Lord Jagannath: The World’s Ruler

 

India is home to the Char Dham—the four sacred abodes of the divine. The Lord of Badrinath Dham is Shree Badrinarayan, while Dwarikadham has Shree Dwarikadhish, and Ramesvardham is graced by Shree Rameswaram. However, in Puri Dham, a unique divinity reigns supreme, unlike any other deity across the land. He is not called Purinath, Odishanath, or Bharatnath, but Shree Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe. As the protector of all, he is not just a local deity but the world-saviour, transcending borders and communities, a universal figure in Hindu cosmology.

In Hinduism, there exists a concept of 33 crore (types) gods and goddesses, symbolizing diverse divine manifestations. These include 11 Rudras, 12 Adityas, 8 Vasus, one Prajapati, and Vasudha. This vast pantheon embodies the inclusive nature of Hinduism, where diversity is embraced, not just tolerated. The true devotee of Jagannath is one who practices this universal outlook, seeing no distinction between religions, deities, or ideologies—a true secularist in the spirit of Lord Jagannath.

Jagannath is not merely a deity; He is the progenitor of existence. His eternal form—head, eyes, and feet—pervades the entire cosmos. Whether in the physical world or beyond, His consciousness touches all realms. He is the source of creation, the force behind evolution, and the ever-present controller of the cyclical nature of life. As the "Tadeikum", He is the known unknown, both a mystery and an omniscient presence in the fabric of existence.

Jagannath is the essence of the Bhagavad Gita, embodying the highest reality of consciousness, both stable and unstable. His existence transcends time, space, and understanding. He is the quiet observer of cosmic events, the deepest mystery and the brightest light. His birth, celebrated on the day of Jyestha Purnima, is a time of great reverence. The Skanda Purana references this auspicious event, emphasizing the significance of the sacred bath on this day, which marks Jagannath's divine birth. Pilgrims who participate in this ritual are said to be freed from the cycle of rebirth, no longer needing to bathe in the water of the maternal womb or the ocean of worldly existence.

The period from Snanapurnima to Niladrivije is crucial in the rituals surrounding Lord Jagannath. During this sacred phase, the priests live a life of extreme purity. They consume only sanctified food and avoid interaction with the outside world, abstaining from inviting guests or even receiving food from others, including their own family members. There is a strict prohibition on giving alms to beggars during this time, symbolizing the complete detachment from worldly possessions and distractions.

Lord Jagannath’s unique form reflects His paradoxical nature. Though He is handless, He is the one who offers His hands to everyone. Though He has no feet, He is the one who walks with His devotees. In His divine embrace, He becomes one with all who seek Him, dissolving into the infinite breath of existence. He is timeless, motionless yet in perpetual motion, both the eternal and the transient. He is the "lettered", and He is also "left"—the enigma of contrasts and contradictions that define the divine.

Lord Jagannath is celebrated throughout the year, with twelve distinct festivals corresponding to each month. The most important of these is the Niladrimhoday, which falls on the 8th day of the second fortnight of Baisakh. This marks the day of the great Troyadoshyatra, a festival that commemorates the establishment of Lord Jagannath’s idol and the foundation of His temple in Niladri.

On this day, the idol of Lord Jagannath, along with other deities, was consecrated on the Ratna singhasan. This event symbolizes the divine rise of Lord Jagannath, who, in His supreme glory, takes His place as the ruler of the cosmos.

Historically, the grand chariot procession—one of the most significant festivals dedicated to Lord Jagannath—faced many challenges. The Grand Road leading to the Gundicha Temple was once nothing more than a sand-filled path, making it difficult to pull the heavy chariots. In the past, strong labourers were employed to push the chariots, and frequently, the wheels would get stuck or break due to the uneven terrain. According to records from 1902, the then king hired 500 labourers at a rate of three rupees per day for this purpose. This practice continued until the 1970s and 1980s when it was replaced by the participation of police and devotees. Over time, the nature of the festival transformed, but the spiritual fervour surrounding it remains unchanged.

What makes Lord Jagannath distinct is His relatable, human-like nature. He is not the cold, distant deity that many might expect. To the people of Odisha, He is far more than an idol in a temple. He eats, sleeps, and even plays in a way that resonates with human experiences. He shares in the joy and suffering of His devotees, living like an ordinary person who eats Odia cakes, enjoys sweets, and even visits His aunt’s house for meals. He engages in playful interactions with His devotees, and like any human, He wakes up to wash His face, brush His teeth, take a bath, and get dressed. He listens to Geet Govinda before sleep, embracing the divine rhythm of the world.

Jagannath is not just a figure of worship; He is the epitome of humanity’s potential to transcend the ordinary and touch the divine. He is "the manliest among men," "Samveda among the Vedas," and "Jagannath among the gods."

The mystery of Lord Jagannath is not just about His physical form or the rituals surrounding Him; it is about His essence, His role in the universe, and His presence in the hearts of His devotees. Lord Jagannath is not merely a deity who exists in temples or in the minds of those who worship Him. He is an eternal force, a transcendent reality that moves beyond time, place, and belief systems. In Him, all are equal, and all are embraced in His infinite grace.

Ozone for Life

 

The environment usually refers to our surroundings. That is, the plants, animals, water, soil, sky, and atmosphere around us are included in the environment. Interdependence between these elements of the environment has existed since the creation of the world. Recent research has identified five major tipping points at risk at current levels of global warming. They are the destruction of coral reefs, the melting of the Labrador Sea and sub-Antarctic ice sheets, the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, and the melting of permafrost. Melting of the Greenland ice sheet could contribute to sea level rise that could threaten subtropical regions around the world. Melting permafrost has the potential to release large amounts of greenhouse gases trapped beneath the ice. Along with the potential damage to the entire marine environment, coral reefs, known as the nursery of the ocean, are facing an existential crisis due to warming waters and acidification.

Every year, we celebrate the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone, also known as World Ozone Day, on September 16. This date was specifically selected by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994 to commemorate the historic signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer by numerous countries on the same day in 1987. This protocol marked the initiation of a vital initiative to safeguard the ozone layer, addressing the urgent need as it began to deplete. Fast forward 30 years from the establishment of the Montreal Protocol, and we have witnessed a promising development: the ozone hole has been found to be gradually closing. The positive impacts of these efforts are expected to endure for as long as a century.

 

The ozone layer was found by French physicists Charles Fabry and Henri Buisson in 1913. There was no radiation below a wavelength of about 310 nanometers at the ultraviolet end of the spectrum, despite measurements of the sun's radiation revealing that it typically matches a spectrum of a black body with extremely high temperatures. This prompted the researchers to conclude that the UV radiation that was absent was being absorbed by the atmosphere. After conducting numerous scientific investigations, it was eventually determined that the spectrum of the missing radiation could only be matched to ozone, one known molecule.

 

The ozone layer located within the stratosphere of the earth receives majority of UV rays from the Sun. It has a greater amount of ozone than other parts of the atmosphere, but being comparatively tiny in proportion to other gases in the stratosphere. With location and season fluctuations, it typically occurs between 10 and 22 miles above the earth's surface in the lower stratosphere.

The day is dedicated to educating the public about the significance of the ozone layer and the impact of ozone depletion on the environment and human health. It highlights the need for continued action to protect and restore the ozone layer. Each year, World Ozone Day has a specific theme that reflects current issues and goals related to ozone layer protection.

The theme for 2024 is “Ozone for Life,” focusing on the positive outcomes of the Montreal Protocol in promoting the recovery of the ozone layer and addressing climate change.

The ozone layer, located in the stratosphere, absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Its protection is crucial for preventing skin cancer, cataracts, and other health issues, as well as preserving ecosystems and biodiversity.

World Ozone Day History speaks about the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1994. However, the Montreal Protocol was ratified in 187, and efforts to give the agreement an official seal of significance were launched in 1995 about the same. All 197 UN members have accepted this convention, which prohibits the use of substances that deplete the ozone layer. World Ozone Day is celebrated on the 16th September. The Montreal Protocol aims to preserve the Ozone layer by limiting the production of substances thought to be contributing to its thinning.

 

Ozone layer is continuously depleting which is highly alarming situation of today. Chloroflourocarbons are major cause of ozone depletion. These substances should be banned or we should use their alternatives so that in future we can protect ourselves from the harmful effects of UV radiation.

Human eye and skin are the most exposed part of the body to these radiations. So there is high degree of incidence of blindness and skin cancer disease increasing day by day with the depletion of ozone layer so we should use sunglasses and full body clothes especially in summer when there is high intensity of sunlight so that we can protect our body from harmful UV radiations. We should also use sun block creams to our most exposed parts of body like face.

We should also don’t consume water from lakes as it may contain high quantity of hydrogen peroxide which is toxic to our bodies, and we should consume water for drinking from clean water sources.

 Domestic Violence- An Analysis

 

                                                                                       

In our society, girls are taught by their parents from childhood that they have to go to their mother-in-law's house sitting in a palanquin and only come out from there in a casket. So in mother-in-law’s house she has to adjust and tolerate everything. This kind of mentality generally promotes domestic violence.

 

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviour in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner which includes sexual, physical, economic, emotional, psychological, or technological actions or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behaviour that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship.

 

Generally, a woman from a very young age has been inculcated in that tradition by witnessing beatings of mother from her father, aunt form uncle and sister-in-laws from brother and when she is beaten by her husband, she accepts it in her mind that it is a normal thing and she silently endures it.

In order to provide for more effective protection of the rights of women guaranteed under the Constitution who are victims of violence of anything occurring within the family and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, Government have implemented an Act namely “ the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act,2005”.

 

Domestic violence  can be reduced by adopting measures like legal literacy of women by creating awareness of rights among women, strengthening of free legal aid societies and effective functioning of family courts and family counselling, monitoring rescue homes and implementation of different laws more actively, awareness, mobilization and protesting violence. Apart from this, we should change our mind-set in this connection

 

Imagination of four Yajna(Oblation)

                                                            Dr Samir Kumar Nanda

" Yajna " has been considered a part of individual and societal rituals since the Vedic age. According to Hinduism, chanting mantras in front of the sacred fire is called Yajna. Yajna is also considered as the foundation stone of Sanatan Dharma. Char Dham(four places of god) has special importance in our country. Sri Badrinath Dham is associated with Satyayuga, Sri Rameshwaram Dham with Tretayayuga, Sri Dwarka Dham with Dwaparayuga and Sri Jagannath Dham with Kaliyuga. Sri Jagannath Temple, built by King Ananta Burman Chodgangdev of the Ganga dynasty in the 12th century, is one of this char dham. So many devotees from all over the world flock to the Dham.

If we study the scriptures, we can learn about different types of Yajna. For example, Satwik Yajna, Tamasika Yajna, Rajasvaya Yajna, Ashwamedha Yajna, Bajpeya Yajna, Agnistom Yajna and Pachamahayajna (Brahma Yajna, Devayajna, Pitriyajna, Atithiyajna and Bhutayajna). Recently, Maharaja Gajapati of Puri, the first servant of Lord Sri Jagannath, has imagined an innovative and unique four yajna in Sri Kshetra Dham,Puri for the meeting of Lord Sri Jagannath and devotees. Those four types are Ghritayajna or Homayajna, Annayajna, Namayajna and Jyanayajna.

Ghritayajna or homayajna(Offering of butter) has always been an important part of Vedic rituals. To perform this yajna, a beautiful altar has been planned on the south side of the temple, where daily yajna will be held from morning to evening. Here the yajna will be offered by the Brahmins of the Sixteen Brahman Shashan and thirty two Karbads Brahman Shashan for the wellness of the universe with the donations of interested devotees around the world along with their family members.

Among the four dhams of India, the Sri Jagannath Dham is unique. This place is considered as Lord Vishnu's dining place. So every devotee who comes here has a lot of desire to get mahaprasad along with darshan of Lord Jagannath. That's why Anand Bazar is there. But Annayajna is designed to make this system more beautiful and discipline. This system envisages serving mahaprasad in a free, low-cost and comfortable environment. A devotee can take advantage of consuming mahaprasad according to his capacity.

For Namayajna a huge altar has been planned in the premises of the temple to chant the Lord's name and engage the devotees in it. In order to further strengthen the spiritual feeling in the minds of the devotees, arrangements will be made by the devotees of the various monasteries in Puri to perform a uninterrupted prayer.

The Jagannath Heritage Museum is planned to be built to aware all the devotees who visit the shrine about the culture of Sri Jagannath and the history of Utkal to perform Jyanayajna. The plan will include screening of short films on the Lord, sale of books, and organization of discourses by various saints.

But no matter what the system is, if we are not disciplined, no temple administration nor government can ever help us to do the worship or perform a holistic work in a systematic way. When we stand in queues for a darshan at the temple, we lose patience for the slightest delay and we get excited and make all sorts of accusations and rants against the system. We can realize a lot if we consider one example. Both our teacher and the road are one and the same, always giving us knowledge and leading us forward. Both of them stay where they are but take us to our destination.

Those who follow truth, religion and justice as their own are always safe and secure and live without fear, but those who follow the path of untruth, and injustice always live in an atmosphere of fear. Time is always deaf but not blind and sees everything.

God is always anxious to settle in the soul of the devotee. All the divine qualities of god reside in the heart of man. We are a treasure of love, joy and peace like God himself. But the ego in us does not allow us to experience those divine qualities. When someone blames us, when it comes time to make a decision, we should ask ourselves a question: ego or peace? After choosing love, joy, peace, within a few days we can feel that simplicity, ease and sweetness have come in our life. We are calmer and happier than ever. This change of ours will have a positive effect on other people and our peace will spread to them.

We are always anxious to get happiness. Can we be happier? Of course yes. God has a treasure of happiness to give us. We just have to keep our hearts and minds open to receive and embrace those possibilities. . Therefore, if we are ready, God's angel will come forward to help us in some way. Our thoughts must be positive. God always wants to shower us with more happiness than we deserve.

 

Unemployment is a pressing problem. This is a headache for any country. According to the recently released 'Centre for Monitoring of Indian Economy' data, India's unemployment rate in March rose for the second consecutive month to 7.8 percent, ranking fifth in the world. Although there are many reasons for this problem, the lack of implementation of proper planning is considered to be the main reason. Today is being observed as the World Day Against Child Labour all over the world. Observed on June 12th, World Day Against Child Labour is intended to serve as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labour. Emphasizing the link between social justice and child labour, the slogan for the World Day in 2023 is ‘Social Justice for All. End Child Labour!’.By endorsing the 138th Convention of the International Labour Organization on fixing the minimum age of child labour and the 182nd Convention on the Prohibition and Abolition of Child Labour to eradicate this abhorrent practice and thereby create public awareness, since 2002, this day is celebrated all over the world on June 12 every year. This day is also celebrated in our country with much fanfare. For this, the government and many institutions are organizing many programs by spending a lot of money. But there is a need to gauge the extent to which the program is benefiting those at the grassroots level.

Some government measures are sometimes blamed for increasing the unemployment problem. For example, to identify , rescue and rehabilitate child labourers from the age group of 6 to 14 years engaged in various workplaces, to provide education, and to include them in the mainstream ,the world's largest National Child Labour Project was functioning in our country since 1988. Millions of child labourers and employees were benefited by this project, which was run in different districts of the country at an annual cost of only 190 crore rupees. But in the budget of the last year 2022, the government stopped the scheme without considering anything in relation to this scheme. As a result, this had a direct impact on the livelihood of the vulnerable child labour and workers of the project. In the absence of this project for two long years, millions of child labour and many families of workers of the country came to the streets. The project by which the child labour could be rescued, mainstreamed and popularized are now forced to rededicate their lives as labour in the workplace. What is the benefit of observing Child Labour Day today? The department to which the government has given responsibility for the said project has not started any program for survey and rehabilitation of child labour till date. Although this program has been started in neighbouring states, it has not been able to take root in our state. On a day like today, for one wrong decision to implement the plan, we have promoted both unemployment problem and social disorders like increase in child labour. Even though 12 years have passed since the census was held in our country, we are still counting that data. In the meantime, two years have passed since the National Child Labour Project was closed and even though the situation in the country is on the alert for epidemics like Covid, magnitude of child labour has not yet been assessed. Apart from the census, the program of identifying child labour which was going on by the National Child Labour Project once in three years, for decades, was completely stopped due to the lock in the project. So do we have to wait for census data to know the status of child labour in our country?

The government has identified 20 blocks of districts like Kalahandi, Nuapada and Balangir as migration prone areas. A number of schemes have also been implemented to eliminate the problem in that area. Still, migrant labour with children are often rescued in these areas. A few days ago it was published in the newspaper that the children were raising money during the summer holidays to pay for their studies. Whether it is the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12 or the International Day of Missing Children on May 23, the main focus is to protect children and therefore raise public awareness along with parents and guardians. So it is time to celebrate this day and focus on identifying and treating child labour and how to eliminate this abominable disease from the society. Before taking any action regarding children, the government should consult with the intellectuals of the entire country.

As per the Census of India 1971 child labour figure was 10753985 and 2001 census identified 12591667 child labour in India . This figure became only 43,53,247 in 2011. Think if we work for child labour like this .....one day we will see Child labour Free India. Let's Stop Child labour.