Jagannath, Lord of the Universe # 27

27

The biography of Krishna-Chaitanya would be incomplete without the detailed narration of his confrontation with Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya in Puri, Orissa; for this encounter constitutes a major event in both of their lives.

Chaitanya anticipates his visit to the temple of Jagannath, this deity of singular form, with great fervor. Unlike other divine sculptures, this one—due to a remarkable incident—was never finished and has remained roughly hewn. Nevertheless, its worship is not neglected, and indeed constitutes one of the most lavish in India. Hundreds of priests, cooks, and subordinates serve the deity from generation to generation, from sunrise until late at night.

Pilgrims come from across the entire peninsula to admire his joyful, multicolored face, his smile painted from ear to ear, and his immense, round eyes that transfix and captivate. Amidst a finery of precious silks and jewels, Jagannath thrones like a debonair king, surrounded by servants who fan him, perfume him, incense him, feed him, and play music. This meticulous ceremonial has been practiced daily for centuries, never wearying the devotees who throng the temple floors, from the courtyard to the altar. The temple itself is weathered by time; for what monument, even if built of the most solid material, could resist the assaults of the ages? Its structure has been modified numerous times, and God alone remembers the year of its construction.

The end of the journey draws near. In the distance, Chaitanya discerns the flag fluttering atop the dome of the famous temple, signaling the presence of the Lord. This symbol is as propitiatory as an audience with the deity itself, and the untouchables, barred from entry, take advantage of it; they worship the flag just as they would his person.

At the sight of it, Chaitanya enters an intense meditation and heads toward the temple gates in a trance, singing and dancing. When he finally catches sight of the forms of the Lord (Jagannath's sister in the middle and his brother, Balaram, on the left), he prays in a low voice: "O Krishna! I have wanted to see you for so long, and today my desire is finally fulfilled." He tries to call him by name but in vain; the words catch in his throat: "Jaga... Jaga... Jaga...". His ecstasy is so great that he faints.

The guards, accustomed to such exaltations, to women falling into swoons, and to feigned tears, are preparing to manhandle him when Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya, the temple supervisor, approaches. He is intrigued by the personality of this young sannyasi. Sarvabhauma is not a man to be easily fooled; he is eighty years old, and his reputation as a philosopher has spread throughout India, hence his title of Bhattacharya. Previously, when he lived in Navadwip, his erudition had led him to found his own school where he taught Navya-Nyaya (a system of logic in which doubt is a prerequisite for the philosophical process. All schools of thought in India use Nyaya as a common ground for debate and reasoning). People came from everywhere to attend his classes. Moreover, one of the most notorious schools was so affected by this competition that the Muslim king of Bengal ousted Sarvabhauma, who fled to the neighboring province of Orissa to the south. There, King Prataparudra, who held him in high esteem, granted him the leadership of the Puri temple.

Next chapter : The relations grow complicated # 28
Preceding chapter : The Renunciation Ceremony # 26