An erudite scholar in Sanskrit and in English literatures, an Indologist, Prof Raj Kishore Mishra was Secretary of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi for two terms and Editor of Government publication Orissa Review. Acclaimed as an authority on the cult of lord Jagannath, he has published innumerable articles on the subject including a work on Charles Groene’s Report on lord Jagannath pertaining to 1805 and George Webb’s Report on lord Jagannath pertaining to 1807.
The recent happenings during the transfer of the lords’ Brahma have shaken the faith of millions of devotees. In an interview to The Pioneer, Prof Mishra spoke to Sugyan Choudhury, analysing the situation and finds the raison d’être that there is nothing to be panicky since the devotees have everything to concentrate with the cult and the consciousness of lord Jagannath without too much brooding over the happenings.
As a noted scholar on the Jagannath cult, what’s your reaction to the dismal proceedings at Puri on the Brahma ParivartanIJ
Thank you for asking me such a question. As a devotee, I am least disturbed. In past, lord Jagannath underwent many a travail. He sustained the Moghal invasion and the Pathan attacks and yet He emerged every time triumphant and reigned supreme. More pity it was when the lord was trying to conceal himself with help of his devotees in many secret places, caves and mountains. The true devotees ought not to be disturbed over such episodes since the very name of lord Jagannath inspires in us power, providence and protection of the lord Himself. His name is synonymous with Brahma, which means the Truth only. If a particle of Mahaprasad is offered to us, we put it on our forehead and we feel charged with energy. What the devotees are concerned are only with the consciousness or the Chetana of lord Jagannath, the images notwithstanding.
But then you are right about the incident of dismal proceedings. As I have understood, the transfer of Brahma or the life substance was done in perfect manner, except the fact that it was done during daytime. The unfortunate part is we cannot know when such rituals take place because of the simple reason that there is no codebook. The Daitas refer one book called Indraneelamani Purana, which has not been published so far. Hence, it is the essential prerogative of the Daitas to carry on the rituals as per the codebook. In the codebook it is mentioned the transfer of Brahma will take place on the fourteenth day on the dark phase of the moon in Ashadha. That usually comes in the dark night before the dawn on the Amabasya, but this year Amabasya terminated before June 16 evening. Hence, the Brahma transfer was done as per scriptures. But again, a very provocative question is that the Brahma should not be seen by others. As I understood, the four Badagrahis in charge of the four deities were responsible for the same under the careful supervision of Pati Mohapatra. The Temple Administrator says he has no information about what was happening at that point of time. He is absolutely right in his statement. Some Daitas might have managed to enter into that secluded zone and noticed the happenings. Others might have followed them. What had happened in that sequestered place should not come outside. But then, from the incoherent statements of the Daitas, one thing emerges clear that it was only confined to them only. Hence, there is nothing to worry from the scriptural point of view. let the Car Festival be observed with utmost devotion since around forty lakh people are going to congregate on the occasion. We must be kind and courteous to our guests who are about to knock at our doors. If such misgivings and wrong messages persist for some more days, there would be chaos. let us make an inquest after this great Nabakalevar event is over. It is mentioned in the Puranas, “Utkalasya samo desha, Desha nasti mahi tale” (In the whole world India is the best country, and in India, Odisha is the holiest land. let us remember this with our culture ‘Atithi Debo bhabah’.
What would be your suggestions that such a thing is not repeatedIJ
Wrong messages should not be carried on to the devotees for it has a far-reaching debilitating effect upon the masses. The erratic Daitas should be made to confess their guilt; they should apologise to the devotees and pray the lords to forgive them. In fact, some of them have expressed deep sorrow and anguish. Those servitors who often quarrel among themselves for establishing their powers and exploit devotees should now take a pledge to restore the dignity of the old institution. People should not also try to politicise the issue. I am astonished that some intellectuals, semi-intellectuals, people belonging to political parties have demanded resignation of the Chief Minister. Blaming others for the sake of blaming does not hold water. Nobody has a right to interfere in secret rituals. Caution should be taken that such an incident is not repeated in future.
Any idea regarding the State Government’s preparedness to internationalise the NabakelebarIJ
As I understands, the Government in all its earnestness is trying to internationalise the event as it is happening for the first time in this millennium after a long lapse of nineteen years.
What would be your suggestion to the idea of exemplary punishment to the servitors engaging themselves in internecine conflicts so as to see that the faith of the masses remains unaffectedIJ
As I told you earlier, the erratic ones need to be tempered but not now. The common devotees are not too much worried over such issues. It is the townsmen, semi-intellectuals who are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. The erratic ones will be punished by God before being punished by the Government. The Gajapati Maharaja is so much disturbed that he has given a call for a Kranti. But I am sure an inquest can be made after the festival. The question would be how such a thing could happen despite the presence of the Temple Administrator, his staff and a Cabinet Minister at Puri. Any award of punishment at this stage may jeopardise the festival ahead. Such an incident occurred in 1977, and the Government appointed the Patra Commission of Inquiry, which gave its findings in over 250 pages. The present incident can be very well-judged in the light of the commission’s 1977 findings.
Can you ever imagine Odisha without lord JagannathIJ There may be temples dotting elsewhere in thousand numbers, There may be thousands of saints and seers, but they are nonentities sans lord Jagannath at Puri. This is the place where a synthesis of Aryan and non-Aryan cultures took place. Had it not been that supreme, how many saints from various religious schools of India met and merged here since they found something in lord Jagannath, which we are unable to find today. All the saints since the Ninth Century have established their mutts at Puri. We would lose our priceless culture if such incidents are allowed to occur.
Some believe that this untoward incident is like an Albatross round the neck of the Temple Administration since it slighted the holy institution of the Shankaracharya. What’s your opinionIJ
It’s a tricky question. As per record of rights, the Shankaracharya has no right to interfere in the rituals of the temple. Only when some rituals go wrong, his opinions are sought. But this time, the Shankaracharya had some kind of premonition or an apocalyptic vision who despite his being slighted had cautioned the Government and the Sevayatas to perform their duties most sincerely. He was annoyed because he was not consulted. But what I find is there has been conspicuous attempts to demoralise the Shankaracharya and minimise the interference of the Gajapati Maharaja, who is the lord’s first servitor. This is not a good symptom. I fully support the Gajapati when he calls for a Kranti to preserve the pristine purity of the Jagannath cult and the temple. let the Shankaracharya be consulted often and let the Gajapati Maharaja exercise his unquestionable authority in the temple affairs.