Jagganath Dharma: A Universal Religion

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Jagannath cult in national integration

 

By Deepak Kumar Rath

The Jagannathdesh Utkal Pradesh, the modern-day Orissa represents a

miniature India that is a composite mosaic of various cultures. The

presiding deity of this religious state of India is Lord Jagannath

or the Lord of the Universe. Jagannath Puri has played a vital role

in encouraging the socio-cultural integration of this vast country.

It has embodied and given full expression to the Indian concept of

dharma, which aims at continuance of social solidarity and social

well-being. The cult of Lord Jagannath has allowed the followers of

all religions to flourish in India. Various scholars have emphasised

on the presence of a humanistic approach in the philosophy of Lord

Jagannath.

 

Religion, according to Jagannath dharma, signifies human welfare and

cultural union of the entire mankind. The ancient Hindus had made it

mandatory for every Indian to undertake a religious journey, as a

matter of duty, at least once in his life-time to the four religious

dhaams (shrines) in the four remotest corners of the country—

Amarnath in the north, Dwarka in the west, Rameshwaram in the south

and Jagannath Puri in the east.

 

With this, people from different regions of India come to understand

and appreciate the various lifestyles and cultural values existing

in each region. This ensures the integration of the entire Indian

society into one living and dynamic cultural pattern. It was with

the institution of Jagannath at Puri that the concept of Hinduism as

a pioneer all-embracing religion was given birth. The unique and

unparalleled Jagannath cult assimilates the untouchables, the

tribes, the followers of Islam into its broad-based concept of

dharma.

 

In the dieties of Lord Jagannath, of his elder brother Balabhadra

and of his sister Subhadra, people can see the symbols of world

unity and world peace—the black colour of Jagannath represents the

black people, white colour of Balabhadra stands for the White race

while the yellow colour of Subhadra signifies the Mongolians.

 

Lord Jagannath is popularly called the `god of the common masses'.

In his large, hospitable and one of the biggest kitchens in the

world, food is cooked for the pilgrims by laying stress on the

importance of swadeshi culture—use of imported food items, such as

sugar and potatoes, are considered a taboo here. The food offered

daily to Lord Jagannath is cooked by steaming so that the valuable

nutrients are retained which otherwise get lost through boiling or

frying. His food is made out of rice-bran and pot-herbs which

constitute the staple diet of the poor in Orissa.

 

Legends are many to prove the absence of the caste system in the

Jagannath shrine. It is through distribution of the mahaprasad, that

maitri or friendship is established among all the castes. Even a

conservative Hindu of a high caste has no objection to sharing with

a person of lower caste the mahaprasad from the same plate.

 

Jagannath dharma means universal religion. The Buddhists tried to

superimpose their thought process over the symbols used for

representing Lord Jagannath. Even Jain thinkers attempted to prove

the legitimacy of their ideals drawn from the clues from Jagannath.

The Shaivites, the Shaktas and the Ganapatayas have also accepted

the Jagannath cult as it suited their way of life.

 

No one is accorded special privilege in the cult of Lord Jagannath.

There is no distinction between a panda (priest) and the daita

(servant of God). The ruler and the ruling class are all equal in

the cult. Jagannath is the most democratic god of all and also the

most humane. He lives like a man with his brother and sister and

takes the common man's food. The main objectives of humanism are

deeply implanted in Jagannath culture—a culture which is considered

the essence of human civilisation by his believers and followers.

 

It was with the institution of Jagannath at Puri that the concept of

Hinduism as a pioneer all-embracing religion was given birth.

 

It is through distribution of the mahaprasad, that maitri or

friendship is established among all the castes. Even a conservative

Hindu of a high caste has no objections to sharing with a person of

lower caste the mahaprasad from the same plate.