Laxmipurana translated in Kui language

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Laxmipurana translated in Kui language: Exclusively for Vanvasis

By Debasis Tripathy

 

This is not only a good news for the Vanvasis practising Hinduism, but

also a ray of inspiration for them regarding their integral and

internal alliance with this great way of life. Those Vanvasi brethren

not knowing the Oriya language will no longer be debarred from

celebrating the worship of Goddess Laxmi. It is so because the Oriya

Laxmipurana has been translated into the Vanvasi language Kui,

enabling them to read this scripture and chant the hymns in their

mother tongue.

 

This great and remarkable achievement is the outcome of the years-long

restless heroic endeavour undertaken by a dedicated man Shri Suresh

Digal. Shri Suresh is a native of village Burupati under G. Udaygiri

of Kandhamal district. Amid much pain and sufferings he has brought

out the book after four painful years. The 36-page book warmly

certifies his dedication, labour and pain.

 

The book is composed in a lyrical form, translating the original

Laxmipurana written by the saint-poet Shri Balaram Das in Oriya

verbalism. Really it's a beautiful presentation of a social problem

and its homely solutions. The story of the book reads thus: "Lord

Jagannath and his spouse Goddess Laxmi were leading a happy family

life. One day a washerwoman namely Sriya, worshipped Laxmi on the

eve

of Laxmi Puja. On that very day Mother Laxmi visited her cottage and

became immensely influenced with Sriya's deep love and pure devotion.

She granted her a number of boons. But when Mother returned back to

the temple, a storm broke out. Lord Jagannath having been compelled by

his elder brother denied entry to her and accused her of going to the

home of an untouchable lower-caste woman. But Mother pleaded her

righteousness. But it went in vain. At last she left the "Srimandir"

and lived in a small cottage outside the temple. In course of time,

the Lord of the Lords realised His fault and begged pardon from Laxmi

and brought her back with a declaration for abolition of

untouchability in the society in general and in the premises of

Srimandir, Puri, in particular."

 

Not only, this, the book specifies some Do's and Don'ts for all,

especially for women. Balaram Das's Laxmi Pujan is considered to be a

code of conduct for each household. But now it is made easily

understandable for the Vanvasis, particularly "Kondhas".

 

While answering a question as to what made him to write the book,

Suresh Digal said. "I am a worker of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. While

working in Vanvasi areas I found that the innocent and religious

Vanvasis were not able to perform some Hindu rituals due to language

barriers. Laxmi puja was one of them. This was making a great gap

between the Vanvasis and the Nagarvasis. Christian missionaries were

taking the advantage after this and converting them into Christianity.

I thought a way to overcome this missionary menace and started writing

the book".