, 2015, p-1. Puri and in remembrance of his visit, Kabir Chaura 7. Ibid. pp.2-5. Monastery was built up in the sea shore which is still standing there.14 Salabega, a Muslim devotee 8. S.K. Maharana, “Oriya Sahityare Dharmadhara”, of Jagannath had given importance to him. He Cuttack, 1996, pp-419-420. had composed many bhajanas for Jagannath. The 9. Chinmayee Satpathy, “Culture of God Jagannath three images of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and and Ideals of Human Philosophy” Orissa Review, Subhadra, are the identical representations of 2007, p.56. Buddha, Sangha and Dharma respectively of 10. Archana Kanungo, “Unity in Diversity:-The Buddhist Triad. Because of the popularity of Uniqueness of Jagannath Culture of Odisha”, Jainism in Odisha, Balabhadra, Jagannath, and Odisha Review, 2013, pp.57-66. Subhadra have been regarded as the three cardinal 11. Damodar Pradhani, “Purusottama Sri Jagannath principles of Jainism like Samyak Jnana, Samyak and Universal Religion”, Odisha Review, 2014, p.90. See also Shisir Kumar Panda, “Evolution of Charitra and Samyak Drishti. The concept of Jagannath Culture”, in P.K. Mishra, J.K.Samal, Kalpa tree in Jainism is regarded as the Kalpavata “Comprehensive History and Culture of Orissa”, inside the sacred complex of God Jagannath New Delhi, 2010,pp.541-545. temple at Puri. Kaivalya Mukti, one of the tenets 12. Ganeswar Jena, “God Jagannath:-Presiding Deity of Jainism is identified with the Kaivalya of Nilachala Dham, the God of the Universe”, (Mahaprasada) of God Jagannath.15 Orissa Review, 2010, p.8. See also Shisir Kumar Panda, op.cit. Even today, God Jagannath is honoured and worshipped by the followers of different 13. H. Panda, op.cit. p.186. religious sects in India. And we Odias are 14. Damodar Pradhani, op.cit. pp.91-93. See also Shisir fortunate enough to have a God Who is the ‘God Kumar Panda, op.cit. of the Universe’ and Who has given an identity to 15. H. Panda, op.cit. p.186. us in the whole world. With the construction of many Jagannath temples across the world, Jagannath consciousness is becoming a widespread phenomenon. This is creating universal brotherhood which is another great Dr. Abhijit Sahoo, Lecturer in History, Marshaghai aspect of the Jagannath culture. College, Marshaghai, Kendrapara.

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