Jagannath - Assimilation and Synthesis

Assimilation and Synthesis

Seemingly, the origin of Jagannath cult is aboriginal, tribal Savara. However, in course of time, the cult has taken an Aryanised form and various major faiths like Saivism, Saktism, Vaishnavism, Jainism, and Buddhism have been synthesised into this cult.

In the Puri temple, Jagannath is worshipped as Purusottama or Vishnu, Balabhadra as Lord Shiva and Devi Subhadra as Adyasakti Durga. Finally the fourth deity, Sudarsana Chakra symbolizes the wheel of Sun's Chariot, which attracts the Sauras. The conglomerate of such attributions are called the Chaturdha Murty or the "Four-fold Form".

Certain scholars like Pandit Nilakantha Das have opined that the three main images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra represent the Jain Trinity of Samyak Jnana, Samyak Charita and Samyak Drusti. It is also believed that the soul of Jagannath, most secretly hidden within the image of Jagannath, is nothing but a Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. The philosophy of Tantra, which in course of time became an integral part of Buddhism, has also significantly influenced the rites and rituals of Jagannath temple.

Jagannath is also worshipped as "Purusottama" ("The Best of All"). Jagannath is worshipped along with Lord Balabhadra or Balarama who is alternatively considered to be an incarnation of Seshanaga Vasuki. According to some scholars, Subhadra, who is worshipped along with Jagannath, is the Goddess Durga. But some other Vaishnavite scholars regard her as the younger sister of Lord Krishna, because of the similar name.

To the right of Jagannath is the Sudarshana chakra, a post-like structure that may have originated in processional Siva lingas, but that also has some parallels in pillars seen in orthodox Vaishnava contexts, in folk settings, and in tribal areas. Author O.M. Starza (1993) provides information about the processional Siva lingas (p. 70), Vaishnava pillars (p. 97 ff.), modern folk parallels to the Sudarshana chakra (p. 102 ff.), and stakes or pillar-like icons in the tribal settings (p. 105 ff.).

On the other hand, the importance or role of Sudarshana chakra, the fourth deity remains unexplained. Such a combination of deities is unique in India iconography.

The Saiva element in the cult of Jagannath are co-related with the doctrine of Tantricism and Shakta Dharma. According to the Saivas, Jagannath is Bhairav. The tantric literary texts identify Jagannath with Mahabhairav. It will not be out of place to mention here that Jagannath sits on the Sri Yantra" and is worshipped in the Vijamantra 'Klim' which is also the Vijamantra of Kali or Shakti. The representation of Balaram as Sesanaga or Sankarsana bear testimony to the influence of Shaivism on the cult of Jagannath. It may be pointed out that the third deity, Devi Subhadra, who represents the Sakti element is still worshipped with the Bhubaneswari Mantra.

The tantric texts also point out the name of Jagannath and his worshipers. According to these texts, Jagannath is Bhairav, and Goddess Vimala is the Shakti. The offerings of Jagannath becomes Mahaprasad only after it is re-offered to Goddess Vimala. Similarly, different tantric features of Yantras have been engraved on the Ratna vedi, where Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are set up. The Kalika Puran depicts Jagannath as a Tantric deity.

In Vaishnav tradition, Lord Balabhadra is the elder brother, Jagannath is the younger brother, and Devi Subhadra is the youngest sister.

According to the Jain version, the image of Jagannath (Black colour) represents sunya, Subhadra symbolizes the creative energy and Balabhadra (White colour) represents the phenomenal universe. All these images have evolved from the Nila Madhava, the ancient Kalinga Jaina. "Sudarshana Chakra" is contended to be the Hindu name of the Dharma chakra of Jaina symbol. The term "Kaivalya" ("liberation"), exclusively common in the cult of Jagannath, is derived from Jaina tradition.