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Orissa Review

Invasions on the Temple of Lord ,

Abhimanyu Dash

hroughout the ages the temple of Lord During this invasion the deities were taken away TJagannath, Puri had been invaded and to Gopali, a village in Sonepur and kept plundered for eighteen times in the annals of underground. Prof. K.C. Panigrahi has identified history. The temple was a lucrative Raktavahu with -III, the Rastrakuta King place of wealth for invaders to of Deccan and Subhanadeva with plunder. To non-Hindu Subhakaradeva-I of Bhaumakara dynasty. To invaders the temple was a prove, Prof. Panigrahi has taken the help of good place to display Zihad Hindol plate of Subhakaradeva-III of 839 AD (Religious War). To loot its and Sanjan plates of Amoghavarsha. It is stated property and profane in the Sanjan plates of Amoghavarsha that the idols were motives Rastrakuta king Govinda-III (AD 798-814) behind every conquered , Kalinga, Vanga, invasion. Owing to Dahala and Odraka. Under series of inroads on Govinda-III the Rastrakutas the temple of Lord became invincible everywhere Jagannath the triad and there is therefore no were exiled at doubt that they invaded various regions of Odraka (Orissa). Orissa. Basing on Hindol plate of The invasion Subhakaradeva-III of Raktavahu on the Prof. Panigrahi states temple of Lord Jagannath is that Rastrakuta considered as the first one as per the record of King’s invasion of Orissa took place during the the ‘Madalapanji’, the temple chronicle. Andrew reign of Subhakaradeva-I. Stirling has reproduced the description of Raktavahu’s invasion of the ‘Madalapanji’ in his Govinda-III alias Raktavahu approached writing in 1822. The story of Raktavahu’s invasion Puri with his army through the sea. The king of recorded in the ‘Madalapanji’ indicates that he Orissa fled from the with the images of had defeated the King Subhanadeva of Orissa. Jagannath and His associates lodged in a cart.

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The images reached in Western frontier of Sonepur looted the wealth of the temple. Narasinghadeva and buried at a place known as Gopali. After 146 III was unable to protect his people and the years -I, the Somavamsi king got the images temple. On the contrary he successfully hid the dug out, made new images, built a new temple at triad in an unknown place. The incident reveals Puri and enshrined them there. Gopali, a village the idea that no harm was done to the deities. with a shrine of Jagannath, still exists at a distance of 16 miles from Sonepur.1 During the reign of the King Bhanudeva Ill the third invasion took place in 1360 Yayati-I after bringing back triad AD by Feroz Shah Tughluq, the Muslim ruler of performed ‘Navakalebara’ of deities at Puri . At the time of invasion Bhanudeva - III because of degraded conditions with the help of was not in his capital. He got the news of invasion. servitors. The citadel of the Lords was fixed in He returned Puri with his army and found no Feroz the temple measuring 38 Hatas (cubits at present Shah Tughluq. Feroz went back Delhi via Jajnagar the temple of Lord Nrusingh) beside the Mukti (). Nothing is known about his desecration Mandap in the precinct of Sri Jagannath temple. of the triad and plunder of the temple. But scholars That is why king Yayati is regarded as the ‘Second believe that he had thrown the triad into the ’ in the annals of history owing to Mahodadhi (Bay of Bengal). This kind of view is restoration.2 not supported by historical evidence. During the period of invasion of The fourth invasion was launched by Raktabahu the deities were worshipped at Gopali Ismail Ghazi the commander of Allauddin Hussain in Sonepur. At present the place is at Chhalia Shah the Sultan of Bengal in the year 1509 A.D. mountain in Kotsamali. The deities returned to The Suryavamsi King Prataprudradeva was the Shrikshetra during 814 A.D. and 819 A.D.3 ruler of Orissa who was in South at the time of invasion. The priests of the temple sailed the triad The second invasion on the temple of to the forthills of the ‘Chadheiguha Pahada’ in the Lord Jagannath was waged by Illias Shah the ‘’. On being informed, King Sultan of Bengal in 1340 A.D. during the reign of Prataprudradeva rushed back from Deccan and Narasinghadeva-III. His defence system in the drove away Ismail to the point at Huguli in the northern frontier of his empire was very weak. Bengal.4 The military organization of the fort of Raibania in north was not strong. The commandants The fifth invasion was launched by a of the fort were bribed by Illias Shah. Muslim invader Kalapahara in the year 1568 AD Narasinghadeva III felt insecured and kept his during the reign of Mukundadeva Harichandan, queens in the Giridurga near Simachalam. He the Chalukya King of Orissa. Kalapahara was prepared militarily to defend his empire of Utkal. one of the army assistants of Sulaiman Karrani, Inspite of his military arrangement to safeguard the Afghan Sultan of Bengal. In this expedition his empire Illias Shah suddenly attacked the Bayazid the son of Karrani was the commander temple of Jagannath in 1340A.D. He made havoc of the Bengal army. He was assisted by Sikandar among the religious minded people of Puri. The Uzbeg and Kalapahara. The reasons of Karrani’s people ran in panic to save their lives. The soldiers attack on the temple of Lord Jagannath was of lllias Shah killed the people mercilessly and Mukundadeva’s entanglement in the political

July - 2011 83 Orissa Review diplomacy which created much bad blood got information of the fall of Katak () to between the two. Firstly, Mukundadeva gave the hands of the . They hid the triad in an political shelter to Ibrahim Sur who was a great island inside the ‘Chilika lake’ as stated in the enemy of Sulaiman Karrani. Secondly ‘Madalapanji’. The deities were hidden Mukundadeva committed another offence by underground at Hastipatna in Parikuda identified exchanging envoys with the great Mughal with Chhapali, Khepali and Hatipada. Kalapahara emperor . In 1566 A.D Akbar sent envoys could easily know about the secrecy of the hidden to the court of Mukundadeva and Mukundadeva deities. He carried the triad from ‘Chilika Lake’ in exchange sent a Hindu ambassador named to the bank of the river Ganges on an elephant Paramananda Ray to the Court of the Mughal where he burnt them. Bisher Mohanty, a emperor.5 Akbar was a great enemy of Sulaiman Vaishnavite saint followed Kalapahara and Karrani. These two offences committed by managed to bring back the ‘’ to Kujanga Mukundadeva incurred great displeasure in the Gada keeping inside a Mridanga. Later on the mind of Sulaiman Karrani which paved the way ‘Brahmas’ were brought to the temple of for his Orissan invasion. Khurda Gada in 1575 A.D. by King Ramachandradeva. Subsequently the ‘Brahmas’ Kalapahara the Assistant Army General were placed in the deities. The deities were of Sulaiman Karrani led the expedition against brought back to the temple of Jagannath from Mukundadeva of Orissa in 1568 A.D. On the Khurdagada. contrary Mukundadeva sent Raghubhanja Chhotaraya to resist the army of Kalapahara but It is stated in the same chronicle that failed. Raghubhanja proved traitor and Kalapahara destroyed the great temple of Kalapahara occupied Cuttack. So Mukundadeva Jagannath upto the Amalakasila and defaced the surrendered before the Muslim army of Bengal. images. It is difficult to ascertain the truth of the In the meantime Ramachandra Bhanja the statement. But to us it seems that the temple was commandant of Sarangagarh fort (Baranga) not pulled down or rased to the ground, though rebelled against Mukundadeva. The latter was the images were damaged and disfigured as far killed at Gohiratikara (Near Jajpur) because of as possible. There is no archaeological evidence the two traitors Sikhi and Manai who were the to show that the temple was rebuilt at any time. generals of the King of Orissa. Ramachandra The original temple as built by Chodaganga has Bhanja was also killed by the invader. come down to us, though the carvings on the outer Ramachandra Bhanja who declared himself the faces of the temple have been damaged or king of Orissa finally proved himself as traitor disfigured.7 behind the assassination of Mukundadeva, the last Hindu king of Orissa. In the Madalapanji this A tradition in Bengal avers that traitor has sometimes been described as Kalapahara was earlier a Brahmin by caste. His Ramachandra Bhanja and sometimes as name was Raju alias Kalachand. He felt in love Ramachandradeva. The latter name seems to be with Dulari, the daughter of the Sultan of Bengal more correct.6 After occupation of the forts of and married her. But he wanted to retain his Cuttack and Sarangagarh Kalapahara religion. The Hindu society refused to accept him. successfully led his army to Puri to demolish the He came to the temple of Jagannath at Puri for temple of Jagannath. The servitors of the temple expiation. But the priests rebuffed him. This made

84 July - 2011 Orissa Review him reactionary and revengeful. He took a vow — Pentha where the Lords passed eight months to exterminate Hindu religion, images and temples. with ‘Shital Bhoga’ offerings. As per the This theory is only traditional and does not have description of the ‘Madalapanji’ Mirza Khurum any historical authenticity. Kalapahara was an invaded Puri temple during the time of Dola . Afghan. Kalapahara was a title used by many He found no deities in the temple and so looted Afghans. A nephew of Bahalul Lodi bore this name. the underground treasury. Prof. P. Mukherjee observes that “the Muslim chronicles conclusively prove that Kalapahara was Hasim Khan, the Subedar of Orissa a full blooded Afghan and not a Brahmin waged the eighth invasion on the great temple of renegade.”8 Lord Jagannath at Puri. This time Purushottam was also the King of Khurda. He shifted Sulaiman Karrani died in 1572 A.D. the deities to the Gopal temple at Khurda before followed by several invasions and plunders on the Hasim's arrival at Puri. In order to satiate his temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri by his successive master the then Mughal emperor, Hasim rulers namely Bayazid, Daud, Kuya Khan and Khan plundered the temple of Jagannath at Puri. Kutlu Khan Lohani who ruled over Orissa one The deities returned to the temple of Jagannath at after another. After them the sixth invasion jointly Puri by the King in 1608 A.D. waged on the temple of Jagannath in 1592 A.D. by Suleman, the son of Kuthu Khan and Osman, The ninth invasion on the temple of the son of Isha (ruler of Orissa). They havocked Jagannath was launched by a Hindu Rajput people at Puri and killed them mercilessly. They Jagirdar Kesodasmaru in 1610 A.D. desecrated the images of the great temple and Kesodasmaru was serving under Hasim Khan. plundered its wealth. By such action the invaders He was a friend of Jahangir. He came to Puri in violated the treaty earlier signed between Isha and disguise of a pilgrim accompanied by his faithful Raja Mansingh in 1590 A.D. Mansingh the soldiers without military uniform during celebration Mughal general finally suppressed the militant of the car festival. They entered into the Jagannath activities of these two Muslim invaders in 1592 temple and occupied it. They converted the temple A.D. During this time Ramachandradeva, the Bhoi into a fort. At that time the triad were in the dynasty ruler of Khurda took the leadership of . Kesodasmaru plundered crores feudatory rulers of Orissa who joined their hands of treasury of the temple of Jagannath. against the Mughal rule. During the reign of Unfortunately the king of Khurda Purusottamdeva Purushottamadeva of Bhoi Dynasty Mirza was absent at Puri as Chherapahanra (Sweeping Khurum, the commander of Khan the the chariots) performed by Mudirath on behalf of Nawab of Bengal invaded Puri in 1601 A.D which the king. The king immediately rushed Puri with is considered as the 7th attack on the temple of his Paik soldiers, chariots, cavalry forces, elephant Lord Jagannath. The servitors of the temple could forces, arms and ammunitions to Punish smell of it and shifted the triad to village Kesodasmaru. The Paik soldiers jumped into the Kapileswarpur near Puri in vessels through the premises of the temple with the help of chariots river Bhargavee. The deities were kept in the through four gates. They fought against the Rajput Panchamukhi Gosani temple at Kapileswarpur. soldiers who were looting the wealth of the temple. Dola festival was celebrated in that temple. Kesodasmaru ordered his soldiers to counter Thereafter the deities were shifted to Dobandha attack Paik army. The Rajput soldiers decided to

July - 2011 85 Orissa Review bind up clothes tightly with bamboos, used oils in In order to satiate his overlord Jahangir he ignited clothes which turned into fireballs and threw attacked Khurda. Kalyan the son of Raja them against the chariots to burn. The chariots Todar Mall, the revenue minister of Akbar became very quickly caught fire and burnt into ashes. So the Subedar of Orissa in 1611 A.D. after Hasim many Paiks died. The King was unable to face Khan and remained in that post till 1617 A.D. He the invader. The invader looted the wealth of the followed the path of Kesodasmaru to satiate his temple and went away. During the course of overlord Jahangir. In 1611 A.D. Kalyan Malla attack the deities remained in the Gundicha temple marched against Khurda and conquered many for eight months. They were brought back to the territories. Purushottamadeva, the King of temple of Jagannath by the help of Vimana. Khurda was compelled to surrender before Kesodasmaru being a Hindu became an invader Kalyan Malla. On the eve of this tenth invasion on the temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri. the Sevayats were frightened and shifted the triad to the ‘Mahisanasi’ in the Chilika Lake. Prof. Surendranath Dash in his article Subsequently the place was called ‘Brahmapura’ ‘Inroads on the temple of Sri Jagannath’ in the owing to the placement of ‘’ at that village. book ‘Cultural Heritage of ’ in Vol- XII, Since then the Lords were placed upon the Page 214 has pointed out five reasons behind this ‘Chakas’ (Round Citadel). So the place was invasion of Kesodasmaru in the following manner. termed as ‘Chakanasi’. The triad remained there for one year. 1. By the year 1610 A.D. the king of Khurda Purushottama Deva had acknowledged the The King Purushottama Deva expressed overlordship of Delhi. However, he was his desire to surrender. To maintain peace and independent from practical point of view. This did order he concluded treaty of understanding with not satisfy Hasim Khan. Kalyan Malla. Accordingly he offered his daughter as present to the service of the Mughal emperor 2. At that time the Mughal officers could not Jahangir. He also presented three lakhs of rupees oppress or suppress the semi- independent Hindu as Peshkash (tribute) to the royal exchequer along Kings for which they could not acquire much with one of his best elephants ‘Sesnaga' for the wealth. use of the emperor.

3. The concerned Subedars were always This raid of Kalyan Malla has been watching an opportunity to abolish the semi- described in the ‘Madalapanji’ the temple independent Hindu states. chronicle. But according to Mirza Nathan the event of sending the daughter by Purushottam 4. In this line, the more advanced officers Deva is never true because the Gajapati Kings were highly honoured. never keep their daughters at home after their 5. The status and dignity of these officers birth. The daughters are generally sent to the were increasing in the Durbar of Delhi. house of the maternal uncle. This tradition is maintained even now in the Gajapati family. Kalyan Malla became the next Subedar Therefore it is said that Raja Kalyan Malla might of Orissa after Hasim Khan. He ruled Orissa in have sent some other girl to the emperor only to between the years from 1611 A.D. to 1617 A.D. please him.9

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The circumstantial evidences confirm our for a short time. Afterwards Purushottama Deva conviction that the attack of Kalyan Malla was succeeded in installing himself as the Raja of launched to the Puri temple, but not of Khurda. Khurda. On the contrary Mukarram Khan failed Because according to ‘Madalapanji’, at the time to trace the deities, fled with riches and gold but of Kalyanmalla’s plunder Lord Sri Jagannath was was drowned in the waters. The deities kept in a not in Srimandir but at ‘Mahisanasi’. It is therefore, Mandap in the precinct of the Bankanidhi temple apparent that before his attack on Puri the triad for some days and returned to Puri in 1620A.D. had already been transferred to ‘Mahisanasi’.10 Thirteenth invasion on the temple of Kalyan Mall is known to have attacked Jagannath was launched by Mirza Ahmad Beg, on Puri temple twice. First time he not only the nephew of Moghul empress Nurjahan. Ahmad attacked the temple but also looted its treasure. Beg became the Governor of Orissa in 1621 A.D. Besides, he had treacherously murdered a minister He invaded Khurda as he found that King and 16 skilled generals of the Khurda King. Purusottam Deva was trying to strengthen his According to the version of ‘Madalapanji’, the position with the help of the chiefs of Banapur, King was not at Puri. The second attack might Ranapur, Karnata (near Banpur) where he died. have occurred in 1612 A.D. But this time he was Thereafter Narasingha Deva the son of retaliated by the valiant Paiks who chased him Purusottama Deva became the new King of upto Cuttack and killed many of his soldiers. As Khurda. Ahmad Beg put two terms before a result of this he did not venture to attack Odisha Narasingha Deva to accept. The terms were as upto A.D 1617.11 ‘According to Rabindranath follows : Pratihari during the second phase of attack of (1) The new king of Khurda will Kalyan Mall the Lords placed in the Chap (Fleet acknowledge his sovereignty. of Boats) at Gurubai Gada from Mahisanasi. The triad passed a few days beneath the ‘Lotani (2) Ahmad Beg’s family members will be Baragachha’ (Baniyan tree) getting down from the stationed at Cuttack. fleet. After that triad were worshipped at ‘Dadhibaman Temple’. Above terms of Ahmad Beg were rejected by Narasingha Deva. So out of anger Jahangir appointed Mukarram Khan as Ahmad Beg attacked Khurda in 1621 A.D. the Governor of Orissa in 1617 AD. Mukarram Narasingha Deva successfully resisted the Khan waged the 12th attack on the temple of Moghuls. At this stage the rebellious Moghul Lord Jagannath in 1617 A.D. He created a prince Shah Jahan arrived in Orissa with his army. situation of reign of terror by his iconoclastic Ahmad Beg left Khurda for Bengal out of fear. activities. The priests of the Jagannath temple From Cuttack Shah Jahan proceeded to carried away the image of Jagannath to and Oudh across Orissa. This march Gobapadar in panic. Enraged by Mukarram of Shah Jahan through Orissa caused panic among Khan’s iconoclastic activities, Raja Purusottama the priests of Jagannath temple at Puri. They Deva revolted. Mukarram therefore invaded carried away the image of Jagannath to Khurda. Purushottam could not withstand the ‘Andharigada’ in the mouth of the river Shalia attack and fled to Rajamahendri. The kingdom across the Chilika lake. Efforts were made to of Khurda was annexed to the Mughal territory transfer ‘Brahma’ to Gadamanitri in the Khurda

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District. The deities returned Puri in 1624 A.D. Muhammad Taqi Khan became Naib The triad were reinstalled on the golden throne Nazim (Deputy Subedar) of Orissa from A.D. and Mahaprasad was reintroduced. 1727 to 1734. During his time he invaded the temple of Jagannath for two times in 1731 A.D. The invasion of Amir Mutaquad Khan and 1733 A.D. He invaded the temple with alias Mirza Makki is considered as fourteenth one. iconoclastic zeal. He invaded to demolish the Mirza Makki became the new Governor of Orissa temple, desecrate the God and plundered its and ruled till 1641 A.D. During his Governorship treasure. So the servitors removed the idols to Narasingha Deva was treacherously killed by his Hariswar in Banpur, Chikili in Khalikote, nephew Gangadhar who occupied the throne of Rumagarh in Kodala, Athagada in Ganjam and Khurda. Mirzamakki invaded the Jagannath finally to Marda of Kodala. Kodala located in temple for two times. His commander plundered Athagada region considered as a safe place for the temple and the old palace at Balisahi. The the idols as this place was under the rule of Nizam invasion took place in the year 1645 A.D. of Hyderabad and not of Moghuls. Marda itself The fifteenth invasion was waged by Amir was situated inside a dense forest and hills. So Fateh Khan in 1647 A.D. He attacked the temple the place was invincible for the invaders. The ruler and plundered valuable gems like diamond, pearl of Athagada Jagannath Harichandan Jagadev had and gold etc. strong family relation with the Gajapati rulers of Khurda. The idols were kept at Marda from In 1692 A.D. the Moghul 29.12.1733 to 31.12.1736. At Marda a beautiful emperor issued an order to destroy the temple of temple was hastily constructed and arrangement Lord Jagannath. At that time Divyasingha Deva was made for all the rituals of Lord Jagannath. was the king of Khurda. Ekram Khan was the Even it is believed that the was held Nawab of Orissa who waged this invasion on the here with full vigour. The temple is a two temple with the help of his brother Mastram Khan. chambered Pidha style with Jagamohan and The Nawab entered the temple and climbed to Vimana. Marda is considered as the second home the - golden throne of Jagannath. The treasure of of Sri Jagannath. A regular temple of reasonable the temple was looted. The King was unable to size and shape with all architectural features was face the invader hidden in an unknown place. constructed here within a very short period and regular worship was arranged with full austerity. Lord Jagannath was hidden behind the After the departure of the gods the temple ‘Bimala Temple’ in the precinct of the Srimandir. continues to remain vacant for centuries. The gods The triad were shifted one after another to ‘Maa stayed there for two and half years. However the Bhagabati Temple’ at Gadakokal located at stay of gods at Athagada is recognized by lighting Brahmagiri block. As per records of the of a lamp on every Ekadasi day during evening ‘Madalapanji’ the Bije- pratima (Representatives followed by the recitation of a Sloka in honour of of Lords) were transferred to Gadakokal. Then Harichandan Jagadeva. There did exist a close the deities were shifted to Bada Hantuada in link between the two ruling families.12 Banpur across the Chilika Lake. The deities were returned to Puri in 1699 A.D. This was the The King Birakishore Deva was sixteenth invasion on the temple of Lord frightened with the Maratha Bargis. So Maratha Jagannath. Dewan Bahadur Khan wrote a letter to the King

88 July - 2011 Orissa Review in 1752 A.D. with the assurance that no invasion 2. Rabindranath Pratihari, “Exile”, in ‘Cultural would be launched on the Jagannath temple during Heritage of Odisha’, Puri Dist.(ed) G.Mohanty the Maratha rule. The servitors should continue (et.al), Vol. XII, part-III, , 2010, P-188. worship of the deities as usual without fear. It was the direction of the Maratha Dewan to King 3. Ibid, P-199 Birakishore Deva. 4. Ibid, P-189

But an unwanted incident occurred at Puri 5. K.C. Panigrahi, “The Chalukyas”, ‘History of in the year 1881 A.D. That the followers of Alekh Orissa’, Cuttack, 1995, P- 242 religion did not recognize Jagannath worship. In that year a large number of the followers of the 6. Ibid, P- 243 Alekh religion came from and Raipur 7. lbid, P-244 regions to Puri. They entered the Jagannath temple. According to ‘Utkal Dipika’ they brought 8. Ibid, P-245 the images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and 9. P.C. Das, “The Afghan and the Mughals”, out of the temple and burnt them on ‘History of Orissa’. New Delhi, 1994, PP.69- Grand Road at Puri which was recorded in the 70. records of police. As a result the invaders were 10. Surendranath Dash, “Inroads “, in ‘Cultural 13 imprisoned. Heritage of Odisha’, Puri Dist. (ed) G. Mohanty (et.al) Vol, XII, Part-Ill, Bhubaneswar, 2010, P- The most significant feature in the history of 215. invasion on the great temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri that in no case the ‘Brahma’ of the deities 11. Ibid were destroyed which continued till today. The 12. Amiya K. Pattnayak, “Sri Jagannath “, in servitors played an important role in safeguarding ‘Cultural Heritage of Odisha, Puri Dist. (ed) G. the triad at the time of danger. The Kings have Mohanty (et.al), Vol. XII, Part- III, taken care of the temple from destruction by Bhubaneswar, 2010, PP-206-207 surrendering before the invaders. In , 13. Bansidhar Mohanty, “Etihasre Sri Jagannath Kasi and the mosques have been built Mandir O Sri Jagannath”, Bhubaneswar, 1982, in place of the temples due to Muslim invasion. P-106. At Puri the temple of Lord Jagannath remained standstill at the time of invasion. No mosque had been erected which is the miracle of the deities. The people of Puri have suffered but kept the temple safe.

References:

1. K.C. Panigrahi, “The Bhaumakaras”, in Dash, Lecturer in History, Surajmal Saha ‘History of Orissa’, Cuttack 1995, PP-78-79. Mahavidyalaya, Puri – 752001.

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