Philosophy of Lord Jagannath

LORD JAGANNATH & HUMAN BASICS

As we know, man has two eyes but the ‘act of seeing’ is one; two ears but the ‘act of hearing’ is one, and two lips but the ‘act of smiling’ is one. Similarly, he has two hands but ‘the clapping’ is one and two legs but ‘the going’ is one. These basic things point to something ‘oneness’ which means ‘consciousness’ in its wider sense. This pervades everywhere like the luster of the eye. Our scriptures point to this phenomenon as the supreme thing which is to be realized.

Since it is impossible to realize a non-physical thing with our sensory organs the ancient seers have postulated some means amongst which ‘conceptualization of Idols’ is one. The idols or which we call deities are symbolic expression of consciousness in their special and extra-ordinary forms.

One such extra-ordinary form is jagat ‘the Universe’. That which controls this form is ‘consciousness’. It is therefore called its natha (na-atha) which etimologically means there is ‘nothing-next to’ it. Literally it means ‘the Lord’.

The word Jagannatha thus encapsulates the idea of ‘the Lord and the Universe’ in its non-physical and physical level. The physical level is somehow understood, but the non-physical level remains incomprehensible. It is so because of the limitation of human intellect.

:: 1. I AM ALONE ::

Among human basics the ‘feeling that I am alone’ is very common. Our scriptures gives attestation to this effect that there was nothing before the creation and nothing remains after the dissolution. This nothingness points to certain pervasive positivity in the form that ‘I exist only (ekoham)‘ which is called supreme consciousness with which everybody aspires to unite himself knowingly and in unknown way also. In other words, a man stands on a solitary outline seeking union with the supreme. This has been reflected in many ways in human life. The saints, philosophers and scientists have devised, developed and discovered many concepts to understand this reality. One such and wonderful conceptualization is Lord Jagannath.

:: 2. LET ME BECOME MANY ::

‘To be’ or ‘Not to be’ are two emotions which always create inner churning not only within human mind but also in the nature. Such churning reveals itself as a longing for the second one, then third, then fourth and many more. This is the process self-expansion of the supreme consciousness which takes a form of small ‘I-Consiousness’ taking recourse to different bodies. Similarly, the human being expresses himself to become many as it is his basic urge. But he realizes limitation as far as his body and mind are concerned. Therefore, he is restricted to four phases of life i.e.

1) Child-hood 2) Teen age 3) Youth time 4) Old Age

Such four-fold dimension of life has been reflected in the structural design of Lord Jagannath.

:: 3. FOUR-IN-ONE ::

The human body appears to be single. But it comprises four bodies, namely:

1. The Gross body (which is open to everyone)
2. The Subtle body (which is open to doctors only)
3. The Space-cum-nectar body (through which one experiences his pain and pleasure as well as different knowledge processes) and
4. The Universal body (through which one realizes his deep sleep and becomes one with the God or Supreme consciousness knowingly through mediation, devotion and such other ways)

The third body serves as the sister system to support all such bodies. Therefore brother-sister-worship is the unique feature in Jagannath temple. This not only point to ideal family relationship but also advocates for universal brotherhood.

:: 4. FOUR EASY PATH ::

Four figures of Lord Jagannath represent four paths to follow in life.

1. Sudarshan (su-darshan à good vision) indicates: See the good and meditate upon it.
2. Subhadra (su-bhadra à welfare with goodness) means: Do good and enjoy joy of giving like a mother.
3. Jagannath (jagat-nath à master of universe) points: To be master of Universe with your vision and goodness, i.e. “Love to Learn” (about the world outside and within yourself)
4. Balabhadra (bala-bhadra à strength for sustaining goodness and welfare) refers: To the fact that, unless you love and you cannot do good and welfare. Love requires inner strength, therefore the path is “Learn to Love” (yourself and others)

:: 5. DEVOTION TO DELIGHT ::

The common people do not understand the God in terms of consciousness. They have the belief that the God is everything which is above all and can understand both inner and outer mode of life. He is the supreme power to relieve a man from all miseries. In effect to this Lord Jagannath is called Patitapavana: the reliever or the purifier of the fallen.

The four-fold path mentioned above, if followed, will generate devotion leading to delight and a man gets sadgati ‘the right way to God’.