Domain of Lord Jagannath (A Historical Study)

The world is languishing in the grip of violence, unrest and distrust. The human race is in distress to reach solution for its survival.

At Puri, the religious heartland of the erstwhile Kalinga Empire, still exists a cult over thousands of years that preaches humanitarian principles and amity amongst all. Equality, fraternity, justice and benevolence is the theme of the cult. The sculpture of the deities itself represents the magnanimity and wisdom imbedded in the cult. It is the cult of Lord Jagannath, for ages referred to as 'Purusottam' (meaning the best of mankind) i.e., God universified. The Orissan life has been intermingled with this cult for centuries. Lord Jagannath is revered as the omnipresent ruler, saviour and dejure Emperor of their life, property and destiny. The erstwhile ruler of Kalinga, the Gajapati King-Emperor, is regarded as His representative in real life (chalanti pratima) and considered His first sevak or servant. It is, therefore, unique and treats all human beings as equal while God is the sovereign.

The author has analysed the bygone history of five centuries depicting how the Gajapaties have been instrumental in saving and smoothly propagating the cult.p>

Dr. Bikram Das was born at Sakhigopal, Puri in February 1921. He grew up with national movement for independence. As a student he was involved not only in the freedom struggle but associated with journalism and literature. To serve the ailing humanity he joined Cuttack Medical College at a relatively advanced age and graduated as a doctor in 1950. Subsequently he pursued. his post-graduate studies in USA and specialised in Pathology from the University. of Alabama in 1954.

He joined Orissa Medical Education Service in the faculty of Pathology in 1955 and was the founder Professor of Pathology of MKCG Medical College in Southern Orissa.

Presently, he has more than forty books published and is well known for his novels with historical background, short stories, travelogues, biographies and popular scientific writings for children.

Catholicism is the oldest cult of the Christian religion. Pope is the traditional Head priest of that faith. From his little domain of the Vatican City of Rome he enlightens the whole Christian World. The Jagannath cult is much older than Christianism and even Buddhism. The Gajapati kings of Orissa are the Head priests of Jagannath.

The Gajapatis have protected the universalism of Jagannath faith, the deities and the gigantic temple complex from the attacks of alien faiths and fanatic rulers for centuries. They have faced death, banishment, prison and conversion to other religion to save their temple and deities.

For the efforts of the important God-kings the temple and deities are still surviving and the universal Jagannath faith has spread beyond India to show light to the materialistic world. Till to-day Puri the place of God kings and Jagannath stand as a great place of Hindu pilgrimage.

Among the four major traditional centres of Hindu pilgrimage in India, Puri Jagannath Dham is well known to the Hindu world. Like unity among diversity, the Hindu culture is existing for thousand years inspite of the political and language diversity. The four Dhams or places of pilgrimage, are situated in the four corners of India, thousands of miles apart from each other. Namely the four Dhamas are Dwaraka in the west (Gujarat), Jagannath in the east (Orissa). Ramnath in South (Tamilnadu) and Badrikanath in the North (Uttar Pradesh).

In ancient times though a pilgrim had to face innumerable difficulties to travel in roadless, tiger and dacoit infested paths, still the Hindu pilgrims visited all the four Dhams to achieve salvation. By that the cultural heritage of India remained intact. The Vedas. Upanishadas, Gita and Puranas became universal.

This little book, entitled Domain of Lord Jagannath-A Historical Study by Dr. Bikram Das, a medical professor, is a unique work in the field of cultural history relating to Lord Jagannath and the Thakur Raja of Puri. It describes how the glorious administration of the sixteenth century developed in Purushottama-dham and how the Gajapati Rajas were respected by Rajas, Zamindars and people of Orissa even after they were deprived of power and independence. The title of the book is befitting the honour of the Lord's and prestige of the Rajas of Puri, who among the Hindus, is regarded like the Pope of the Christian Community.

I hope this book will enhance the glory of Orissa as also of the Hindus with their sense of unity in the modern world.

Dr. Bikram Das is a versatile writer. His writings comprising Novels. Short stories, Biographics, Historical and social studies and children's Literature have been well appreciated by all concerned. A Doctor of the University of Alabama of the U.S.A. and a retired Professor of Pathology in the medical services of Orissa Government and a renowned physician, he has been devoting himself to literary pursuits of rare kind. Dr. Das has kept himself engaged in Literary and Socio-political activities since his studend days. Some of his literary works including Novels are considered by discerning critics as outstanding works of literature.

The "DOMAINS OF JAGANNATH" is a unique work in the field of cultural history relating to Lord Jagannath and Thakur Rajas of Puri. It conveys the history of 500 years of Gajapati Kings of Orissa who ruled the land as representative of Lord Jagannath. In this book Dr. Das, has thrown much light on many hidden chapters of Orissan History which were hitherto unknown or little known to the readers of History.

Jagannath is a living emblem of racial memory of Oriyas extending over thousand years, combining in itself many legends. and Historical accounts that reveal the collective memories of a heroic race like the Oriyas. It is also a symbol of national integration transcending all barriers of caste and sect as evident in Car Festival. It is verily known as a synthesis of many cults and creeds such as Ganapatya, Solar or Sun worship and Tree worship etc. The cult of Jagannath is an offshoot of Jainisim and Buddhism and finally integrated in Vaishnavism. Many rituals of Jagannath temple are embedded on the vast cultural gestalt of eastern India.

**Contents and Sample Pages**