Orissa Review June - 2009 Sri Jagannath Suprabhatam - An Evaluation Tarakanta Mohanty The book Sri Jagannath Suprabhatam and other Those who have written 'Foreward' of this stotras written in Sanskrit with English booklet are of the opinion that "The lucid commentary has been authored by a retired I.A.S composition, fitting expressions and masterly style officer of Orissa cadre Shri S.Sundarrajan, would impress even reader. A powerful reader is twentynine years back at Sambalpur on 2.9.80. bound to be enchanted and overwhelmed by the elegance and thought provoking composition. Shri Many seers and saints of India as well as Sundararrajan is one fittingly to be counted in the poets of Orissa have eulogised Lord Jagannath, line of our traditional poets. the Lord of the Universe in their thought provoking stotras and lyrics. They are of the opinion that there is "Suprabhatam for many of our deities, like Among them prominent are Venkatesa Suprabhatam but Sri Jagannath Shankaracharya 9th century A.D. Kavi Jayadev Suprabhatam was wanting. Shri Sundarrajan has of Orissa of thirteenth century, Kabi Samrat accomplished it. It would indeed be appropriate Upendra Bhanja (1670 to 1720) Dinakrushna that the Suprabhatam be daily recited in Shri Das (1666 to 1713) Kabisurya Baladev Rath Mandir like Dasabatar Stotrum of poet Jayadev (1789 to 1845) poet Salbeg (seventeeth century). being recited in Srimandir every evening and every After Shankaracharya's (Kadachit Kalindi night before Lord Jagannath since many centuries. Tata Bipine, Mudavirinari Bandana Kamala In Sundarrajan's language, in the Swada Madhupa--Jagannath Swami Nayana introductory portion of the booklet it has been Pathagami Bhabatu me eulogizing Lord Jagannath written that "The legend of Lord Jagannath in his slokam and poet Jagadeva's Dasavtar commences with the beginning of Kaliyuga. After stotram "Pralaya Payodhi Jale Dhrutabanas the mission of His Avatar was over, Lord Krishna Bedam--Jaya Jagannatha Hare. Shri decided to return to Sri Vaikuntha on the day of Sundarrajan's eulogizing of Jagannath, Shri Kaliyuga set in. Also he had the curse of Gandhani Purosottama Hare Achyuta Suprabhatam is a on Him. He, therefore, brought an end to his very popular sloka written in the twentieth century. Avatar by allowing Himself to be shot by the This booklet has four parts-(1) Shri arrow of a Sabara (Hunter). The rest of the story Jagannatha Suprabhatam with 29 slokas. (2) Shri till the wooden idol of Lord Jagannath came to Jagannatha stotram having 11 slokas, Shri be installed in Sri Mandir (1115 A.D) at the Jagannatha Saranagati Stotram having 108 slokas Purushottamdham (Puri) is shrouded in mystery. and Shri Jagannath Mangala Sasanak having 14 It appears that the mortal remains of Lord slokas with English Commentaries. Krishna, worshipped as Darubrahma by 101 Orissa Review June - 2009 Viswavasu, the Sabara king, are now being different religions are only different paths to reach worshipped in the wooden idol of Lord Jagannath. Him who is the ultimate goal. The Jagannath cult that has developed around Him, is, in fact, a Thus, Lord Jagannath is a continuation of harmonious blend of all faiths accepting Lord the Avatar of Lord Krishna. It is said that He will Jagannath as the origin and Lord of the Universe. form the link with the next Avatar, viz. Kalki. Lord If we look at Lord Jagannath with the eyes of manifests Himself in five main forms. Viz. Para or Shri Shankaracharya, He is the Brahman and only the transcendental form in Sri Vaikuntha, the truth. Lord Balabhadra is only his reflection in Vyuha, or the representative form in the Milk Prakriti and Subhadra represents the Prakriti, itself Ocean, Archa or the idol form found in different composed of the three qualities, viz Sattwa, Rajas holy shrines, Vibhava or the life form as animal or and Tama. If we look at Him with the eyes of Sri man or a combination of both and Antaryami or Ramanujacharya, He is Paramatman. Lord the form of Inner Soul. One would be inclined to Balabhadra is the Jeevatman with Paramatman classify Lord Jagannath as an Archa Avatar of fully manifesting in His soul (and so he is also an God, but for all practical purposes. He is a Avtar) and Subhadra is composed of three continuation of the Vibhava Avatar of Lord qualities. If we look at Him with the eyes of Krishna. The various festival of Lord Jagannath Madhava Acharya, He is Paramatman. Lord round the year are similar to the festivals that Lord Balabhadra respresents Jeevatman who has Krishna must have had during the early years of reached upto Him and Subhadra the Maya in his Avatar in the world. Lord Jagannath is the between. If we look at Lord Jagannath with the veritable Emperor of Puri and surrounding areas. eyes of Chaitanya, He is Ishwar while Lord In his human form, Lord Krishna ruled the west Balabhadra represents the chit potency and coast with his capital at Dwaraka. Now with His Subhadra the illusory energy or Maya. Thus Lord mortal remains in a wooden body, He is ruling Jagannath has been seen by different saints in the east coast with his capital at Puri only this can different forms. He still remains as explain the various deviations in the form of incomprehensible as ever. How can mortals with worship followed in Sri Mandir, contrary to the our limited power of comprehension and being a forms of worship followed in other thriness where small and infinitesimal part of Him comprehend Lord in Archa Avatar is worshipped. It is only Him in his entirety? here that the non-brahmins are allowed to touch and handle the idol and also to be in sole In his 'Shri Jagannath Mangalasasanam' in possession of the idol for quite some time, even No.9, 10, 11 felicitation to Lord Jagannath he the food of Lord Jagannath (Mahaprasad) is has composed stotram. cooked by non-brahmins. Thus Lord Krishna (9) Felicitation to Lord Jagannath, who has appears to have chosen out of his mortal world been looked at differently by Acharyas belonging for the benefit of the numerous souls who are not to different faiths who came (to Puri) from different in a position to recognize Him in the other forms places. being deluded by his Maya. All the great saints of (10) Felicitation to Lord Jagannath who has our country without any exception had made it a been worshipped by Ramanuja, Chaitanya, point to visit Puri and worship Lord Jagannath. Sankaracharya and Guru Nanak, themselves How can anyone seeking to know the Lord worthy of worship. seeing His manifestation right here ? Even saints belonging to other faiths, (other than Hindu are (11) Felicitation to Lord Jagannath, worthy of reported to have sought the blessings of Lord meditation, who has been sung by poet Jayadeva Jagannath. This only proves the fact that the the king of poets in his Gita Govinda Kavya. 102 Orissa Review June - 2009 Lord Jagannath's Different Names 10. Good morning, Oh ! Trivikrama, Lord of 1. Achyuta : Achyuta is the first name of Lord Puri. ( Trivikrama is the seventh of the twelve pronounced during Achamana - an essential part sacred names and the tenth name of the Lord and pre-requisite of every ritual. It begins, "At pronounced during Achamana.) the end of the night, the brightness of dawn is 11. Good morning, Oh ! Vamana, resident of coming up in the East. Oh consort of Laxmi Niladri (The use of the word "Vamana in this awaken for the well-being of three worlds. Oh Sloka referring to Ratha Yatra is to recapitulate resident of Niladri the daily rituals have to be the famous Sloka ' Rathasthang Bamanam preformed. Good morning Oh Purushottama Hari Drustwa Punajnama Nabidyate- that is the eighth Achyuta. of twelve sacred names of the Lord and the 2. Good morning, Oh ! Purushottama Sriman eleventh name of the Lord pronounced during Ananta (Ananta is the second name of the Lord Achamana.) Pronounced during Achamana.) 12. Good morning, Oh ! Shridhara, resident of 3. Good morning, Oh ! Lord of Niladri, Puri (Sridhara is the ninth of the twelve sacred Govinda (Govinda is the third name of the Lord names of the Lord pronounced during pronounced during Achamana.) Achamana.) 4. Good morning to you, Oh ! Keshava, Lord 13. Good morning, Oh ! Hrushikesha Ananta, of Niladri (Keshava is the first of the twelve names the jewel of Niladri ( Hrushikesha is the tenth of of the Lord Pronounced during Achamana) the twelve sacred names of the Lord, and the thirteenth name of the Lord, pronounced during 5. Good morning Oh ! Lord Purushottama Achamana.) Narayana (Narayana is the second of the twelve sacred names of the Lord pronounced during 14. Good morning, Oh ! Lord Purusottama Sri Achamana.) Padmanabha. ( Padmanabha is the eleventh of the twelve sacred names of the Lord pronounced 6. Good morning to you, Oh ! Madhava, during Achamana.) Lord of Niladri (Madhava is the third of the twelve names of the Lord and sixth name 15. Good morning, Oh ! Damodara, pronounced during Achamana. (Damodara is the twelfth and the last of the twelve names of the Lord pronounced during 7. Good morning, Oh ! Govinda, resident of Achamana.) So the fourteen sacred names of Niladri (Govinda is the fourth of the twelve sacred Lord Jagannath are (1) Achyuta, (2) Ananta, names of the Lord and seventh name pronounced (3) Govinda, (4) Keshava, (5) Narayana, during Achamana). (6) Madhava, (7) Vishnu, (8) Madhusudana, 8. Good morning to you, Oh ! Lord (9) Trivikrama, (10) Vamana, (11) Sridhara, Purusottama Vishnu. (Vishnu is the fifth of the (12) Hrushikesha, (13) Padmanabha and twelve sacred names of the Lord and eighth name (14) Damodara.