Odisha Review July - 2013 Concept of Sri Jagannath and Patitapaban Janaki Ballav Pattanayak The meaning of Sri Jagannath is Lord of the scriptures say that Sri Krishna is Jagannath. Sri Universe. So question comes to our mind that Krishna and Jagannath both are same and one. who is the Lord of Universe ? He must be There is no difference between Srikrishna and personified. To reach in this conclusion Jagannath. Lord Jagannath appeared in human (Siddhanta) we must look towards the authentic form as Sri Krishna and Sri Krishna’s archa deity scriptures of India. The National Scripture of our worshipped in Puri Srimandir is known as Sri Mother India is Srimad Jagannath. Lord Jagannath Bhagabat Geeta and the is worshipped in Sri Gopal highest of all scriptures is (Krishna) Mantra which is Srimad Bhagabatam, both specifically mentioned in have declared that Niladri Mahodaya 8/27, ‘Krishnastu Bhagaban 28, 29, 54. So where is the Swayam’. Sri Krishna is legitimacy of saying that Sri the highest personality of Krishna is one Kala (part) Godhead. Anyone can of Sri Jagannath. Some see this conclusion say that it is written in Sri everywhere mentioned in Jagannath Charitamrita that “Sri Jagannath Sola these two scriptures. Kala, Tahun Kalae Nanda Leaving this two Sri Bala.” Vishnupuran - 5/7/58, 5/ 33/41, Skanda Puran, Actually the above Utkalakhanda 19/37, 19/ stanza is not written 40, 27/86, 31/86, 33/71, anywhere in our Odia Brahman Puran Sri Bhagabat and in Sri Purusottam Mahatmya Jagannath Charitamrita. Chapter 1 to 8 verse, Those who are saying Niladri Mahoday, 8/27, 28 & 29, Bamdev ‘Tahun Kalae Nanda bala’ (Krishna is the part of Samhita 6/11, 8/26 and Sri Kapila Samhita 3/2 Sri Jagannath), it is also not the conclusion of any and 27 may be referred to establish the truth. All authentic scriptures as noted above. It is only 32 July - 2013 Odisha Review imagination or speculation. Rather it is Goutam Buddha was the son of exaggeration and contrary to the opinion of the Sudhodan and Mayadevi who was born at Geeta and Bhagabat. In Srimad Bhagabat 10/14/ Lumbini of Kapilabastu, whereas Buddha the 9th 39 Brahma said to Srikrishna that ‘Twameba incarnation of Sri Krishna Vishnu appeared in Jagatam Natho’: you are the Lord of Universe. Kikatapradesh (i.e. Gaya) accepting Hema Sadan Bhagabat Geeta says that Sri Krishna is “Deva and Anjani respectively as His father and Mother. Deva Jagatpate” (God of Gods, O Supreme (Bhagabat 1/3/24). Gautam’s birth Tithi (date) is person, Lord of Universe) 10/5, ‘Ananta devesa Vaisakha Purnima and 9th incarnation Buddha’s Jaganibash’ (O limitless one ! O refuge of the birth Tithi is Pausa Sukla Saptami, so both are universe) 11/37, “Prasida devesha Jaganibasha’ different. For non acceptance of Veda Gautam is (O Lord of Lords, O Sanctuary of the universe) recognized as an atheist (Nastika). Acharya 11/45 and ‘Matah Parataram nanyat Kinchidasti Sankar and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu refuted Dhananjaya’ (O Dhananjaya Arjuna there is the atheistic Buddha opinion. Buddha Gaya the nothing superior to me). Vishnua Tirtha converted to a Buddha Tirtha by the highly influential preaching of Baudha Dharma. Thus Sri Krishna is Sri Jagannath. It is By meditating under the Bodhidruma (tree) the the highest conclusion of all scriptures. Sri Jayadev place of meditation of the 9th incarnation of Goswami, the author of Geeta Govinda, Sri Adi Buddha, Gautam attended the enlightenment Sankaracharyapad in his Jagannathastakam and which reveals from the 21 chapter of Lalita Bistar Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and all most all Odia Poets have opined that Sri Krishna and book. From Lalita Bistar and Lankavatar Sutra it Jagannath are one. Sri Jayadeva in his Dasavatar also reveals that there were 3 Buddhas, viz. - stotra (Geeta Govinda) has established that Sri (1) Man - Gautam Buddha (ii) Bodhisatwa Bamandev, Sri Nrishingha Dev and Lord Sri Buddha (iii) Adi Buddha. It is recorded in a verse Rama all are the incarnations of Sri Keshaba, of Lankavatar Sutra that Ravan the King of Lanka Krishna ‘Keshaba dhrita dasabidharupa, Jaya was praying to Adi Buddha. Hence it is proved Jagadisha Hare’. Keshaba is the Lord of universe. that atheist Gautam Buddha is in no way can be On the other hand Sri Krishna is the Chief and considered as 9th Avatar Buddha, so it is the true original name of Sri Jagannath and He feels happy and climax conclusion of the scriptures and as and becomes overpleased, if we call Him as ‘Jaya well as the declaration of Jayadeva's ‘Dasavatara Krishna Jagannath’ (Utkala Khanda 27/86 and Stotra’ that Sri Krishna Jagannath is the supreme 31/86). personality of Godhead ‘Avatari’ from whom all incarnation are coming to this earth in a deductive Some historians believed that Sri way. So we are clear about Sri Jagannath. Now Jagannath is Buddha. But the worship of Sri we may proceed to discuss shortly about the name Jagannath at SriKshetra Puri is most prior to Patitapaban of Sri Jagannath. Gautam Buddha. Puri is an ancient Vaishnava Kshetra. The most ancient literature of the world The meaning of Patitapaban is purifier of is Rig Veda. In this Veda it is recorded that ‘Ado fallen souls. According to historians - previously ja daru plabate’ (10/155/3), so this Daru Brahma Kalinga or Odisha was the land of tribals (Brahma - Supreme Godhead manifested in (Savaras) and first they were worshipping the wooden form) is Sri Jagannath. single deity of Sri Jagannath as Patitapaban i.e. 33 Odisha Review July - 2013 the deity mainly adored by the Patitas the on the way between the Ratna Singhasan downtrodden people. Pure devotees also (Jewelled throne) and the Lion’s Gate. considered themselves as Patita very smaller than a grass and devotionally recites the name of In dream to the main worshipper (Bada Patitapaban at the time of perceiving Sri Panda) the Lord said that he is dissatisfied with Jagannath. the decision for not allowing His devotee King into the temple. So every day in mid night, He In Odisha the small and single deity of was going to the Lion's Gate to give His Darsan Sri Jagannath worshipped without Sri Balaram to the Gajapati. After this the Patitapaban deity and Subhadra is known as Patitapaban or Dadhi was installed there for Darsan by Sri Ramachandra Baman. But the Patitapaban sits inside the lion Dev-II and for all other Patitas who are not gate of Puri Srimandir towards right hand side of allowed to enter into the temple. Some says that the entrance is different from other Patitapaban by the devotion of Mussolim born devotee or Dadhibaman deities worshipped in other places Salabega, Mahaprabhu also come near to the of Odisha. Here (at Puri), He has no arms, only Lion’s Gate to see His devotee. Sri Jagannath face is manifested. History says that the then manifested himself at the Lion's Gate of Puri Khurda and Puri King Gajapati Ramachandra Srimandir in Patitapaban form to give His Darsan Dev-II fought his best with Mussolims who to all and particularly to fallen and downtrodden, attacked Odisha at that time was lastly defeated. untouchable devotees like Sri Dasia Bauri. The Mussolim Ruler kept the Gajapati in prison The fluttering flag on Nilachakra of the at Cuttack Barabati Fort with a condition to marry Srimandir is also known as Patitapaban Bana a Mussolim girl. After thinking much Gajapati which is identical with the Lord. Those who are accepted the proposal externally only with fear fallen and not allowed to enter into the temple to protect Sri Jagannath and His temple. After his they can see it from outside to get benefit of seeing return from Jail he repented much but he was not the Lord. The main Patitapaban deity along with allowed by the Hindus to enter into Puri Srimandir. the Srimandir, Nilachakra and the Patitapaban flag He cried much out of devotion and all are equally empowered to remove the Sins heartily prayed to Sri Jagannath to redeem him from the heart of everyone. from the dilemma position of Patita and give him Lastly, it may be concluded that Sri His Darsan. By the deep devotion of Sri Gajapati Jagannath and Patitapaban are synonymous. Maharaj, Mahaprabhu was not able to stay within His temple. He understood the heart of the king. Mahaprabhu rushed towards the Lion’s gate to see His devotee. Next day morning worshippers of the temple were surprised to see the flowers Janaki Ballav Pattanayak, Budhi Bagicha, and ornaments of the Lord scattered everywhere Samantarapur, Po/Dist.- Khurda. 34.