Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Sri Jagannath, the Heart and Soul of Odia Culture and Society Sunita Behera The word ‘culture’ has got wideness in its meaning is impossible without society and position of by which a civilization reflects its total activities, society is vice versa. The culture of a particular behaviour and resemblance connected with nature community is mainly the resemblance of livelihood and god in life style. Culture deserves the essence and consciousness of the same kind of society or of the human race which draws the attention community. Culture is not only from high equity towards social, political and other connective but also it is totally the humanitarian in nature to activities. It is very difficult to explain a certain say. The humanity here does not limit within one culture without presence of life; because the person or two, but it can be high profiled in nature culture is a prolong hereditary process of life, and character of sovereignty in whole mass rather history of human society from era to era of than limited within one specific race, community, thousands of year trend not of some years or one. religion, caste, creed or area like state or country. The culture creates unity in diversity. On the whole But so to say the Odisha has got its we can say confidently that the only art and culture remarkable scarification and role in culture and of specific human race becomes stout or worthy national integrity and fraternity. In this point of view in its manner and custom of living, festivals and Odisha or Utkal is highly enriched with natural rituals, language and literature, philosophy, temple resources and vice-versa. The land Odisha is arts and monumental work, music and dance etc. highly descent attractive and appreciable by its We can say in a nut shell that unity in diversity no nature consisting with forest, mountain, sea, rivers, difference in differentiation, unchangeability in lakes, springs and length wide plains as well as changes is the culture of a definite society. Ideal green plateau. The Odisha livelihood and social life, ambition, fondness, pose and posture culture is well connected to each other by this produce in the shape of culture. Life styles in nature Goddess of Utkal, which can be clearly improved status are the culture. Civilization is not elaborated with its Dance, Music, Temples, the institution of culture whereas the culture is the Caves, Fine arts, inscriptions of Dharma Vani, institution of civilization. Moreover civilization is language and literature etc. This religious and active the product of culture. Society reaches to height land Utkal is quietly erected amidst divinal and of prestige as much as the culture is highly spiritual monuments hither and thither spread all dignified. over Odisha. The Utkal province has already Society and culture are both carefully preserved the Sri Purushottam Kshetra’ supplementary to each other. Imagination of culture in its heart and soul, i.e., the holy land presenting January - 2017 1 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review with the Lord Jagannath since a long ago. That is group of Sevakas. Like man the God suffers from why the supreme almighty Sri Jagannath is an eye fever being effected by various unhealthy situations witness for the spiritual history of Utkal. Hence and also witnesses the recreations involved with the so-called Hindu religion is only meant to ceremonial activities. He is also linked with born Jagannath Dharma, the history is the story of Lord and death. The astrologer too reflects daily good Jagannath and the culture is the Jagnnath culture. and bad results accordingly to fate. Sometimes In Hindu society, the ‘Jagannath the Almighty is not able to take food in correct Sanskruti’ and ‘Dharma Chetana’ is not only time due to unhappening in daily ritual works and limited with the true combine sense of all religions also he has to face sleepless moments thereof. He is also time and routine bounded for which but also has been deserved in equality, integrity, He is compelled to face the same surroundings. fraternity, having friendship with each other It is natural that the human being has given Him concerned to caste, creed, colour, community, the supreme position in praying. This is only the race as well as individuals since long ago. In all utmost reason of Jagannath Upasana. castes like Soura, Siva, Shakta, Vaishnav, Ganapatya, Brahman, Tantrika, Aryan and non- The Jagannath culture has been deeply Aryans besides the philosophers, anti-believers sedimented in the brain of human society in such in shape and from of God there is other party a way that it cannot be traced in any other religions. who are actual supporters in shape and form of Different races of human being like the tribal almighty and in both the categories they are almost ‘Shavar’ and Vaishnab worship to the Lord as tied with one rope of Dharma Dharana by means ‘Daru Brahma’ wooden deity and Shripati of sacred gathering in holy places where universal respectively, similarly the Shaktas as ‘Shakti’, love and affection equality and fraternity is the Shaivas as Bhairab’, Buddhists as ‘Buddha’, Jains burning example which denotes Jagannath as ‘Rushav Dev’. The Jagannath culture is the Samskruti. evergreen pillar resembling the eternal union of masses based on different religions, philosophies, The devotional love of human soul is and culture. As much as the Lord Jagannath is exactly reflected in the Jagannath culture. From confirmed as the popular worshipped God by the primitive age the man has not only made it different religious groups. Similarly Jagannath own to Lord Jagnnath but also has prayed before culture is also being loved by all since long. That Him about all his good or bad, up and down in is why the critics do not hesitate to describe the order to witness himself in the human life that is holy place Sri Jagannath Peetha as the centre of why Sri Jagannath being the supreme of all gods all religious. During the adverse situations, Sri and goddesses faces his daily routine of life as Jagannath has stood like blue sky observing the human being manner is habituated by Sevakas universe by his large circled eyes. The anti- and devotees. Hence from early rising from bed religious people have frequently invaded India to upto taking rest of God in night nities are being plunder the very attractive immense wealth. For done in the same method of human being. The that reason He has suffered from underground serial work i.e., getting up from bed, tooth staying and dragged by the elephant to be shifted brushing, mouth and face washing, bathing to from one place to another secretly. Inspite of all embellish with costumes of the body i.e., Srianga, these happenings the fame of Lord Jagannath has offering of Naivedya, diet after which it is called never been suppressed rather it has been highly Bhoga etc. These are arranged by the special appreciated and shining. Though by quitting up 2 January - 2017 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 the sabar (kula) community as to mix in monarchic overcome the unseen obstacles. At the time of caste he could not go away from Daitapati , Suara, starting education to a baby the lesson is begun Bada Suara, Panda, Parihari, the Sevakas, for with the three zeroes by the Guru which are ever. The Gajapati Maharaja is the foremost resembling of final settlement of Sri Jagannath, Sevaka who has already surrendered himself Sri Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. Similarly at before the Lord. One of the main ideal aspect is the time of marriage, the father or parent of both the Jagannath culture is that he is worshipped by the groom and bride give each other the the total human masses without any hesitation in ‘Mahaprasad’ in hand so that the rituals will creed, race, community and religions. There is proceed for marriage in full confidence. The Odia no feelings between Brahmin, Chandala, Tribes people recite the name of Sri Jagannath at the and Harijans. All of the devotees will enjoy time of death and usually take Nirmalya and Tulsi Mahaprasad together with heart and soul. There in mouth for peace of soul. are a host of Sevakas to take care of the Lord The Lord of universe Sri Jagannath is an the Mali will supply flowers, the Supakars for inspiration to all, who is infinite, inexpressive, (cooking) preparing of Bhoga, Daitapatis will unlimited and can be converted to all categories serve Sri Anga i.e. body of God during Anasara. of forms and cultures. Thus, the Jagannath culture Besides that the specific carpenters will construct has been able to tie all sorts of culture and religious three Rathas (cars) for Car festival. Likewise the in one sting and has become an unique platform thirty six Sevayatas are called Chhatisa Nijoga for divergent religious faiths. engaged in each and every work of Sri Jagannath. References: The Lord appears as unmoved in large form seated in Ratna Simahasan’ designed and 1. Bahinipati Sri Harihara- Shreekshetra Mahatmya, Cuttack Student’s Store, Cuttack, 2007. decorated by various valuable stone as a resemblance of carrying equity in diversity, 2. Chinhara Dr. Umesh Chandra — Odia Kavitare fraternity, pity forgiveness. He is always having Jagannath Chetana Puri, 2006. grand vision by his circled eyes. He is always in 3. Dash, Sri Nabakishore- Purushottam Sri the position of extending hands as if inviting to Jagannath, Orissa Book Store, Binod Bihari, Cuttack, 1991. devotees to make them enriched with blessings. He is very very popular in every houses and 4. Mishra, Sri Sadasiba- Purushottam Sri Jagannath, respected in high nobility in some places.