Folklore and Folkloristics; Vol. 4, No. 2. (December 2011)

Transcription

1 Rabindranath Tagore Special Issue Article-5 Sri Jagannath Culture Complex and Rabindranath Tagore - Dr. Sk. Makbul Islam Abstract Rabindranath Tagore stayed in Orissa. He also visited Puri. It would be no exaggeration to conclude that he was acquainted with Sri Jagannath including the philosophy. To the best of my observation, many aspects of Jagannath Consciousness had influenced him. His literature gives us such scope to analyze his writings in this light. This short paper tries to present some of the striking points from Tagore s literature with particular reference to Lord Jagannath Culture Complex. Full Version of Paper Introduction Rabindranath Tagore was well aware of Sri Jagannath and the major traditions of Sri Jagannath Culture, particularly the Rathayatra. I have found hardly any reference to prove that Rabindranath had wrote anything on Sri Jagannath in particular. But the term Jagannath and Jagannath Temple are found in his letters (Chinnapatrabali). Besides, he had used ther Ratha in many ways in his literature. The way he had used the concept of Ratha and Rathayatra also indicates awareness of the grand Rathayatra of Puri. To what extent Rabindranath was influenced by Jagannath Culture Complex may critically be examined here. Tagore s Orissa Visit Rabindranath Tagore was entrusted with the responsibility of zamindari of their family. To execute this work, he visited Sajadpur, Patisar area (now in Bangladesh) and visited Orissa. They had their zamindari in Pandua, Paharajpur, Baliya etc. He went to Orissa in the year 1991 AD (1298 Bangabda). The description of his Orissa visit is available in his letters (Chinnapatrabali, letter no: 28, 29 and 30). However, the description of his Orissa visit is available in many of his letters of Chinnapatrabali. A list of those letters is mentioned here - Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Sk. Makbul Islam 148

2 Date Year Letter No. Note 31 August Description of his Journey to Cuttack by steamer, Orissa 6 September Description of Hariballabhbabu (Chandnichak, Cuttack) 7 September Description of Baliya (from Tiran) 9 September Description of a day (Tiran) -- February Evaluation of the British and Indians, Cuttack 07 February Expression of subjective feelings, Baliya 10 February About the British and Indians, Cuttack 15 February Puri 14 February Journey from Cuttack to Puri, Puri 25 February About poet himself, A day in Cuttack, Cuttack 27 February Response on a delivered lecture, Cuttack 28 February A personal letter, Cuttack 03 March Experience and description of Baliya, hbaliya 03 March Experience and description of Tirtal, Tirtal 03 March A letter in response to other letter, Cuttack 07 March Some remarks on Suri (Suren), Cuttack Tagore s Puri Visit Later on, Rabindranath Tagore reached Puri on 14 th February in 1993 AD. He stayed in Sardaipur Banglow (Reference: Chinnapatrabali, letter no: 81). He saw the sea of Puri and wrote a famous poem Samudrer Prati (Sonar Tari). Sri Jagannath Temple in Tagore s writing The second reference is the term Jagannath Mandir itself. Rabindranath did not stay very far from the Jagananth Temple. He saw the Nilachakra of Jagananth Mandir from his room. He wrote: there is a pond in the right side of the way, beyond that the pinnacle of Jagananth Mandir is seen above the top of the trees through the western window (Chinnapatraabali, letter no: 127, pg. 81). -- : Sk. Makbul Islam Here the top of Jagannath Temple obviously implies the Nilachakra. Reference of Ratha in Tagore s writing Rabindranath Tagore had used the term Ratha in many of his drama, poem and songs often as symbol, often as metaphor. Some references are cited below: Reference-1: Kripan (1312 Bangabda; Poetry) Kripan is an outstanding creation of poet Rabindranath Tagore. He had mentioned about the Rathayatra of the ultimate personality. Some relevant lines go like this - Ami Bhiksha kore phirtechilem gramer pathe pathe Tumi takhan chalechile tomar swarna rathe. Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Sk. Makbul Islam 149

3 Apurba ek swapnasama lagtechila chakshe mama Ki bichitra sobha tomar ki bichitra saj Ami mane bhabtechilem e kon maharaj. (Ref: Kripan) These lines give us the description of a graceful journey of Ratha, which reminds us of Jagannath s Rathayatra. Reference-2: Rather Rashi (1339 Bangabda, Symbolic Drama) Dr. Debnath Bandopadhyay, an eminent scholar on Tagorian Studies opined that Rabindranath s drama Rather Rashi carries the influence of Jagannath s Rathayatra. He mentioned - In Rather Rashi of Rabindranath Tagore the chariot is the symbol of time (Banerjee, pg. 93). Besides, there are some references in the text of Rather Rashi that prove the Rathayatra tradition of Puri. The king of Puri (the first Sevaka of Puri) takes active part in Rathayatra. In Rather Rashi drama we see that king has taken active part in Rathayatra Swayam raja lagalen hat. Amrao chillum pichane (Rather Rashi; pg. 17) The king himself came and extended his hand. We too were with him. Another aspect of Rathayatra is Rathaa s return journey (Ulta Rath). The concept of Ulta Rath was also used by Rabindranath in this Rather Rashi drama. The text goes like Tar par kono ek juge kono ekdin asbe ulto rather pala (Rather Rashi; pg. 45) Then some day will come the time of Ulta Rath. These references remind us of the Rathayatra of Sri Jagannath and no other else. Reference-3: Ratha Tagore s Song In one of his song Rabindranath has mentioned that God Himself cometh down from his abode to his devotees to seek and recognize their love - Taito prabhu, jethay ele neme Tomari prem bhakta praner preme Murti tomar jugal sammilane Sethay pruna prakashiche. Tai tomar Ananda amar par Tumi tai esecho niche- Amay naile tribhubaneswar tomar prem hata je miche (Swarabitan -37, Song-21, pg ) That s why you have come down In such a place in response to our devotional love Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Sk. Makbul Islam 150

4 Where you are fully manifest as deity untimate. Thy love is upon me and hence You have come down Your love would have gone into oblivion without me. God Himself comes down amid his devotees. From where poet Rabindranath got the idea that God Himself comes to His devotees? It is only Lord Jagannath. No other deity is found with this uniqueness. We have seen that Lord Jagannath leaves His Ratnabedi and comes down amid the devotees during Rathayatra. Necessarily, lines like - taito prabhu tumi ele neme reminds us of Sri Jagannath and His Rathayatra in association. Reference-4: Ratha in Tagore s Poem There are some other references too. In another song Rabindranath had rendered a brief description of God s Rathayatra. He wrote Udiye dvaja abhrabhedi rathe Oi je tini Oi je bahir pathe. Ai re chute habe rashi Gharer kone raili kothay basi Bhirer madhye jhampiye pade giye Thain kore tui ne re konomate (Swarabitan -37, song 25, pg ) Here, He appeared in the way In His big Ratha with a flag Where do you sit in the corner of your home. Come and jump into the crowd And occupy your own place there. This description compels us to remember the grandeur of Sri Jagannath s Rathyatra. Reference-5: Ratha in Tagore s Song Bhenge mor gharer chabi is a famous song of Tagore. In this song Rabindranath expected Lord s Rath to come to him - Samukhe oi heri path tomar ki rath pounchobena mor duyare I see the way in front of me. Won t your Ratha come to my door? (Swarabitan-16, song 42, pg ) Reference-6: Ratha in Tagore s Song Terms like - Rath, Sagar-Par, Ankhira Tara have also been used in his song - mor pathikere bujhi enecha. Some relevant lines may be quoted from his song -.. mor duyare legeche rath se je sagaraparera bani mor parane diyeche ani aha tat ankhira taray jena gan gay aranya parbat. Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Sk. Makbul Islam 151

5 (Swarabitan-5, song 24, pg ) Ratha has come to my door. He has brought the message from overseas to my heart. It seems that the forest and mountain sings song in his eye-ball? (Swarabitan-16, song 42, pg ) Here expression like - Sagar-par sounds similar to dakshinasya udadhestire as referred to in Skanda Purana (Chapter-6; Sloka-3). And the mystery of creation is always dazzling in the round eyes of Sri Jagannath. In another song Tagore has mentioned tumi acho biswanatha asima rahasya majhe Oh Lord Biswanath, you are there amid eternal mystery. (Swarabitan-4, song 19, pg ) To the best of my feeling and realization, this reference too speaks of the influence of Jagannath Consciousness on Tagore s mind. Reference of Rathayatra in Tagore s Rhyme Reference of Rathayatra is found in Tagore s rhyme. A very brief sketch of Rathayatra is available. The text goes like this - Rathayatra lokaranye maha dhumdham Bhaktara lutaye pare kariche pranam Reference of Rathayatra in Tagore s Prose We find that one of Tagore s prose composition contains the title Rathayatra itself (Rathayatra, Lipika). While everybody was going to see Ratha, a poor lady denied to do so. Why she did like this? She replied - My Thakur Himself will come to my door in His Ratha. However, Rabindranath had imposed a new connotation on Rathayatra in this composition. Reference of Rather Mela in Tagore s writing There is a writing titled Pat in Lipika. There Tagore had mentioned about Rather Mela where traditional Patachitra are sold (Pat; Lipika). Reference of Jagannath s Snanyatra in his writings Like Rathayatra, Snanyatra is another important ritual of Lord Jagannath. We find the reference of Snanyatra in Tagore s poem. The title of the poem is Sikh-Duksha itself. The representing lines are - baseche aj Rather talay snan jatrar mele sakal theke badal hala phuriye ela bela (Sukh-Duksha, Kshanika) Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Sk. Makbul Islam 152

6 This poem was written in Silaidaha on the very day of Snanyatra (31 Jayastha, 1307 Bangabda). This poem gives a vivid description of Snanyatra Mela that took place in Silaidaha. It proves Sri Jagannath Consciousness and Jagannath worship was prevalent in his zamindari too. And he was well aware of Sri Jagannath. Concluding Notes We may find out more references of different aspects of Jagannath Culture Complex from his literature. However I would like to raise some technical issues in this connection. a. Rabindranath perhaps did not write anything about Sri Jagannath in particular which may be cited as his a document of his writing on Sri Jagannath b. Most probably he never had been inside the Puri temple. c. But he must have seen the deity of Sri Jagannath in any other temple of Orissa (may be in Puri or Cuttack or any other place). This is my strong assumption. d. He did no have used the word Jagannath anywhere. The Biswanath is there. (The term Jagannath is not there in Gitagovindam too). e. Terms like - Ratha, Rathayatra, Rather Rashi, Snanyatra, Rathtala have been used in his writing. These are all related to Sri Jagannath Culture Complex. f. Somebody may raise a question that the Term Ratha mentioned in Tagore s writing may not be claimed exactly as Jagannath s Rathayatra. Somebody may refer to the Rathayatra of the Buddhists. g. To the best of our perception we never have perceived any Budhist Rathayatra at least in Indian context. The Rathayrathatra which we have perceived in Bengal for the last 600 years is mainly Jagannath s Rath. h. There is no doubt that Rabindranath too was influenced by the Jagananth Culture Complex. i. I have used the term Jagannath Culture Complex. The concept includes the peripherial aspects of Jagannath Consciousness too. j. If we put Sri Jagannath in the core of the concept Jagananth Consciousness, the the other associations comes to its periphery. This idea may schematically be presented in this way Rathayatra Rather Mela Jagannath Rathtala Snanyatra To the best of my technical observation, Rabindranath had not paid attention to the core concept of Sri Jagannath Consciousness. He had used the peripheral associations of Sri Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Sk. Makbul Islam 153

7 Jagannath Culture Complex. However Rathayatra is a very significant part of Sri Jagannath Consciousness. Rabindranath Tagore had used Ratha and Rathayatra in many ways and had imposed new connotation on them. Technically, the entire scheme speaks of the influence of Jagannath Culture in Tagore s cognition. Books and References: Banerjee Debnath Banerjee, Lord Jagananth in Bengali Literature and Tradition, See: Mahapatra-Das Mahapatra-Das Dr. Khageswar Mahapatra & Dr. Surendranath Dash (Edited), Religious Tradition in Eastern India and Lord Sri Jagannath, Sri Jagannath Research Institute, Bhubaneswar, 1996 About Author: Dr. Sk. Makbul Islam is an Associate Professor (Bengali Language and Literaure) in St. Paul s Cathedral Mission College, Kolkata, India Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Sk. Makbul Islam 154