Jiva
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MIND, MATTER AND GOD : JIVA, JADA AND ISVARA<br />
M.M.NINAN<br />
JAGNATH<br />
(THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE)<br />
The Story of Jagnath Temple and the iconic representation in the temple has a long and<br />
interesting past. The temple was not in any way "Hindu". According to recently<br />
discovered copper plates from the Ganga dynasty, the construction of the current<br />
Jagannath temple was initiated by the ruler of Kalinga, Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev.<br />
The Jagamohana and the Vimana portions of the temple were built during his reign<br />
(1078 - 1148 CE). However, it was only in the year 1174 CE that the Oriya ruler Ananga<br />
Bhima Deva rebuilt the temple to give a shape in which it stands today<br />
Jagannath worship in the temple continued until 1558, when Orissa was attacked by the<br />
Afghan general Kalapahad. Subsequently, when Ramachandra Deb established an<br />
independent kingdom at Khurda in Orissa, the temple was consecrated and the deities<br />
reinstalled.<br />
Legendary account as found in the Skanda-Purana, Brahma Purana and other Puranas<br />
and later Oriya works state that Lord Jagannath was originally worshipped as Lord<br />
Neela Madhav by a Savar king ( tribal chief ) named Viswavasu. Having heard about<br />
the deity, King Indradyumna sent a Brahmin priest, Vidyapati to locate the deity, who<br />
was worshipped secretly in a dense forest by Viswavasu. Vidyapati tried his best but<br />
could not locate the place. But at last he managed to marry Viswavasu's daughter Lalita<br />
and eventually took over the temple.<br />
Evidently it was under the control of Buddhists and Jain denominations. We do not<br />
know how and what the Buddhists and Jain were doing with idols of deities since they<br />
both were atheistic religions. It takes us back to the period of Kalabhras which laster<br />
from the first century to the seventh century AD which probably was a Christian period.<br />
This is supported by the presence of a cross in one of the temples which still exists. It<br />
was taken over by the Brahmins - and today it is controlled by the Vaishnavites. The<br />
Three deities were renamed as Jagannath (as Krishna), Balabhadra (Krishna's Brother) ,<br />
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