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

or philosophical structure. If it has a looseness of
organization as a system of philosophy, if its
liturgical or religious concepts have not been seen
against the backdrop of any particular Hindu sect
or sects to assess its deviations and differences
from them, it is because, like Hinduism it is more
of a cultural matrix than a systematic school of
philosophy or religion.
It is in this sense that Jagannath cult is not
a religion or philosophy but is a broad mythology
of culture. The mythic process is a learning device
in which the unintelligible and the random are
reduced to an intelligible pattern, howsoever
complex.
If it is a system of rituals, then it is based
on rituals as anti structures—a syndrome of
symbols that embraces almost the entire gamut
of human emotions and endeavours.
Jagannath culture which started with the
worship of Lord Shri Jagannath is the oldest living
culture of the world. This has a unique human -
value- system which needs to be highlighted.
Shri Jagannath culture believes in
universality and not in sectarianism. Shri Jagannath
is the God of the masses and hence Shri Jagannath
culture has been a mass culture. People of diverse
faiths have worshipped Lord Shri Jagannath. He
has been worshipped by the primitive tribals,
Dravidians, Aryans, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists,
Sikhs, Shaktas, Shaivites, Ganapatas and
Vaisnavites.
Jagannath Culture has been an elastic
culture. Apart from influencing other cultures, it
has incorporated into its fold the cultures of various
faiths. Shri Jagannath is the Saura’s, wooden
Deity without sense organs. Again, He is the
Dravidian Deity with sense organs. He is the
Purusottama of the Vedas and Darubrahma of the
Brahmins. His image smacks of the influence of
July - 2011
Orissa Review
Sauras. His rituals remind us of Dravidian customs
and His festivals are of Puranic origin. Of his
Mantras (incantations) OUM is Vedic and Hrim,
Slim, Klim are Tantric. His Kaibalya is of Jain
origin and Nirmalya is of Shaiva origin. A close
observation of His worship, attire, food, rites and
rituals make us conclude that Shri Jagannath
culture has assimilated features from other
cultures. It is devoid of, and free from all types of
regional narrowness. The essence of all great
religious scriptures can be perceived in Shri
Jagannath culture. By its wonderful power of
assimilation, it has effected a synthesis of all the
important cultures of the world. It has adapted
itself to the varying environments by effecting
changes in its outer form, but its essence remains
unchanged.
Tolerance is an outstanding human value
propagated by Shri Jagannath culture. It tolerates
all races, religions, customs, and cultures. This
tradition of tolerance is not an attitude of
indifference towards others. This is a fundamental
postulate of Jagannath culture that every way of
life has its own contribution to human welfare. It
is this positive approach to other groups and
communities- this eschewal of doctrine that one’s
way is absolutely right which gives to Jagannath
culture of toleration its special significance.
It has respect for the faiths and beliefs of
others and a generous charity of understanding
the approaches of other people to the problems
of life. It stands for religious tolerance, coexistence
of all religious communal harmony and
international integration. Hence Shri Jagannath is
worshipped by all irrespective of caste, creed,
colour and community. Shri Jagannath culture aims
at bringing the entire human community of the
world into the ambit of one family.
The messages of unity, equality, peaceful
-coexistence and fraternity are nowhere so
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