ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review Impact of Baladev Cult on the Socio-Economic and Religious Life of the People of Odisha Balaram Lenka n medieval period, Vaishnavism shaped the with the building of Baladevjew temple at Isocio-religious life of the people of Odisha. Kendrapara, agriculture was more popularized. Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were Besides this, other trends of Vaishnavism like inseparable and predominated among the amity, fraternity and equality were largely practised Vaishnavite Gods of Odisha. The same rituals are by the people of Odisha. The impact of Baladev performed for the Jews in the Baladevjew temple cult on the socio-economic and religious life of as at Puri. Right from the days of Sarala, the people have been discussed in this chapter. Panchasakha and Sri Chaitanya, Vaishnavism had Baladev cult and Jagannath cult are synonymous become very popular in the fifteenth-sixteenth and used in interchangeable terms. century A.D. In due course of time, Balabhadra With the coming of Sri Chaitanya, the was adored a lot. He was projected as the God position of Brahmins dwindled away as of Agriculture by the Brahmins who associated Prataprudradeva gave vent to Vaishnavism. In many agro-festivals with Balabhadra. By fact, Vaishnavism tried to narrow down the gaps Seventeenth Century A.D. and more particularly, between higher caste and lower caste in the society. When Brahmins lost their position in the society and found it difficult to earn their livelihood, they tried to resort to agriculture which was not permissible in the society. However, the Brahmins tried to give it a religious tinge by depicting Balabhadra, as a God of agriculture and justified themselves to resort to agriculture. They even termed themselves as ‘Balabhadragotriya Brahmana’ or ‘Halua Brahmana’ (a class of Brahmins who plough). They translated a Sanskrit text Krisiparasara into Odia language 58 July - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 and named it as Khana Vachana. It contained to be started just after the rainfall. The agriculturist several astronomical and astrological predictions, has to follow some sort of auspicious time for auspicious moment for starting journey and starting the work. A farmer has to avoid any several other things. However, it put much inauspicious sound at the time of his journey to emphasis on agricultural production. The the field. He should plough the field from the four Balabhadragotriya Brahmins not only resorted to directions beginning from the east.4 The agriculture but advised the people how to cultivate prohibited days of ploughing have also been the land and get more production. The religious suggested i.e. the fullmoon day and newmoon day. sanction behind this was the projection of If violating the rule the agriculturist tills his land Balabhadra with plough who was the God of during those days, the bullocks will suffer from agriculture. They showed ways to take up diseases and the farmer will be considered as a 5 agriculture. sinner and his face is not to be seen by anybody. In Khanavachana, it is described that For agricultural purpose, Chaturmasya the month of Chaitra (March-April) signals the is important which consists of four consecutive beginning of an agrarian year. However, Baisakha months, i.e. Ashadha, Sravan, Bhadrava and (April-May) is chosen as the starting month of Aswina. Usually, the farmers advance agricultural agricultural activities. Sowing of seeds begins work starting from the month of Ashadha which herein the very day of Akshaya Tritiya in the does not exceed Aswina. If he starts the Veusana month of Baisakha. For cultivation weather (resetting the paddy plants through ploughing after prediction is very much indispensable. As per the heavy rain) work in the month of Ashadha, he is expected to get good harvest and if he starts it by suggestion of Khanavachana, if winter prevails Sravana, he gets bit less, Bhadrava fetches still in Chaitra, storm takes place with hailstones in less harvest and Aswina gives nil output.6 Baisakha and if sky remains clear in Jyestha, then there will be good rainfall in the month of Coming to Plantation (ropana), Khana Ashadha.1 Further, it predicts that if stars appear suggests that if it is done within first five days of inside the circle encompassing the moon, there Ashadha, there will be a good harvest. In the will be heavy shower of rainfall.2 Similarly, if wind process of plantation paddy should be planted blows from the opposite direction of the cloud in with regular distance from each other. Then only Bhadrava (August-September), then there will those plants will be able to get considerable be immediate rainfall.3 Following these opportunity for healthy growth and ultimately it 7 predictions, the peasants must be careful for will help in producing more crops. starting agricultural work. Plantation is a general phenomenon Explaining about plough work, associated with agriculture. Almost all the books Khanavachana suggests that the plough work is related with agriculture in medieval period July - 2016 59 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review invariably tell about paddy cultivation. However, Subsequently, this sort of adjustment gave way Khana simply does not confine her advice to the to recognize agriculture as the main profession cultivation of paddy alone. She also tells about for all castes. That is why Parasara the only other crops like betel, potato, brinjal, mango, authority in ancient Indian legal literature permitted mustard, chilly, turmeric, sugarcane, etc. and gives even the Brahmins to resort to agriculture.12 8 different times for their plantation. If the agriculturist, knowing details of the Coming to reaping of paddy, Khana says rainfall, does not acquire adequate knowledge of that if it is harvested in Margasira, the farmer will ploughing time and place, he fails to maintain get maximum, in Pousa (November) sixty per agriculture in a purposeful way. So Khana has cent less, in Magha only straws and in Phalguna exercised her brilliancy in speaking some sort of (February-March) nothing. She also suggests that useful manual in this regard. It is a matter of a farmer will cut the paddy thirty days after coming importance that the farmer has to start ploughing of bud (thoda), twenty days after it leaves its land from the eastern direction.13 Mention may flower and thirteen days after it beads down. be made here that Indra, the lord of rainfalls is Similarly she suggested to plant banana in the presiding deity of eastern direction. If ploughing Phalguna which will produce fruit after one is started from this direction with invocation to month, to plant brinjal in every month leaving Indra, the rain god favours the agriculturist by Chaitra and Baisakh, to plant betel in Sravana supplying sufficient water through rainfall. That is for good harvest etc.9 why the eastern direction is so much important in Khanavachana for starting the plough work. From the hoary past, agriculture has been accepted as one of the ways for livelihood for all. Further, the days prohibited for ploughing However, so far as society is concerned, right are another factor to be discussed here since from the later Vedic age, the Vaisyas were entitled newmoon and fullmoon days for sacrifices (Yajna) to handle this work not only for their livelihood of ectype (Prkrti) character, no one is allowed to but appropriating the surplus for others. It has get rid of these sacrifice. If the agriculturist resorts been suggested by our ancient law givers that if to the ploughing, he will not be able to perform the Brahmins fail to earn their livelihood by their those sacrifices. This is why, without referring to respective professions (adhyayana, adhyapana, this core point, Khana directly instructs the yajana, dana and pratigraha) they are agriculturists not to plough the land in those two permitted to switch over to agriculture.10 The sacrificial days. Krisi Parasara, an Odishan treatise on Tools of agriculture are to be taken into agriculture suggests the degradation of Brahmins consideration. Though Khana does not give to accept agriculture for their livelihood. The same details of agricultural tools, still one comes across law was also applicable to the Kshatriyas.11 many a references of such tools in 60 July - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Khanavachana like spade, sickle, plough, yoke, means to attract people for agriculture. They blade, etc. of which Kodala (spade) is of very advised people how to plough the field and sow significant character. It is known from Smrti seeds, how to reap and get good crops. They literature14 that for the first time in history of associated several agro-functions like Akshaya agriculture in human civilization, Kodala was the Tritiya, Raja Sankranti which falls in Ashadha first hand tool to till the land for sowing seeds. (June-July), Gamha Purnima (August- That is why one of the householders of the Vedic September) and Manavasa etc. On the very day time was designated as Kuddalaba. Khana, by of Akshaya Tritiya, the seeds are to be sown. referring Kodala, tries to maintain uninterrupted Right from the beginning of the Niti in the temple cultural link following from the Vedic times till of Baladevjew, it has been decided that before today. four days of Akshaya Tritiya, a meeting is to be held there attended by many people of the From one place to another, the plant is to locality.15 Decision will be taken from which be transferred for healthy growth. Khana, in this direction and by what time plough work should regard gives a practical picture by differentiating start on the day of Akshaya Tritiya. Gradually atmosphere for plantation of paddy from the date many temples of various locality have followed of plantation of betel, potato, banana, brinjal, this practice.