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INTRODUCTION
The search for the salvation of the soul has been a continued
preoccupation of the Hindus from very ancient times. The Vedas prescribed
the Vanasharams to strike a harmony amongst the diverse desires and
aspirations of man, harmony between material and spiritual ends. This
quest has had its ups and downs no doubt as different religions have
appeared in India as well as in Orissa at different times, such as
'Brahminism', 'Jainism', 'Buddhism', 'Vaishnavism', 'Islam',
'Christianity' and 'Nath Dharma'.
Orissa
has a unique distinction of acting as a confluence of these diverse
faiths. It is here that one can vividly witness how religion has evolved
from animism, nature worship, shamanism, ancestor worship and fetishism as
prevailing among the 'Adivasis' or tribals to the highly evolved forms of
religion like Brahminism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism with
philosophical systems of a high order to back them up.
The synthesis and harmony of the different forms of Brahminic worship -
'Vaishnavite', 'Shaivite', 'Shakta', 'Ganapatya' and 'Soura' -- are all to
be found in the great and grand temple of Jagannatha or Jagannathwhose
origin goes back to the tribal worship of a 'wood god'. Around him
revolves the entire cultural milieu of Orissa.
Religion and culture cannot be separated in a land, which claims to
celebrate 'thirteen festivals in twelve months. The life-giving stream of
religion has flowed past the rise and fall of empires producing and
nourishing the sublime virtues of love, tolerance and compassion.
HINDUISM
The Influence Of Brahminism
The religion of the Aryans known as "Sanatan Dharma" originated
in the 'Vedas' and spread to Orissa, which in course of time came to be
held in high reverence as the land of the gods or "Deva Bhumi".
Around the 5th century BC the 'Nandas' stabilized Brahminic settlements in
the coastal region.
The 13th Ashokan edict shows that before the invasion of 'Kalinga' by
'Ashoka' and his conversion to Buddhism Brahmanism had spread swiftly in
Orissa and it continued to hold its power till the reign of 'Kharavela'
who was a Jain and propagated that religion as is seen from the Hatigumpha
inscription.
These ancient religions of Orissa, Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism seem to
have co-existed peacefully with varying fortunes. It is interesting to
know that the royal ceremonies of Ashoka and Kharavela were performed
according to the Vedic rites although there were Buddhist and Jain
respectively.
The revival of Vedic religion after the waning of
Buddhism and
Jainism brought in wide
assimilative powers for it and as a result 'Bhagavala', 'Bagavata',
'Shaiva', 'Sakata', 'Soura' religious sects. All unfolded Hinduism, and
the deities like 'Vasudeva', 'Narayana', Shiva, 'Shakti Surya' were
included in its pantheon.
Brahminism seems to have flourished Orissa under the 'Mathara' rulers
between the 4th and 5th centuries AD. The 'Sailodbhava' rulers made
arrangements for the study of the Vedic wisdom and an 'Aswamedha'
sacrifice was performed by 'Madhav Varman".
In the time of the Keshari rulers, Shaivism gained importance. 'Yajati
Keshari', to preserve the sanctity and purity of Brahminism, brought Aryan
Brahmins from 'Kanyakubja' ('Kanauj') and settled them in Jajpur in
Orissa, which became a famous site for the performance of ancestral
funeral rites.
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