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Orissa Review

As early as 13th century AD thescions of Ganga dynasty werecalling themselves as son of thetrinity - Lord Purusottama,Lord Rudra and Devi Durga.This fact has been testified insome inscriptions of KingAnanga Bhima Deva during hissixth regal year in 1216 AD.The “Putra” concept gave riseto the designation, “routa” ofPurusottam Jagannath.

The “Surya Vamsis”who succeeded Ganga dynastyalso not only expressedallegiance to Purusottama-Jagannath but also value addedto the temple and dawned the awakening ofpeople on Shri Jagannath.

Hence, the ruler of Puri, the Gajapati istraditionally entwined with the rituals of ShriJagannath, the deity and the epitome of this lastingculture.

The role of Gajapati Maharaja of Puri inproliferation of awareness of Shri JagannathCulture throughout India, has been significant fromthe time of yore. He has also got some constructiverole in masonry, maintenance and conservation

The Traditional Role of Gajapati Maharajain Shri Jagannath Temple

Bhaskar Mishra

of the Temple and in all theimportant ritualistic festivalsincluding the “Nava Kalebar”wherein the wooden body-divine is renewed. Down fromGanga dynasty till the presentregime of Bhoi kings all theruling Gajapati Maharajas havepropitiated Shri JagannathMahaprabhu as the principaldeity.

Therefore the GajapatiMaharaja, Puri has always,commanded the respect of thethree crore-strong populace ofOrissa. Although manyGajapatis have functioned from

different places like Jajpur, Cuttack and Khurdabesides, Puri, the ancestors of Sri RamachandraDeva the founder of the extant “Bhoi” dynastyhave been swearing in as the Gajapati Maharajaof Puri till date. The dynastic genealogy of “BhoiVansha” dynasty from the 16th century onwardsis given below:

1 Ramchandra Dev.(AbhinabIndradyumna) 1568-1600

2 Gajapati Purusottam Deva 1600-1621

3 Gajapati Narasingha Deva 1621-1647

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4 Gajapati Balabhadra Deva 1647-1657

5 Gajapati Mukunda Deva-1st 1657-1689

6 Gajapati Divyasingha Deva-1st1689-1716

7 Gajapati Harekrushna Deva 1716-1720

8 Gajapati Gopinath Deva 1720-1727

9 Gajapati Ramchandra Deva 1727-1736

10 Birakeshari Deva 1st

(Bhagirathi Deva) 1736-1793

11 Gajapati DivyasinghaDeva-2nd 1793-1798

12 Gajapati MukundaDeva – 2nd 1798-1817

13 Gajapati RamchandraDeva –3rd 1817-1854

14 Gajapati BirakeshoriDeva-2nd 1854-1859

15 Gajapati DivyasinghaDeva-3rd 1859-1882

16 Gajapati MukundaDeva-3rd 1882-14.2.1926

17 Gajapati RamchandraDeva- 4th 14.2.1926-15.11.1956

18 Gajapati BirakishoreDeva- 3rd 15.11.1956 – 8.7.1970

19 Gajapati DivyasinghaDeva- 4th 8.7.1970- Continuing

Since the last 2 centuries GajapatiMaharaja is staying at Puri town and thereby ispopularly known as Puri Gajapati. Although withthe advent of democracy in India, royaladministration has lost its glory the GajapatiMaharaja of Puri still holds his dynastic

importance as the principal servitor of ShriJagannath and is being held as a symbolicpersonality of the Orissan culture. He isworshipped as the Vishnu incarnate and thenumero uno servitor of Shri Jagannath.

Till today, whenever he is addressedceremonially, elongated chanting goes as : -

“Shree Shree Shree Veerashree GajapatiGoudeswar NabakotikarnatatkalaKalabaragesvara Viradhiviravar Bhuta VairabaSadhu Sasnotirna Routraja Atula BalaparakramaSahasra Bahu Kshetriyakula DhumaketuMaharaja Adhiraja Divyasingha Deva.”

On 8th July-1970 the present GajapatiMaharaja, at the tender age of 16 was sworn inas Divyasingha Deva. His childhood name was“Bada Jenamani Kamarnava Deva” and he tookthe oath of royalty on the lap of Buxi. His fatherwho had preceded him Birakeshori Deva had alsohis childhood name “Jenamani Nilakantha”.

On 3-12-1978, Gajapati Divya SinghaDeb married Vinita, middle daughter of Lt. CornelAnanta Singh Charak of Jammu. As per traditionthe name of the queen became LilabatiPatamahadei after marriage.

In cyclic order the names of GajapatiMaharaja appear generation wise as1. Divyasingha Deva, 2. Mukunda Deva,3. Ramchandra Deva and 4. Birakeshari Devaand the names of queens appear as 1.LeelavatiPatamahadei, 2.Padmabati Patamahadei,3. Chandramani Patamahadei, 4. SuryamaniPatamahadei.

The chronological naming of the kingsand the queens have been in currency since lastthree hundred years of the 450 years’ rule of theBhoi Dynasty.

As per the ROR of the Temple, GajapatiMaharaja is the principal and foremost servitor

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of Shri Jagannath and this service is the hereditaryservice of the royal dynasty.

The Gajapati scavenges the chariots toconsecrate them for the Car Festival of ShriJagannath (and also on the Return Car Festival)with the assistance and direction of Rajaguru (theroyal priest). On the day of Car Festival he offersworship inside the Raja Nahar (the palace) toKanak Durga and dones his sacred thread.

On this occasion and on receipt ofinvitation, wherein the highest official of the TempleAdministration is involved, The Gajapati clad intraditional attire like white tunic, turban,“Kaustuva” necklace, accompanied by TempleCommander and the security employees andwielding sword, comes out of the Palace. Thepalanquin named as “Mehena” or “Tamjana” ismade of wood, ivory and silver carries theGajapati from the Palace to the chariots. This royalprocession is led by Behera Khuntia Sevakholding a cane, accompanied with a trumpet

blower and drum-beater. While the Gajapati iscarried through the crowd, he is hailed with “Hari Bola” and ululation, as like as God.

The Gajapati offers “Arati” before theLord with golden receptacle and scavenges theplatform of the chariot with a golden broom andconsecrates the chariots by sprinklingsandalwood water. As per the ROR, in absenceof the Gajapati, only “Mudi Rasta” servitormanages this ritual.

Barring the Car Festival and the ReturnCar Festival the Gajapati may also perform“Chherapanhara”, on the festive day of DolaPurnima and Chandan Yatra. The present GajapatiMaharaja Divyasingha Deva has a consistentrecord of participating in Snana Purnima for manyyears.

Apart from the above, the Gajapati hasthe privilege of performing service during several“Besha” decorations of the deities. During suchoccasion, the royal head moves in the “ Tamajana” which is kept at the Lions’ Gate promenadeand servitors like Karana, Parichha and othersaccompany and follow him. On the occasion ofthe Queen’s visit the palanquin enters the innerBedha of the Temple and being parked at theBanyan Tree and the Temple precinct is evacuatedof all other visitors. Only the “Mudi Ratha” Sevakaccompanies the queen and the King, This ispopularly known as “Gahana Bije”. On the last8th April-07 this occasion was solemnized after along gap of forty years, wherein GajapatiDivyasingha Deva and his consort LilabatiPatamahadei visited the Temple alongwith othermembers of royal family and offered prayers.Since the queen is treated as the goddess “LaxmiMata” who is not supposed to directly face theLord Balabhadra (husband’s elder brother) as atoken of respect, the deity of Balabhadra wasput under cloth partition.

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There are other ritualistic connections ofGajapati Maharaja in the festivals such asSaradiya Durgapuja, Banayaga, LaxminarayanBheta (Bahuda Yatra), Champak Dwadasi andPousa Purnima.

The second day of the bright fortnight ofthe month of “Bhadra” is celebrated as “Sunia”which symbolizes the beginning of a New Year asper the “Odiya” tradition. Some opine that sincethis is the birthday of the mythical king“Indradyumna” all the kings celebrate this day asthe day of reckoning the New Year and forbeginning the collection of revenue. It is reiteratedhere that all the almanacs published from Orissaand the palm-leaf horoscopes of the newbornscarry the name and the reigning year of GajapatiMaharaja.

As a source of receipt from the Temple,daily offered items like Mangal Alati, tendercoconut, consecrated “Abakash Jala”, floralofferings are sent to the palace. On the day ofbirth anniversary of the King, the Queen and otherroyal members, special Mahaprasad is providedto the palace besides daily Mahaprasad.

The rule of primogeniture is in currencyin the royal dynasty where the eldest son inherits.No female member of the royal family can succeedto the throne of Gajapati. As per the tradition theseat of Gajapati is never vacant and after thesuccessor succeeds by “Abhisek” (coronation)then only the ritual for the death is observed.Hence it is called-

“King is dead- Long live the King”

As of the present Gajapati Maharaja SriDibyasingh Dev 4th is on the higher side of fiftyand very fare and also well-known for his amiablecivility and is the cynosure of 3 crore-strongOrissan people.

He is a strict vegetarian and a completedevout of Lord Shri Jagannath. He has been

involved exponentially in the spread of ShriJagannath Culture both nationally and ininternational sphere. During the last 37 years ofhis incumbency he has inaugurated and put-upfoundation stones of hundreds of Shri JagannathTemples in Orissa and elsewhere in India.

His studentship continued through PrinceCollege in Raipur (MP). He completedgraduation from St. Stephens College withhonours in History; Bachelor in Law from DelhiUniversity and Master Degree in Law fromNorthwestern University, Chicago (U.S.A). Hehad pursued legal practice for a very short periodat the Indian Supreme Court but forgone the legalpractice in favour of the service of the Lord.

As the hereditary Chief of the royal family,he acts as the Chairman of the Shri JagannathTemple Managing Committee. He is very punctualin attending to rites of the temple during the festiveoccasions like Pusyabhiseka, Snan Yatra, RathYatra, Bahuda Yatra and many special events.Presently he leads a team of scholars under theaegis of Temple Administration in the title of “ShriJagannath Tatwa, Gabeshana O’ PrasarUpasamiti” for the spread of Shri Jagannathconsciousness.

References :

1. Record of Rights, Part – II Prepared underthe Puri Shri Jagannath Temple Administration Act1952.

2. A brief look at Shri Jagannath Temple SriMahimohan Tripathy, Fourth revised Edition - July,2003 SGN Publications, Puri.

3. Jay Jagannath Ratha Yatra issue – 2007, Puri.

4. Khurda Itihasa Kedarnath Mohapatra.

Bhaskar Mishra, Deputy Administrator, Shri JagannathTemple, Puri.