Purusottama - Jagannath and Purusottama - Puri : Its Origin and Antiquity
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Orissa Review July - 2008 Purusottama - Jagannath and Purusottama - Puri : Its Origin and Antiquity Dr. Janmejay Choudhury The origin and antiquity of Purusottama-Jagannath Nyaya and Yoga prefers the terms Jiva and and Purusottama Kshetra -Puri remains unsolved. Iswara. The word Purusottam has been used in Evidences suggest that from very ancient times, Srimad Bhagavatgita. Bhagavatgita says that there Purusottama Jagannath was being worshipped at are two types of Purusa, the perishable one and Purusottam Kshetra. The word Purusottama is imperishable one. The Purusasukta also speaks formed by the combination of two words such as of two forms of Purusa, one higher and the other Purusa and Uttam, this means the best of all men. lower. The Universe emerges out of the different There is a reference to Purusa in Vedas. In Vedas parts of the body of this lower form of Purusa, we do not find any mention of the word where as the higher form of Purusa is Lord of the Purusottam. This is used with reference to Virata mortality and the immortality.3 Purusa. In Sanskrit literature, the name Thus the term Purusottam generally stands Purusottam Jagannath is not exclusively used to for Vishnu in literature. But in Vaisnava Agamas denote Jagannath of Puri.1 In Upanisadas the It is identified as a special deity which represents word 'Purusa' has been interchangeably used with particular aspects of Visnu such as Madhava, 'Atma'-Soul and 'Brahma'- Supreme Soul. The Narayana and Damodara, all of which are use of the term Purusa in the sense of human considered as different aspects of Visnu. being is found in Chandogya, Taittiriya, Saradatilak the famous tantric work written by Bruhadaranyaka, Prasana and Mundaka Laksmana Desika of Kashmir towards the end Upanisadas. It is used in the sense of Jiva or of the 10th or the 11th century classifies Visnuite individual soul in Bruhadaranyaka, Chandogya, deities in three broad heads; Visnu, Nrusimha Katha, Svetaswatara and Prasana Upanisadas. and Purusottam. The term Visnu represents In some other passages of the Upanisadas, the Bhagabata-Vasudeva aspect, Nrusimha the term Purusa has been referred in the sense of furious or violent aspect and Purusottam the Divyapurusa, a divine entity. In some of the texts amorous aspect of the same God. In the Sridhara of the later Upanisads we find the term used aspect of Purusottama, He is worshipped as almost exactly in the sense of Brahman, one who consort of Laxmi, in His Krisna aspect as the is immortal.2 It is thus clear that in the Upanisads, beloved of Gopis etc. The most important of all Purusa is a philosophical term which is used the forms of Purusottama, as Visnu conceived of besides in the usual sense of Man or person. While as the God of love, in other words a combination Vedanta prefers the term. 'Atman' and 'Brahman', of Rama and Visnu. Purushottam thus unites in 5 Orissa Review July - 2008 Himself the characteristics of the husband of Vishnu, Krisna and Jagannath. In it Purusottama Laxmi, Krisnaa and of Ramaa. All of these is depicted as one who sees all in the Universe characteristics are present in the nature of and as Parameswara, who sports the creation, Purusottama- Jagannath of Puri.4 preservation and destruction of the universe. He is none but Narayana,Visnu or Jagannath, the The Ksetramahatmyas of Jagannath Puri holder of conch, disc, mace and the lotus, and is have been discussed in Brahma Purana written in the granter of the four vargas, i.e. piety, prosperity, about 1030 A.D,5 Narada Purana, Kapila pleasure and salvation. He pervades the whole Samhita (1350 A.D), Skanda Purana composed universe and, at the time of deluge, He contains in about 11th-12th century A.D,6 Padma Purana, the entire universe in Him.17 Vamadeva Samhita and also Niladri Mahodaya. The Brahma Purana describes 'Purusottama' as Purusottama Ksetra-Puri has been one, whose principal attribute is that He is described in the Puranas as the most sacred place conceivable only in terms of contradictory qualities in Bharata Varsa. It is the ksetra where the God of Dharmas.7 The Ramayana uses the term Purusottama made his perpetual abode, Maryada Purusottama for one who, like Rama is Vaikuntha Bhubana. The sacred place, according always ready to attend to the call of duty.8 Matsya to the tradition, existed even during the great Purana, one of the earlier among the eighteen universal deluge and also in the beginning of this Puranas, refers to Purusottama as the name of creation. Its greatness is unparalleled, its both a sacred place and the deity there in.9 Padma importance is unique and its sanctity is Purana identifies Purusottama with Ramachandra unquestionable.18 The Kapila Samhita refers to of the Ramayana and Mahalaxmi with Sita.10 In the land as the one "that takes away sin". There the Mahabharata, Jagannath is mentioned in are Puranic view on Purusottama Ksetra. The connection with the thousand names of Vishnu.11 Matsya Purana, among the oldest of the Puranas, In the Vishnu Purana, Krishna is addressed both refers to Purusottama Ksetra twice, though it is as Purusottama and Jagannath.12 In the Vamana silent on Jagannath,19 while mentioning only about Purana (7th century ) Vishnu is prayed by Aditi the deity Vimala. The sacred tract is also known as Jagannath.13 In the Sasthamuttara Khanda of as Sankha Khetra in the Utkala Khanda of Padma Purana, Purusottama is taken for a sacred Skanda Purana. One conspicious point of " month, although in its Kriya Yoga Sara Khanda, Purusottama Ksetra Prasasti" of this Purana, as it is merely another name for Jagannath.14 In the also of Nilamani Purana, is that these speak of times of Garuda Purana, Purusottama had already Jagannath being established on Nrusimha become well known.15 Purusottama in this hymns.20 Purana, becomes synonymous with such other In Purusottama Mahatmya, Jagannath has names as Govinda, Keshaba, Damodara, Vishnu, been described as a Vedic deity. Here epithets Tribikrama, Narayana, Hari and Vasudeva.16 In like Ekapada, Tripada, Tirthapada, Agni Purana, Purusottama has been described in Antariksapada are used for Jagannath. It is also terms of the attributes of Salagrama, which in mentioned here that the river Ganges, flowing from turn is the same as Vasudeva, Sankarsana, His feet, sanctifies the whole world. This is one Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Krishna, Vishnu, of the characteristics of Vaisnavism in Jagannath Nrusimha, Vamana, Tribikrama, Ananta, culture. He is also known as Darubrahma (the Damodara and Sudarshana. The Purusottama image made of Daru). He is Brahma of the Mahatmya has identified Pususottama with Vedanta and in this form, Vidyapati saw Him at 6 Orissa Review July - 2008 Nilachala. He is the source and soul of the to Purusottama is that found in the Sarada Devi universe. He is described as the Sabda Brahma temple inscription of Maihar of Madhya Pradesh.29 and the creator of the universe. He is embodiment Purusottama mentioned in the inscription is no of sense and pleasure. There is no difference other than the deity of Puri, who has already between Vishnu of Sweta-Dwipa and Jagannath become famous by the middle of the 10th century Himself. He is also known as Ramaanatha or the A.D.30 The copper plates of Eastern Chalukya husband of Ramaa i.e. Laksmi.21 king Rajaraja-1 discovered from Korumelli begin 31 In Sanskrit literature, the word Purusottma with Sridhamnah Purusottamasya. The Nagpur or Jagannath is not exclusively used to denote inscription of the Paramaras of Malwa mentions Jagannath of Puri. Kalidas refers to Purusottama God Purusottama in the vicinity of the eastern 32 as a name for Vishnu in the Raghuvamsa.22 Murari ocean. The Pujaripali inscription of Gopala Mishra in his Anargha Raghava mentions mentions Purusottama as an important tirtha of 33 Purusottama.23 Krushna Misra in his Prabodha India. In the inscription discovered from Chandrodaya makes a reference to the temple of Govindapur poet Gangadhara states that his father 34 Purusottama in the Utkal Desha.24 The Manoratha visited Purusottama. As the Kalabiveda of Jimutavahana (1100-1150 A.D) inscription is dated in Saka year 1059 (1137- informs us that it is highly meritorious to observe 38), this proves the popularity of Purusottama as full moon day at Purusottama in the month of a tirtha and the close religious contacts between Jyestha. Lakshmidhara in the Tritha Bibechana Bihar and Orissa in the 12th century A.D. The Kandam of Kritya Kalpataru mentions Edilpur grant of Kesavasena says that Laksmana Purusottama as a famous place of pilgrimage. Sena (1179-1205 A.D.) established a sacrificial 35 The Barhaspatya Arthasastra refers to Purusottma pillar at Purusottama. The Kalindi grant of as one of the eight Vaishnaba tirths of India.25 Rajaraja I, the Eastern Chalukya king, which is The Kalika Purana refers to Orissa as the seat of undated, describes in its introductory verses the Goddess Katyayani and God Jagannath. The Brahma is born from the lotus, which grows from Pithanirnaya, a tantric text of the late medieval the navel of the great Lord Narayana- period, refers to Jagannath. The literary dates are Purusottama at Sridhama,36 The undated also corroborated by epigraphic evidences. There Pujaripali inscription of Gopaladeva refers to are epigraphic reference to Purusottama Purusottam among a list of holy places.37 Jagannath, which help us to establich His Copper Plates Grant: historicity on very solid foundation. In many copper plates dating from 8th Epigraphic References: century A.D. mention of individuals bearing the The Sirpur Stone Inscription of name of Purusottama also substantiates the wide Mahasivagupta Balarjuna begins with invocation popularity of Purusottama Jagannath.