Jagannath sanskruti : The embodiment of world religion

Jagannath sanskruti : The embodiment of world religion

Symbolism has remained a centerpiece of all religion in the world. Each object, sign & color used in religion has some relevance. It can lead to many interpretations and conclusions, which may or may not be correct from the perspective of history and mythology. In this piece of writing one such attempt is made to justify the relevance of Jagannath sanskruti in 21st century.

1. Dahuka boli : During the ratha yatra (chariot festival), there is a tradition of dahuka boli, where foul language is used in front of the lord before the chariot is pulled every time. To a common person the tradition seems absurd and disrespectful. But if we see to it in a different perspective it sends out a great message to mankind.  The message is that, the lord does not take offence for any word spoken by his children, however offensive it may be. This is a great lesson on TOLERANCE emanating directly from the lord himself. Further to this, the dahuka (who orates the dahuka boli) is placed in the chariot. Which gives a message that criticism must be respected for a society to grow. In our age where a simple reference to God leads to social unrest, riots, war, jihad, this lesson can bring peace to humanity. By spreading the message of the lord, we can save the world from many charlie hebdo like incidents.  
2. Color of our lord:  The trimurti/triad of lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and maa subhadra are sibilings. Lord Jagannath is black in color, lord Balabhadra is white and their sister maa subhadra is yellow. Here the lord tells us that, the whole of mankind is one family irrespective of the color of their skin (race). The lord himself is against racism. 
3. Incomplete body of trimurti/triad : the body of the triad is incomplete. In mythology there is an anecdote regarding the reason for incomplete body of the lord. But it is unbelievable that, the idols of the three lords remained incomplete without their wishes. May be the lord deliberately wanted his body to remain incomplete to sensitize his children about the special ones who are incomplete / physically challenged. May be he wanted to convey that, the ones who are incomplete are one with the lord. 
4. Our lord does not travel by himself. He is carried by his devotees. So the lord and the devotees are complementary to each other. This is the highest form of socialism. 
5. The Ratha(chariot) is symbol of civilisation/society. Devotees(human being) has the rope to drag it forward. The rope is one for all irrespective of wealth, caste, creed, race and gender. When mankind unites,  civilization moves forward. 
6. Chera pahara : It is a tradition where the king sweeps the chariot. Which means the societal hierarchy ends when one reaches the lord. It also glorifies the job of people involved in cleanliness. 
7. Wooden body: while idols of other Gods  and Goddesses are made of metal or stone, the idols of the trimurti are made of wood. Wood is used as fuel to cook. Wood is also used to burn human body after death. This is what makes our lord very grounded or the common man's God.
8. Everyone who is born on earth has to depart one day. So does our lord. Every twelve-fourteen years there comes a Navakalebara. The lord leaves his old body and enters into a new body just as the soul changes human body after death. This makes the lord like one of us. He lives among us, like us. 
9. Sriya chandaluni anecdote (odia laxmi purana) : According to this anecdote, Goddess Laxmi(wife of Lord Jagannath)once visited the house of a chandaluni( a woman of lower caste). This angered the lord and he asked her leave his house. The events that followed were dramatic. The lord lost all his wealth and even struggled to find food to eat. Finally lord Jagannath apologizes to Maa Laxmi. He agrees to her condition that, the Mahaprasad(worshipped/holy food) ll be shared by people of lower caste and upper caste without any prejudice. There won't be any concept of impurity which is often attached to people belonging to lower caste. Caste disappears in front of the lord. Laxmi purana is highest mythological literature that speaks for women empowerment and stands resolutely against casteism. This is the culture where even the lord is punished for being wrong.    

These are some of the reasons/interpretations which make Jagannath sanskruti a perfect embodiment of world religion. Time has come for the world to embrace it with an open heart.