sign in sign up
<<
Home , Balarama, Indradyumna, Lakshmi Purana, Madhava (Vishnu), Raja (festival)

is cult spans millennia. Countless have come from every corner of the country Hto catch a glimpse of that black face, those saucer-like eyes, that plump shapeless figure. He has not been made in the image of man. Tribal descendants play an important role in His daily worship and festivals. His holy food is partaken of by priest and Pariah alike from the same plate. Why ? Many answers come to mind to someone steeped in his lore. A tribal god. A Jain Tirthankar. The Buddhist Trinity - , Shaivism, and Tantricism. He embraces all with those Legends of stumplike outstretched arms, Symbol of a grand synthesis. A god of such hoary antiquity. A eight centuries old. So legends lace Jagannath like the fragrant garlands that adorn his broad Padmalaya Das bust. Skanda Purana The Utkala Khanda of the Skanda Purana relates this story about the origin of Jagannath. , in the form of a boar, rescued the Earth Goddess after the Great Deluge. created the entire universe. When Brahma asked Vishnu how all living creatures could attain salvation, Vishnu told him that He Himself would be living at Purushottam () in the form of Nila . Whoever had his Darshan would attain . But due to the sanctity of this place, the work of (the God of Death) was hampered. So he sought a remedy from Vishnu. And the god promised that He (Nila Madhava) Himself would vanish after

ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 49 sometime, but Yama's glory would not continue With , the divine sage, for guide, in this place. started on his journey to On top of Nilgiri (the eminence on Purushottam. On the frontier of Utkal, the King which the present temple of Jagannath stands) of Orissa met him. He crossed the river is the mighty Kalpa Vriksha. To the west of the Mahanadi, went via Bhubaneswar and had tree is the Rohini Kunda (a water cistern still in Darshan of god Kapoteswara. Then he existence). To the north of it Saora Viswavasu reached the Nilakantheswar temple on the worshipped Nila Madhava. At that time the eastern boundary of Purushottam. There he glory of this place of pilgrimage was still a was saddened to hear from Narada that Nila secret. But the heavenly denizens daily Madhava had disappeared. The divine sage descended to worship Nila Madhava here. consoled him by saying that God himself would give him darshan in the form of four wooden In the Satya age the fifth generation figures. Then the king reached Nilgiri. On the descendant of Brahma, Indradyumna of the advice of Narada, the king built near dynasty, reigned at . He was a Nilakantheswara a temple for god . great Vaishnavite, learned in the scriptures. Narada himself performed the consecration One day he convened a meeting of learned ceremony on the fifth day and installed the men and asked, "Where can I really see Vishnu image in the temple. with my own eyes ?" A mendicant-pilgrim replied, "At Purushottam the Lord Purushottam Then Indradyumna made himself resides. Obtain his Darshan and arrangements for performing the 1000 horse worship him." sacrifice. Madhava appeared to Indradyumna So Indradyumna sent his priest in a dream. to Utkal or Orissa. Vidyapati reached For the ceremonial ablutions after the Purushottam and stayed at a Saora village to sacrifice, a bath-house was built near the west of Nilgiri. He introduced himself to Beleshwara temple on the sea-shore. The Viswavasu there and told him the cause of his servants reported to Indradyumna that a journey. "Indradyumna will be fasting till my mighty tree with four branches was floating in return. Make arrangements for me to have the sea and moving towards the bath-house. It Darshan of Nila Madhava." emitted rays like the rising sun. Red in colour, Viswavasu pitied Vidyapati and took it had a conch-shell mark. The king questioned him by the hand, led him over a narrow track Narada about this mystery. Narada said, "The to the top of Nilgiri and showed him Nila god who appeared to you in your dream - it is Madhava. Then the returned to the hair fallen from his body that has been Avanti. Meanwhile, in keeping with his promise transformed into this tree. Bring this Vishnu- to Yama, Nila Madhava hid himself beneath a form tree, build a Mandap (pavilion) for it and mass of sand. make idols from it.

50 REVIEW * May-June - 2015 With great ceremony Indradyumna duly All the contemporary kings of India were brought the tree and placed it on the Mahavedi engaged in this temple-building. Before the (Great Altar). While he discussed with Narada temple-building was over, on the advice of about the construction of images, a divine voice Narada, Indradyumna went to heaven with the said, "Jagannath will Himself come to the divine sage to invite Brahma for consecrating Mahavedi for the construction of the image. the temple. The Mahavedi will remain covered and secret. Brahma was completely absorbed in For 15 days the Mandap will remain closed. listening to music at that time. When he spoke This old man with tools that you see, take him to Indradyumna at last, a long time had and place him inside the Mandap and close elapsed. Brahma said to Indradyumna, "This the door. Till the images are ready, various types of musical instruments must be played music festival is over. But for you it's a very outside. For, if the sound of construction long age. During the period of your stay here reaches the ears, it will result in deafness, one age has passed. None of your blindness, death of sons and life in hell. descendants are also left. Go down soon to Therefore, never see the work being done or the earth, and bring the gods and the temple enter the place of image construction. If any under your control. I am following you." one other than the person appointed to do the Indradyumna reached earth with task sees this, what king what kingdom, all will Narada, Brihaspati and other heavenly be mortally afraid." And Vishnu himself arrived denizens. He was happy to find the temple had there in the guise of an old man. been completed. He prepared three chariots The king placed the old man inside and and brought the images in them from the locked the door. After 15 days, the images of mahavedi. , , Jagannath and While Indradyumna was away in Sudarshana were found. Again the divine voice heaven, a king called Gala had gained control directed the king to dress the images of the temple and was worshipping an image beautifully in silk, to build a magnificent palace of Madhava he had installed. Indradyumna had of specified proportions for them at a specific the image removed to another small temple. spot and take the images there. The king On hearing about this, Gala got wild and followed the instructions, installed the images rushed to Purushottam with his army. But on and worshipped them. He gave away innumerable gifts to . The hole dug seeing the preparations of Indradyumna, the by the milling hooves of the cows that were presence of the heavenly beings and hearing gifted to the Brahmans got filled up with the about his journey to heaven, he did not dispute water used for washing hands at the time of further, but aided Indradyumna. He expressed the gift-giving and was transformed into a regret for not having worshipped the wooden sacred lake - the present Indradyumna tank. images so far. Brahma arrived and consecrated Then Indradyumna started building a temple. the temple and installed the images.

ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 51 Indradyumna handed over the temple burnt. placed the body in the sea. After to Gala and left for Brahmalok (heaven). instructing Jara to follow the body and find out where it would touch the shore and become So ends the story. famous, Arjuna returned to Dwaraka. The , Narada Purana One day appeared in a dream and Padma Purana do not possess the wealth to Jara and told him to worship his body. And of details given in the Skanda Purana. Both Jara discovered near him an image of Vishnu. the Brahma Purana and the Narada Purana So he took it to the Dhauli hill, kept it beneath mention only three images - , a tree there and worshipped it reverently with Subhadra and Jagannath, and say that Brahma offerings of wild fruits, leaves and water. He and Vishnu together made the images. The kept it a secret even from his son and wife. Brahma Purana says stone was brought from Some years passed. the Vindhya mountains for building the temple. There is hardly any difference between these Gala Madhava, the king of Kanchi, was two . But the Skanda Purana described a great devotee of Vishnu. Daily he used to the images of Balabhadra and Jagannath as see the picture of Vishnu in the handful of water having four arms and of Gala's annexation of with which the ritualistically offered food to the the temple. god, before eating. After the death of Krishna, he no longer saw the god's reflection in the Sarala Dasa water. So the king fasted. He then heard that Sarala Dasa, the 14th-15th century arjuna had set the body of the god afloat on poet and author of the Oriya the sea. So he sent messengers in the four mentions that Jagannath appeared after the directions. death of Krishna. the Brahman went to the In the and Musali Parva of south and finally reached the village of Jara, his Mahabharata he relates the story of the Saora. He made friends with the Saora's Jagannath thus : son and stayed in the village for some time and After the death of Krishna, with the help ultimately found out the secret place where the of Jara the Saora, Arjuna made arrangements image was hidden. Jara agreed to show it to for the funeral. He lighted the pyre, but only him. He blind-folded the Brahman and took him the logs burnt, not the body. Arjuna was to the foot of the tree. All along the way disconsolate. So a divine voice told him, "Fire Vasudeva secretly flung handfuls of barley. He cannot devour this body. It will be worshipped returned to Kanchi and told Gala Madhava for a long time on the Nilasundar hill. Put out everything. the fire. Remove the body and set it afloat on But when the king came to the Dhauli the sea." One night and one whole day the fire hill and reached the hiding place, he found only had burnt, but the body did not burn. Only both faded flowers, but no image. The Saoras must the hands, legs, ears, nose and face had been have hidden it, he thought, and massacred

52 ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 them. Only Jara escaped because he was not instructions. They were not to be opened till present there at the time. Displeased with Gala the images were finished. Madhava, the god cursed him, "Let Jara Saora's After a fortnight, when no sound issued tribe increase. Let none remain of your line." from within, the king feared Jara might have After this, the god did not desire to live secretly left the place, so he got the doors in the Saora village. So according to his opened. directions Gala Madhava brought the Vishnu People saw three images seated on the image to Nilgiri, installed it there and throne. Krishna then advised the king that no worshipped it. Formerly the Saoras had been one should see his colour in the Age, so worshipping it as Savari . he must bring resin from the Sal tree and apply Meanwhile Jara was on the sea-shore it on his body. At night Jara applied the resin near Konark on the lookout for the floating body on the god's body and camouflaged the of Krishna. Indradyumna, the son of Madhu wooden image. No one knew. The images of Kesari of the Birat dynasty, had heard that god Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath came would come to live at Nilgiri. He came there and into being. with the help of a Brahman named Viswavasu Deula Tola built a temple for the god at Nilgiri. But he had In the Oriya ballad Deula Tola or no further news about the body. So he asked "Temple Construction" we get a slightly different Jara. The Saora meditated on Krishna who told version regarding the evolution of Jagannath. him that he desired to appear for some time in There are several authors of the story. Here is the form of the Buddha. According to his the one by Krishna Dasa. previous promise, he would stay on the Nilgiri for some time. He would change his form in Indradyumna, the king of Malwa, sent the Rohini Kunda and take on the form of the messengers in search of Nila Madhava. Buddha, and the unburnt body would be Vidyapati the Brahman found that Viswavasu transformed into wood. the Saora secretly worshipped Nila Madhava somewhere in the depths of a forest on the Indradyumna and Jara together came eastern shores of India. Vidyapati married the to Nilgiri. And the god changed his form into a tribal fowler's daughter Lalita and contrived to log of wood in the Rohini Kunda. Jara, obtain Darshan of the god. The day Vidyapati Indradyumna and Vasudeva the Brahman saw the god, Nila Madhava did not accept the together lifted the log from the cistern. simple wild fruits the Saora offered usually. The Jara undertook the task of making the god told him he would now leave the form of image. Viswakarma, the celestial architect, Nila Madhava and take on the form of Daru himself came down to help Jara, the Saora. Brahma (the wooden god Jagannath) and live The log was cut into three parts. All the doors in a temple. And that he craved for cooked of the temple were locked according to his food. Vidyapati had secretly flung handfuls of

ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 53 til (sesame seeds Lalita had tied to his cloths). to his surprise the Nila Chakra ( the discus on So he could find out the way again. He informed top of the temple steeple) was revealed. He Indradyumna. The king came with a mighty ordered the men to dig further till the whole army to Orissa. temple stood revealed in its pristine grandeur.

But angered by the king's pride, the god My ancestors had built such a grand had vanished. King Indradyumna suspected the temple, he wondered. I will instal images inside Saoras must have hidden the god and it and worship, he decided. surrounded their village with his soldiers. Meanwhile Brahma's meditation ended. Viswavasu prayed to Nila Madhava. And the And Indradyumna repeated his invitation to divine voice of Jagannath told the king. Free consecrate the temple. I will go, but the temple the Saora. Build a temple on the Niladri hill. you built no longer belongs to you. King Gala After you finish building the temple, call me and Madhava now reigns over your subjects, I'will come. Brahma informed the waiting king. Indradyumna Accordingly the king built a magnificent and Brahma descended together to earth and temple for his god. Then he wondered where went to the Nilgiri hill. he could get a worthy enough Brahman to consecrate the great temple he had built. So But Gala Madhava claimed he had built he went to heaven to invite Brahma himself. the temple. So the two kings quarrelled. Brahma When Indradyumna reached heaven, Brahma appeared on the scene and said the king who was sitting in meditation. By the time Brahma's had built the temple must produce a witness. meditation was over, although it was not long I have none, said Gala Madhava. Is a witness by heavenly standards, aeons had passed on necessary to testify to the construction of a earth. A great storm passed over Nilgiri, temple ? scoffed the false claimant. covering the temple completely with sand. Finally, the dispute was settled by the A king called Suradeva had reigned testimony of turtles. In the Indradyumna tank and died. His son too. His grandson Gala there were many turtles. They had carried Madhava ascended the throne and reigned stones on their backs for constructing the now over Nilgiri. All this happened while temple. When the three reached the tank, the Indradyumna waited beside Brahma. One day turtles were sunning themselves. they plunged Gala Madhava had a sea-bath and then went into the water the moment they saw deer-hunting in the forest adjoining Nilgiri. He Indradyumna. Brahma called out to them to was returning home after the hunt when he bide a moment so that he could question them. espied the massive heap of sand. He raced The turtles told him that they were scared his horse over it. His horse's hoof struck because he had brought Indradyumna with something hard in the sand. This irritated the him. Because of him one lakh of our species king. He ordered the sand to be excavated and perished, they said. But Brahma persisted. himself stood watching the work when suddenly Whose temple is it ? He asked.

54 ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 Indradyumna's, answered the turtles. must be dead since no sound could be heard We have carried stones for the construction from the room. So the king himself broke open of the temple. Indradyumna built the temple the sealed doors to find the ancient carpenter and went to fetch you. Gala Madhava removed had disappeared, leaving behind four half- the sand. Ultimately Gala Madhava gave in. finished images. The king regretted his haste Brahma said, since you removed the sand, half and was penitent. the credit goes to you. But since you told a lie, Jagannath appeared to him in a dream. you will remain unworshipped in the Kali age. He told Indradyumna that the sons born in the But there was no idol in the temple. And home of the original Saora who had Indradyumna started fasting. Jagannath worshipped him as Nila Madhava would serve appeared to him in a dream and told him that as temple functionaries called Daitas. The he would find him folating in the sea in the form descendants of Vidyapati will be his actual of a log of wood with holy marks. The log was attendants (prakruta sevaka). The sons born of the union of the Saora's daughter and found. But the king's elephants and all the Vidyapati will serve as his Suars (cooks). king's men could not move the log an inch. The divine voice told the king that this was so Then Jagannath told Indradyumna to because the king had been trying to impress ask any boons he wished and he would grant him with his imperial might. Even if all the people them. Indradyumna asked for the following. in your kingdom tried, they can't move me. At Every day at midnight your doors will be closed. dawn tomorrow bring a golden cart and place Three hours before dawn will they open. it near the log. Place a silken pillow at one end. Altogether you will sleep for three hours. Eating And call Viswavasu, the Saora. He was my and tasting, your hands will never be dry. You original worshipper. I will move only when he will stay and eat Bhog (food offering) the whole comes. day long. The king followed the instructions. The All these things you have asked are Saora held one end and Brahman Vidyapati only for my welfare, said Jagannath. Ask the other, and the log was placed on the cart something for yourself, and I will grant your wish. and taken to the temple. But no carpenter of his realm could make even a dent on the log. Then grant me this, O Lord, said Their tools broke. At last Jagannath himself Indradyumna. Let none remain of my line. arrived in the guise of a doddering old Why do you ask this ? Questioned the carpenter to prepare the images in a locked god. For, with you, I will reign through the ages. room. No, said Indradyumna, I have no use He warned the king not to open the for that. My glory will remain forever. My sons doors till twenty-one days elapsed. But his and grandsons will claim this temple is ours. If queen Gundicha got worried on the fifteenth they say it is ours, all my will be lost, day and insisted that the frail old carpenter said the noble king.

ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 55 Jagannath said this is a sweet and honour his devotee. This was done. And statement you have made. Your wish be to everyone's delight, the Redeemer of Sinners granted, O King. completed his without further hindrance. Thus ends the story of temple building by Krishna Dasa. Conquest of Kanchi Dardhyatabhakti There is another interesting legend of Jagannath and Balabhadra becoming knights There are innumerable legends about errant to aid a devotee. Jagannath's love and affection for his devotees, be he sinner or saint. Here is one taken from Purushottam , the of Puri an old book entitled Dardhyatabhakti by was to marry Padmavati, the daughter of the Dasa. Raja of Kanchi. Once his would be father-in- law came to watch the Rath Yatra. He was Balaram Dasa was a great devotee of astounded to find his faughter's fiance busy Jagannath. But he had one weakness. He kept sweeping the ground before the chariots with the company of prostitutes. Once at Rath Yatra a golden broom. He does the job of a sweeper, time, on hearing the gongs, he rushed straight this king of Orissa has no caste, he thought, from the house of a prostitute and climbed on and decided he would not give his daughter in the chariot of Jagannath to have Darshan of marriage to such a contemptible person. How his beloved god on the great day. was he to know that this ceremonial sweeping The priests saw his dishevelled looks symbolised the equality of all men in the eyes and guessed from where he had come. So they of god. heaped insults on him and pushed him down Angered by the insult, Purushottam from the chariot. In sorrow and anger, Balarama waged war against the Raja of Kanchi but was Dasa repaired to the seashore and drew three defeated. He prayed to Jagannath for help and chariots on the sand to carry his beloved god set out again for the south with his army. This and berated him roundly for caring so little for time without his knowledge his army was his devotees. followed by Jagannath on a black horse and Jagannath foresook his chariot and his brother Balabhadra on a snow-white one. came to sit in the one his devotee had drawn. Enroute the brothers twain felt awfully thirsty. And he was accompanied by his brother and So they pawned a ring and bought curds from sister. Tears of repentance and joy coursed Manika the cowherd woman and drank their down the cheeks of . Meanwhile, fill. the mighty Nandighosa, chariot of Jagannath, Purushottom was victorious this time would not budge, however hard people pulled. and returned home with Padmavati for prize. Despite the efforts of even elephants. But he had decided not to marry her. He had Then Jagannath appeared in a dream vowed he would wed her to a sweeper. But to the Raja of Puri and told him to make amends when Rath Yatra came round again, and he

56 ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 was sweeping the floor round the chariots, his leaving, "I am leaving as a low untouchable wise minister brought Padmavati and handed woman, this is my curse, O Lord. As long as her to the Raja, saying that since he was a the sun and moon rise and set, food you will sweeper now, he should marry her and thus never get. You will eat only when I, the low- fulfil his own vow. And everybody was happy. caste woman, will serve you." To this day the Raja of Puri performs the With the help of some other gods, and ceremonial sweeping of the platforms of the by employing some womanly wiles, did chariots. succeed in making her curse'come true. After Lakshmi and Jagannath suffering much hardship, the brothers were forced to fast till Lakshmi relented at last and Jagannath holds sway over the hearts cooked food for them herself. So they ate from of sinners and saints, kings and commoners the hands of Lakshmi whom they had driven alike. In fact, he is very much a part of the out as a low-caste woman. And the angry common man's life in Orissa. And they address goddess gave Jagannath a bit of her mind him endearingly in a very familiar manner. So when he came to seek her pardon on the naturally Jagannath has tiffs with his wife like, advice of his now repentant big brother. anybody else. This is beautifully illustrated in Balarama Dasa, the 16th century Oriya poet's "Shame on your words! Shame on your might ! narrative poem . This story not Shame on your brother !" She said with angry only reveals that gods are also fallible but also contempt. gives the reason for the remarkable Jagannath could not say a word in observance of castelessness regarding the defence. He remained silent. Then he said that holy food of Jagannath. by forcing them to beg, she had humiliated Once Lakshmi, the consort of them in the eyes of the world and humbled their Jagannath entered an outcast woman's house pride. So he beseeched her to forget her anger and was about to re-enter the big temple without and accompany them back to the temple. But purifying herself. But apprised of the facts and Lakshmi laid down a condition-all should egged on by his big brother Balabhadra, parttake of the holy food, of the temple without Jagannath barred her path. They had a distinction of caste. Brahmans would take it thundering big quarrel and Lakshmi said that from the hands of sweepers and vice versa. though she seemed destitute, she was not an Jagannath agreed. Then hand in hand they unchaste or widowed daughter that she would entered the big temple with great pomp and return to her father's house. Despite her pageantry. husband protests she flung at his feet all her fabulous jewellery and left for an unknown destination. But she cursed Jagannath before N.B.: Reprinted from Orissa Review, July, 1969.

ODISHA REVIEW * May-June - 2015 57