Orissa Review Lord Shree Jagannath - a Great Assimilator of Tantric Impressions for Human Civilization Rajendra Kumar Mohanty Dynamics of social changes find expression, sensitivity to the beautiful and abiding besides other channels, through religious institution equanimity and the calm joy of the spirit which as religious beliefs and dictums cover the major characterise the sages and many of the part of our community life. humblest people in the Orient.” Language and literature are the vehicles Indian literature possesses what is best and mirrors of those in the world of human changes. Hence, language knowledge and wisdom. A and religious institutions, close relationship between both of which contain values religion and culture is for changing social systems, undeniable. Religion is have inseparable link. India ultimately a code of ethics possesses many languages based on spiritualism. and literatures, but Indian Religious beliefs, ideas and literature is one, though concepts are, in reality, written in many languages. projections of human value Indian literature systems. Religious life is an consisting of its Vedas, expression of the collective Upanishads, Ramayan, values and life of a social Mahabharat in ancient group (Emile Durkhem period has always observed). Shri Jagannath demonstrated that, “It Dharma or Shri Jagannath should eventually be Cult and its offsoot possible to achieve a Jagannath culture propagate society for mankind some specific human values. generally in which the higher standard of living What is generally called the Jagannath cult of the most scientifically advanced and is not in the narrow and limited sense of a school theoretically guided western notions is of thought or a system of rituals or liturgies. It has combined with the compassion, the universal never been sought to be codified as a cognitive 50 July - 2011 Orissa Review or philosophical structure. If it has a looseness of Sauras. His rituals remind us of Dravidian customs organization as a system of philosophy, if its and His festivals are of Puranic origin. Of his liturgical or religious concepts have not been seen Mantras (incantations) OUM is Vedic and Hrim, against the backdrop of any particular Hindu sect Slim, Klim are Tantric. His Kaibalya is of Jain or sects to assess its deviations and differences origin and Nirmalya is of Shaiva origin. A close from them, it is because, like Hinduism it is more observation of His worship, attire, food, rites and of a cultural matrix than a systematic school of rituals make us conclude that Shri Jagannath philosophy or religion. culture has assimilated features from other It is in this sense that Jagannath cult is not cultures. It is devoid of, and free from all types of a religion or philosophy but is a broad mythology regional narrowness. The essence of all great of culture. The mythic process is a learning device religious scriptures can be perceived in Shri in which the unintelligible and the random are Jagannath culture. By its wonderful power of reduced to an intelligible pattern, howsoever assimilation, it has effected a synthesis of all the complex. important cultures of the world. It has adapted itself to the varying environments by effecting If it is a system of rituals, then it is based changes in its outer form, but its essence remains on rituals as anti structures—a syndrome of unchanged. symbols that embraces almost the entire gamut of human emotions and endeavours. Tolerance is an outstanding human value propagated by Shri Jagannath culture. It tolerates Jagannath culture which started with the all races, religions, customs, and cultures. This worship of Lord Shri Jagannath is the oldest living tradition of tolerance is not an attitude of culture of the world. This has a unique human - indifference towards others. This is a fundamental value- system which needs to be highlighted. postulate of Jagannath culture that every way of Shri Jagannath culture believes in life has its own contribution to human welfare. It universality and not in sectarianism. Shri Jagannath is this positive approach to other groups and is the God of the masses and hence Shri Jagannath communities- this eschewal of doctrine that one’s culture has been a mass culture. People of diverse way is absolutely right which gives to Jagannath faiths have worshipped Lord Shri Jagannath. He culture of toleration its special significance. has been worshipped by the primitive tribals, It has respect for the faiths and beliefs of Dravidians, Aryans, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, others and a generous charity of understanding Sikhs, Shaktas, Shaivites, Ganapatas and the approaches of other people to the problems Vaisnavites. of life. It stands for religious tolerance, co- Jagannath Culture has been an elastic existence of all religious communal harmony and culture. Apart from influencing other cultures, it international integration. Hence Shri Jagannath is has incorporated into its fold the cultures of various worshipped by all irrespective of caste, creed, faiths. Shri Jagannath is the Saura’s, wooden colour and community. Shri Jagannath culture aims Deity without sense organs. Again, He is the at bringing the entire human community of the Dravidian Deity with sense organs. He is the world into the ambit of one family. Purusottama of the Vedas and Darubrahma of the The messages of unity, equality, peaceful Brahmins. His image smacks of the influence of -coexistence and fraternity are nowhere so July - 2011 51 Orissa Review obvious as in Jagannath culture. Shri Jagannath they have got the monopoly to serve the Deities Cult is said to be a splendid synthesis of Hinduism, during ‘Anabasara’ every year. Buddhism, Jainism and Tantric rites. The Car Festival perhaps symbolises this Shri Jagannath is not just a deity, He is an liminal phase of the ritual system in which all unique institution. Here primitive cults merge with powerful Gajapati Kings sweep the areas and different Indian religious denominations, i.e. space around pedestal (where upon Lords sit) of Jainism, Buddhism, Saivism Tantricism, all three chariots before the swirling multitude and Vaishnavism etc. It is a towering spirit of synthesis the Lord of the Universe leaves the Brahmin - an amalgam of effects of imposed cults and Servitors dominated cloistered seclusion of cultures. It has become a symbol that accepts and sanctum sanctorium, the litanies of the nearly embraces and assimilates everything and yet secret forms of a aristocratic worship, to sit on maintains its own character. the wooden chariot in full view of the humble and The gap between man and Divine has the lowly and listen to their heartfelt but strange been bridged in Jagannath culture. Shri Jagannath orchestra of private prayers and supplications. is a highly humanized Deity. He brushes his teeth, The achievement of a degree of takes bath, changes His clothes, wears different statuslessness by abolishing in one sweep of a robes and gold ornaments studded with precious symbolism all the multiple personal, group and stones to suit different festive occasions and class identity is, perhaps, the most significant seasons, enjoys fifty six varieties of food (bhoga) aspect of Shri Jagannath Culture. It is based on a and thirty six kinds of services “Khatani niyoga" concept of submissiveness and silence that lifts and retires to bed in night. Social functions, like grace to the levels of a mutual contract between Deepavali, Payashraddha and Holi are held inside the God-head and the individual. the Shri Jagannath Temple. In Summer, the Lord Shri Jagannath culture aims at the takes cool bath in water mixed with sandalwood upliftment of the poor, the fallen and the paste. During ‘Nabakalebara’, He leaves his old downtrodden. Its Lord Shri Jagannath is called body and assumes a new one. His old body is ‘Patitapabana’, the saviour of the fallen. Leaving cremated (by way of laying in ditches dug for the behind His golden throne in ‘Bada Deula’ (His purposes) in “Koili Baikuntha”. Here, the abode called Shri Jagannath Temple), He comes conception of God is human and majestic. into ‘Badadanda’ (i.e, Grand Road connecting Shri Jagannath culture does not admit of Shrimandira and Gundicha Temple (temporary any distinction with regard to caste, creed, colour abode during Car Festival). He comes into Grand and sex. Here the Brahmin Pandit Jagannath Dash Road twice in a year during car festival and could become the disciple of the non-Brahmin Bathing Ceremony in order to be in the midst of devotee. Balaram Das, Achyutananda, Kayastha His devotees. This is a rare thing which is unique by caste could become the friend of Chaitanya a to this culture. In other cultures, devotees go to Brahmin. It has allowed inter-caste marriage even the temple or Shrine of the Lord to offer their in the hoary past. The marriage of the Brahmin prayers. But here, the ever compassionate Lord Vidyapati and Lalitha, the Saura girl (Indigenous comes out twice a year to help His devotees and Tribal girl) bears testimony to this fact. The to be with them. Anybody can draw the ropes of descendants of this couple are called ‘Daitas’ and his chariots and can take ‘Mahaprasad’, the 52 July - 2011 Orissa Review cooked food cooked in the sacred kitchen of Shri against the Temporal Power, i.e, Central Power Jagannath inside the inner circle of the Great than the fear of dire divine retribution from the Temple which has been offered to Him. Omnipotent Lord of the Universe, i.e, Shri Humbleness is a cardinal human value in Jagannath. Shri Jagannath culture. Superiority complex and If the Lord spiritual thus helped and co- class-consciounsness have no place here. This operated with Orissa’s Lord Temporal in the culture ordains that no work is high or low. Here, down-to-earth daily matters of administration, he the Gajapati king sweeps the chariots of the was never any distance away also from Orissa’s Deities.