Syncretism in Jagannath Cultmagazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2015/August/engpdf/... ·...
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1 August - 2015 Odisha Review Primarily pre-Aryan visionaries have led the foundation of spiritual thoughts of Hindus. The concept of µsoul¶ is borrowed from the autochthonous saints and seers. Originally Jagannath deity was worshipped by Sabaras in the form of µNilamadhava¶ and subsequently it occupied the highest and important position in the Hindu pantheon which came to be known as µPurusottam¶. Later on it absorbed all the major religious philosophy and movements and emerged as a unique syncretism. The syncretism of Jagannath cult is highlighted in the elements of Tantrik Buddhist, Jainism, the Saiva, the Sakta and various denominations of Vaishnavites. Thus the Jagannath cult absorbed all into one and makes it universal. In mythology Lord Jagannath is described as the deity of the Sabaras. The Sabaras were originally the inhabitants of the land when the Aryan intrudes, they face them and gradually Sabaras were Aryanised and emerged as a mixed race and the original Sabaras followed their own faith in their forest tracts. With the advent of Jainism and Buddhism the foundation of the Aryan cult was shaken. Subsequently to counteract the popularity of those faiths and draw the goodwill of the Sabaras they included their God into the Brahminical fold. Syncretism in Jagannath Cult Dr. Mohammed Yamin Scholars have the opinion that Jagannath was a Buddhist deity. Initially the founder of Tantric Vajrajana of Buddhism king Indrabhuti invoked the name of Jagannath in his work Jyanasiddhi that: ³Pranipatye Jagannatha Sarbajina Barachirtam Sarvo Buddhomaya Siddhi Vyapino Gaganopamam´.
Transcript of Syncretism in Jagannath Cultmagazines.odisha.gov.in/Orissareview/2015/August/engpdf/... ·...
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Primarily pre-Aryan visionaries have led thefoundation of spiritual thoughts of Hindus. Theconcept of soul is borrowed from theautochthonous saints and seers. OriginallyJagannath deity was worshipped by Sabaras inthe form of Nilamadhava and subsequently itoccupied the highest and important position in theHindu pantheon which came to be known asPurusottam . Later on it absorbed all the major
religious philosophy and movements and emergedas a unique syncretism. The syncretism ofJagannath cult is highlighted in the elements ofTantrik Buddhist, Jainism, the Saiva, the Saktaand various denominations of Vaishnavites. Thusthe Jagannath cult absorbed all into one and makesit universal.
In mythology Lord Jagannath isdescribed as the deity of the Sabaras. TheSabaras were originally the inhabitants of the landwhen the Aryan intrudes, they face them andgradually Sabaras were Aryanised and emergedas a mixed race and the original Sabaras followedtheir own faith in their forest tracts. With the adventof Jainism and Buddhism the foundation of theAryan cult was shaken. Subsequently tocounteract the popularity of those faiths and drawthe goodwill of the Sabaras they included theirGod into the Brahminical fold.
Syncretism in Jagannath Cult
Dr. Mohammed Yamin
Scholars have the opinion that Jagannathwas a Buddhist deity. Initially the founder of TantricVajrajana of Buddhism king Indrabhuti invokedthe name of Jagannath in his work Jyanasiddhithat:
Pranipatye Jagannatha Sarbajina BarachirtamSarvo Buddhomaya Siddhi Vyapino
Gaganopamam .
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He also treated Lord Jagannath as MahaBuddha. Famous archaeologist AlexanderCunningham in his work Stupa of Barhut andBhilsa Topes described Jagannath, Balabhadraand Subhadra as the representatives of the Tri-Ratna i.e., Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.Historian Fergussan also corroborated this view.According to the philosophy of DasavataraBuddha is worshipped as the ninth incarnation ofthe Vishnu. In the rituals of the Jagannath templethe Lord Himself is dressed in Buddha Vesa infull moon day of Vaishakha.
In Asiatic countries Buddhism gave riseto a synthesis school of Art and Architecture. Theimage of Buddha is well known in India, China,Japan, Burma, Indonesia and Siam where the idolof Jagannath is treated in the form of Buddha. InBali of Indonesia interestingly in daily rituals ofBuddha God is addressed as the Jagannath. Thedaily rituals begin with the following Veda BuddhaSloka i.e.,
Ksmasava Mam Jagannath Sarva Papa Vinashanam
Sarbo Karya Pranadevam Pranamami Suresvaram .
The recitation of Lord Jagannath inprayer suggests the holiness. Most probably kingIndrabhuti introduced Vajrajana Buddhism in Bali.Siva was worshipped in Bali as Jagannath andpriest recite hymn like:
Omksamum Siva Deva Jagannath Hitamkara .
It is well established fact that Jagannathwas the Buddha incarnation of Vishnu. All religiouscreeds like the Shunyavada or VahayanaVajrajana, Sahajajana of Buddhism, Jainism,Saivism and Sakta worship etc. have contributedto the cult of Jagannath.
It is based on records that the followersof Jainism believe Lord Jagannath as theirJinanatha or Adi-Jina. In 8th century BCE Jaina
Tirthankara Parswanatha preached Jainism inOdisha, the Kalinga king Karkandu was thedisciple of Parswanatha and being influenced byhim he established Rishavanath statue, the Adi-Jina of Jainism in Purusottama Kshetra. Later onhis name was converted to Jinanath and KalingaJina which was worshipped as Jagannath. TheVishnu Purana and Sreemad Bhagavat Gita alsodiscussed about Rishavanath. The Jainas are thefirst idol worshippers of the world to universalizetheir commandment. They have prepared theblack stone statue of the Lord subsequently whichwas turned to a wooden statue without leg havingthe similarity of the statue of Jagannath. InJyanasiddhi of king Indrabhuti in the verseSarva jina Bararchitam established the
jainatwa in Jagannath which recognized him asthe emperor beyond Hinduism.
After the decline of Buddhism in 8th
century CE during the period of Keshari dynastyAdi-Shankaracharya came to Odisha for a missionto revive the Vedic and Tantrik form of worshipin all Gods and Goddesses and eliminate theBuddhist influence in Hindu rituals. He revivedthe Purusottama cult in Sri Kshetra, one of thefour Dhamas of the Hinduism as strategic effortto unite Hindus across the four parts of India. Inhis Gita Vasya he justified that the Madhavaworship earlier in Sri Kshetra was Gita sPurusottam i.e.,
Atosmi Loke Vede cha Prathitah Purusottamah .
From the 12th century CE to the middleof 16th century CE the Jagannath cult wasinfluenced by Vaishnavism. In this period variousdenomination of Bhakti movements brought toOdisha a sense of religious unity in their thoughtsrevolving round Jagannath cult. Ramanuja (1017-1137 CE) with his Vishista Dwaitavada(Qualified monism) and Pancharatra Paddhati
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during the period of Chaodaganga Deva (1077-1147 CE), Nimbarka with Dwaita Dwaita Vadain 12th century CE, Vishnuswami in 11th and 12th
century CE, Madhavacharya in 12th century CEwith his Yogic philosophy, Narahari Tirtha duringthe period of Bhanudeva-I (1264-1276 CE) andNarasimha Deva-II (1278-1306 CE), Rai-Ramananda (1299-1410 CE), Sridharaswami in15th century CE, Ballavacharya (1476-1532 CE)with a Sudha Dwaitavada and Vrajalila all haveexercised their profound influence in the worshipof Jagannath, these forces combined to give riseto a religious cult different from others and becamemass religion of the people of Odisha whichcentred around Lord Jagannath.
In 16th century CE the Neo-Vaishnavismor the cult of love was introduced by Sri Chaitanyain Odisha. The Neo-Vaishnavism was absorbedinto the cult of Jagannath and Sri Chaitanya feelJagannath in the form of Sri Krishna. The demiseof Sri Chaitanya gave rise to a new tradition thathe got absorbed within the God of the bluemountain . The cult of love propounded by himwas known as Raganuga mingled with variousYoga practices which became very popularamongst the masses for centuries.
Lord Jagannath was not restricted to anysect and caste. Not only the Hindus but manydevotees of other faiths and religions have beenattracted for the glory of the Lord. The Muslimsaint Kabir, Jabana Haridas and Salbegsurrendered before the Lord with their thoughts.In 1512 CE saint Kabir arrived at Puri and deeplyinfluenced by Lord Jagannath, he establishedRam-Rahim cult and believed in Nirguna panthbut his devotion towards Lord Jagannath waspassionate. In his memory the Kabir Chauramonastery was built and still stands in the seashoreof Puri. Kabir worked for the salvage of the
humanity above from orthodoxy. The devoteeswho visited the monastery were blessed withTanka torani and broom touch which was highly
appreciated by the believers of other religions.
Saint Haridas or Jabana Haridas, apassionate devotee of Jagannath born in a Muslimfamily of Bangla Desh came in contact with SriChaitanya at Nabadwipa and visited Puri withhim. During his stay at Sri Kshetra Puri SriChaitanya arranged Mahaparasad for him as hisentry to the temple was restricted due his Muslimadherence. Sri Chaitanya regularly offered Tulsileaf to him. His abode Siddha Bakula Matha isstill present at Puri.
Sikh Guru Nanak redeemed others tooby his presence as stated by Sri Aurobinda. Duringhis stay at Puri Nanak visited the temple of theLord Jagannath and performed Arati going roundand round the idol of the Lord with earthen lamps,incense and flowers and beating of cymbals anddrums. Nanak described the Lord Jagannaththus:
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When in the salver of the sky, the lampsof the sun and the moon and the stars, studdedlike jewels, pay homage to His magnificence, andwind wave fragrance to Him of all the mountain sand all the woods are in bloom to shower flowerson the path of His chariot, and unstuck melody ofthe word rineth through space, how can we payhomage to Him with our small minds and rituals-yea, Him whose seen and act not seen, who hatha myriad eyes, and act no eyes and who can onlybe experienced and never described .
When Rabindranath Tagore s fatherMaharshi Devendranath heard this Arti being sungat the golden Temple Amritsar came in ecstasyand started dancing with joy Wonder,O wonderhe is reported to have said my God is awonder .
Lord Jagannath is not confined to a singleheart, single mind and single person. The namehas broader connotation beyond the reach ofhuman mind. Originally He is known as JagataraNatha means Master of the Universe . So Heis free from one soul. He symbolizes union of allreligions above the caste, creed, colour and
ethnicity. The car festival of Lord Jagannath is thesymbol of syncretism of universal brotherhood andcordiality among the humanity. He is above fromall but belongs to all. In this auspicious religiousoccasion of Navakalevara or re-embodimentfestival of the Lord the harmonious flow of thespiritual cultural syncretism in Odisha is reflected.
References :
1. Mohanty. S, Lord Jagannath, Orissa SahityaAcademi, 1982.
2. Raghavan. V, (ed), Devotional Poets and Mystics,Publication Division, 1982.
3. Yamin. M, Impact of Islam on Orissan Culture,Readworthy Publication (P) Ltd. 2009.
4. Orissa State Gazatteer, Vol-II, 1991.
5. Odisha Review, July-2013 & June-2014.
6. Souvenir, Orissa Sahitya Academi, 1982.
7. Orissa Historical Research Journal, Vol-XXIII,1978.
Dr. Mohammed Yamin, Head, Department of History,C.J.Degree College, Borda, Kalahandi-766036.
