Lord Shree Jagannath - a Great Assimilator of Tantric Impressions ...

Khetreshwari is Maa Vimala and its very existence
is due to this being oldest “Uddiyana Tantra
Peetha”. Similarly we see in “Peetha Nirnaya” that
Shri Jagannath and Mahamaya Vimala have been
described as Bhairab and Bhairabi. Similarly in a
manuscript in the tittle ‘Bimala Saparyaa”
preseved in State Museum, Bhubaneswar
scripted in 9th century, Mahamaya Vimla is the
presiding lady Deity of Uddiyan Tantra Peetha
and left Pada of “Sati” has fallen and hence it is
famous as “Sati Pada Peetha” and presiding Deity
is Shri Jagannath.
Thus, it can safely be conjectured that
Puri Purusottam Kshetra is primarily a Sakta
Tantra Peetha and its presiding lady Deity is
Mahamaya Vimala and Presiding Deity is Shri
Jagannath.
On the basis of archaeological evidence,
the concept of Sakti can be traced to Indus Valley
Civilization, i.e, it is pre-Vedic. The Streak of
Saktism can be found in all religions or religious
denominations of India. It had its place in Orissa
also, and its hold on the population continues to
the present day. Practically all the religions or
religious denominations that came to Orissa had
to come to terms with Saktism as female deities
of the Sakti Cult are worshipped even now in the
society. Royal patronage has been there from 8th
to 11th century in Orissa.
Goddess Vimala holds a very important
position in Shri Jagannath Temple Puri. She is
addressed as Peetheswari i.e., Goddess of the
land (Pitha). Puri or Purusottama Kshetra has a
great antiquarian value in art, architecture,
literature, religion and tradition. For centuries, it
has been the principal religious centre of the
Hindus; one among the four Dhams of Hinduism
alongwith Dwarika, Badrinath and Rameswaram.
This holy city has been variously referred to in
ancient Sanskrit texts and Puranas as Nilachala,
July - 2011
Orissa Review
Niladri, Nilagiri Purusottama Kshetra, Srikshetra.
and Sankhakshetra. Even in Rig Veda, Yogitantra
and Kalika Purana, Puri is referred as
Purusottama. We find syncretisms of different
cults; such as Vaishnavism, Buddhism, Jainism,
Saivism, Saktism etc. in Jagannath Cult. In the
daily rituals and practices of the Jagannath temple,
Jaina, Vaishnavite, Buddhist, Saivite, Tantrik
influences are found.
Faminine Sakti commands as much
respect as does Vishnu or Siva. Saktism is a
popular religious cult of kings and people of
Orissa from very ancient time to the modern age.
In Sakti literature, Orissa is well known as
Odrapitha. The city of Viraja (i.e, the present day
District Headquarters Town Jajpur), Ekamra (i.e,
the present day old Bhubaneswar part of Capital
city of Orissa) and Puri (Holy city as well as Dist.
Town of Puri Dist.) were notably early Sakta Pitha
in Orissa as attested from various literary,
archaeological as well as folk traditions. Although
Purusottama Kshetra came to be recognised as
a great centre of Vaisnavism, particularly during
the reign of Imperial Gangas, it was also a centre
of Saktism of India as attested from literature,
tradition and archaeological remains.
In the tantric lore, Lord Jagannath is
considered to be a Bhairava and Vimala is
worshipped as Mahadevi. In Devi Bhagavata,
Vimala is considered to be a Kshetra Sakti.
Matsya Purana refers to Purusottama Kshetra as
a Sakta Pitha, with its presiding goddess Vimala.
Vamana Purana refers to Purusottama alongwith
Viraja as a sacred pilgrimage centre. Tantric
literature “Rudra Yamala” composed in 950 A.D.
glorifies Jagannatha as adorning the Mahapitha;
Kalika Purana refers to Odrapitha as a famous
Saktipitha which was the celebrated seat of
goddess Katyayani and God Jagannath. Tantra
Yamala, another Tantric work refers to Jagannath
59