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The Supreme Lord of the Universe Jagannath Narasimha Purusottamaya //) The three verses
is invariably called Purusottama, and his abode immediately follow, narrated the greatness of
Sriksetra is known as Purastama or the Lord in his Narasimha avatara. In
Purusottama Ksetra. The deep reverence to translation by late Dr. Satya Narayan Rajaguru
Lord Purusottama is found in the very it runs like this : "(Vr.1) Let the discuss-holder's
beginning of the invocatory verses of the Sirpur foot protect you-the foot whose sharp claws
Stone Inscription of the Panduvamsi queen emitted a sound like that of gunji berries
Regent Vasata, who ruled Kosala as dowager (shaken) by the gust of strong winds passing
queen in the first half of the 8th century A.D. through the long
on behalf of her spaces between
minor son each other, and
Balarjuna (later on (looked) terrific
known as (more so) with the
M a h a s iv a g u p t a jaws shining with
Balarjuna). In the flame of rays
1904, Henry (emanating) from
C o u s e n s the nails, when
discovered this they being lifted
inscription up, tore through
engraved on a thick the mass of dark
red-co lour ed clouds in the sky
stone-block of the and revealed the
Laksmi Narasimha, Sonepur
size of around four star with pearly
feet in length and two feet and a half in breadth. brilliance, like a lion who, having overcome
This inscription was edited by Hiralal. that storehouse of darkness; - the elephant,
(Epigraplia Indica, Volume- XI, PP- 184-202 jumps about scattering brilliant pearls (torn
ff). from his temples). (Vr.z) Let that Narasimha
In the first line itself the queen paid her protect you, who looking with eagerness at (his
deep reverence to god Purusottama. (Om ! own) nails, for the enemy ( Hiranyakasipu)
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A pecified form of Narasimha figure, of two lady attendants. The lady near the Gada,
seated in the Lalitasana is found at Khariar wearing a Mukuta seems to be Laksmi. The
Museum in Nawapada district of Orissa which eyes of the Lord are half-closed and Jata
is four-handed. It is dated to the Sarabhapuriya forming many stripes is hanging on both
period, the 6th century A.D. as it has been shoulders. The strange characteristics of this
collected from the historic Maraguda valley figure is that, there are long boots covering both
and belongs to the Sarabhapuriya period. legs of the Lord up to knee portion. The Lord's
Another place, where we get four body is heavily ornamented with all ornaments
depictions of Narasimha is in the Narsinghnath like Hara, Keyura and Katisutra etc. The
temple at Paikmal in the Bargarh district of figure is of the height of about four feet.
Orissa. The Yoga Narasimha images, one The fourth one is the usual image of Lord
diminutive images seated in Utkutikasana Narasimha killing the demon king
worshipped by a profiled male figure in the Hiranyakasipu, which is fitted to the western
gelaba scroll of the eastern doorjamb of the Parsvadevata niche of the Narsinghnath temple.
Jagamohana and The lotus-petalled
another one in a design of the pedestal
small niche in the and the trefoil torana
baranda portion of with the Kirtimukha
the southeast side of motif in the centre of
the vimana. In both its apex occur in this
the cases, the Lord sculpture also. In
is seated in t he both sides of the top
Utkutikasana, the portion, there are two
legs being round lotus-rosette
maintained is motifs. The Lord is
required position by seen to be standing in
Narasimha killing Hiranyakasipu, Indralath Temple, Ranipur Jharial
the Yogapatta belt dvibhanga posture
going round them and the back of the body. and killing the demon by putting his body on
Another very interesting standing image his slightly raised right thigh and tearing the
of Yoga Nrsimha is found at Narsinghnath. To entrails of the demon in the claws of his lower
the north of the temple, there is a small room, hands. A gada is in his raised upper left hand,
where one four-handed figure of Narasimha is while the upper right hand is broken. A male
enshrined. It is a pacified form of the Lord figure with Mukuta on his head and both his
known as Yoga Narasimha," He is standing in hands folded in abeisance, probably Prahallad
Samabhanga and holding a Sankha and a the son of Hiranyakasipu is standing in the right
Cakra in his upper left and right hands side of the pedestal, to the proper left of the
respectively. A Gada is in the lower left hand Lord.
of the Lord, which is firmly placed on the Another exquisitely carved Narasimha
pedestal. His lower right hand is in Varada. In image is founed in the Jagannath temple at
both sides of his legs, there are standing figures Sonepur, situated near the completely
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Orissa Review * June - 2006
destroyed place of the erstwhile Maharaja knee-level from the neck of the Lord. A long
(foundetary ruling chief) of Sonepur. The scarf is put round the shoulders of Narasimha,
image of Narasimha fitted to the western and hanging in both sides of his body (OHRJ
parsvadevata niche exhibits the scene of lord Vol. XLIV, No.1-4).
Narasimha killing the demon king Two images, one of four-handed
Hiranyakasipu, tearing Mahisamardini Durga
apart his belly by piercing and the ot her of
claws, while both his Narasimha killing
hands in obeisance, his Hiranyakasipu are
body is upheld by the
worshipped on o ne
Lord on his right thigh
pedestal inside a triratha
which is slightly raised,
temple, built in the laterite
the leg resting on the toe.
stone at Belsaragad in
The anthromorphic form
Sundargarh district.
of Garuda in profile and
Prahallad, the son of Narasimha cult was so
Hiranyakasipu, also in popular in the upper
profile are to the proper Mahanadi valley that in
right and left of the Lord another small triratha
respectively. They both style stone t emple at
are seen standing in both Gandharla on the right
sides o f the pedestal bank of river Under in the
praying the Lord with opposite side of
both hands folded in Sindhekela in t he
obeisance. Although in Titilagarh sub-division of
this pose, Lord Balangir district also till
Narasimha has usually a to-day Narasimha is
fearful appearance; in enshrined and
case of this figure, there worshipped since the 8th
prevails a serene calmness Yoga Narasimha, Narsinghnath, century A.D. The
Bargarh District
on his face and both his Avatara concept
eyes are closed. In the upper left and right developed in the 7th-8th A.D. and we find
hands, which are raised up, the Lord is seen diminutive figures of Dasavatara (t en
holding a sankha and a cakra respectively. incarnations) of Lord Visnu carved in both
There is an oval-shapped halo forming the edges and beneath the feet of two Visnu images
prabhamandala behind his head. The mukuta found at Saintala. Such depiction of the
is conical in shape resembling the top portion Avataras including Narasimha killing
of the pidhamundi design. Just above the Hiranyakasipu is found carved in both side-
forehead a thin band of beaded strings with a edges of Visnu images found at Dadpur in
flower-pendant in the centre is tied on the Kalahandi district and Kapilapur (Pujaripali)
mukuta. A long vanamala is hanging upto the in Jharsuguda district also. The Kapilapur and
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Orissa Review * June - 2006
Dadpur images belong to the 11th-12th century of Narasimha killing Hiranyakasipu are found
A.D. The Dasavatara concept became at Daspur Surda in Balangir district, Topigaon
extremely popular all over Orissa by the in Kalahandi district and Godhanesvar in
beautiful composition of Gitagovinda by Sonepur district which testifies to t he
Mahakavi Jayadev in the 12th century A.D. popularity it was enjoying in the upper
Even during the reign of the Chauhans at Mahanadi valley.
Sambalpur, they have carved out t he This cult of Narasimha has affinity with
Dasavatara of Visnu in both side of the Saivism from the iconographic aspect as
doo rjamb of the Garbhagrha of t he suggest ed by the learned scholar late
Radhakrisna temple inside the Gopalji Math Anncharlotte Eschmann. "The represontation
precinct belonging to the 17th century A.D. of Lingodbhava where Siva appears within or
The images of Nrsimha killing Hiranyakasipu from the endless flaming lingam, usually
are also found in the Samlei, Bad Jagannath represented as a huge column, resembles the
and Radhakrisna temple Parsvadevata niches. scene of Narasimha bursting out of a pillar." It
The Narasimha image, depicting the god was probably such an association which stands
as killing the demon Hiranyakasipu is found behind an image used in the Visnudharmottara
carved in the south Raha niche of the upper Purana, where a devotee worships the Siva-
Jangha portion on the north side of the brick- lingam until he has a vision of Narasimha
built exquisitely sculptured Indralath temple appearing from it. (Visnudharmottarapurana,
at Ranipur Jharial in Titilagarh subdivision of III, 354), Eschmann further writes : "The fact
Balangir district, belonging to the 10th century that the imagery of Narasimha has been applied
A.D. to Bhairava is very interesting in the connection
of Hinduization. Bhairava being a popular god,
Images of Narasimha killing the demon he could have had to 'lend' the imagery. It is
king Hiranyakasipu are found in t he certainly an advantage of the Narasimha
Suvarnameru, Gokarnesvar and Ramesvar concept, that it is simulataneously important
temples at Sonepur town, all belonging to the in both realms : popular religion and
Chauhan period, i.e. 17th -18th century A.D. sophisticated theology." It is important to point
The Gundicha temple of Sonepur, rising to a out that the Kevala Narasimha image of
height of around sixty feet is dedicated to Lord Podagad in Nawarangpur district is
Narasimha. An image of Yoga Narasimha is worshipped as "Bhairava" by the local tribal
also fitted in its western Parsvadevata niche populace. In this context it is very interesting
of this temple. A very interesting image of that Lord Jagannath is also worshipped both
Yoga Narasimha with his consort Laksmi as Bhairava and Narasimha. In the tantric
sitting on his lap is found in the Kunjaghar tradition He is even taken as Daksina Kalika
complex, just in front of the devastated royal (Niladrou tu Jagannatha Saksat Daksina
palace at Sonepur. There is one independent Kalika Mahanirvana Tantra). The discovery
image of Narasimha under a tree near the of the uniconic anthropoid stone images of
Suresvari temple at Sonepur, which might have Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra at
been enshrined inside a temple in the remote Tentelkhunt i (Balangir district) from
past as the central deity. Even broken images underneath a mound (temple ruins) in 2004
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Orissa Review * June - 2006
testifies to the fact that the Holy Triad were Indrabhti was and what was the extent of his
worshipped during the early Somavamsi period kingdom, as we lack historical or inscriptional
(probably by king Yayati). or textual evidences. But this much we know
As about the identification of Lord that Indrabhuti's kingdom was situated on the
bank of river Mahanadi. While going through
Jagannath as Narasimha it has been stated by
the Oriya history book, titled 'Anugola Itihas'
the noted German scholar H.V. Stietencron that
this scholar has come across seven tribal chiefs
"Even to-day, Narasimha plays an important
(dalapati) ruling over Angul area in the 8th -
role in the periodical renewal of the wooden
10th century A.D., the first and last Dalapatis
image of Jagannath." Jagannath is also
being Indra and Anu. As in the Samal area of
worshipped in the Nrsimha Mantra. He further
Angul district there is a place called Vajrakot
writes. "The worship of Purusottama
or Vajrakotta this place might have some
Narasimha can be traced back to Sirpur in the
connection with Vajrayana or the Tantrik
upper Mahanadi valley, the ancient capital of
Buddhism, as we get a large number images
Daksina Kosala. It is here that during the late of gods and goddesses of Vajrayana in the
Panduvamsi period we find one of the germs Talcher, Angul, Rengali, Vajrakot, Riamal and
which later developed into the composite Barkot (Deogarh) area, which were probably
Jagannath cult of Orissa .. Here it may be under the rule of Indra dalapati in the 8th
noticed only that this development is closely century A.D. A few years back also explorers
linked with the political fate of the Panduvamsi have come across a huge brick mound called
dynasty which, being driven away from the Baisipahacha in the Angul area near Odsingia
political center by the Kalachuris, was forced village (Odrasringa of the historical fame), on
to retreat into largely tribal areas of Bolangir the left bank of river Mahanadi. Therefore this
and Sambalpur districts of western Orissa." scholar believes that the kingdom of Indra was
"Tantricism and Saktism were powerful situated in between the right bank of Brahmani
rising movements at this period. These popular river and left bank of Mahanadi upto
trends could to some extent be incorporated Sambalpur town.
into the Vaisnava creed by means of the This Indra was Indrabhuti, whose
Narasimha cult. On the whole, however daughter Laksmikara was married to the son
Visnuism was slow and reluctant to adjust itself of the king of Sonepur. Laksmikara propagated
to tantric requirements. Therefore, from the 8th Sahajayane another form of Tantrik Buddhism
to the 12th century, the general trend was in and is treated as one among the Chaurasi
favour of Saivism, which was unrestrictedly Siddhas of Tantrik Buddhism. This Sahajayana
free to accept or to promote, Tantric and Sakta of Laksmikara might have influenced the
developments and which even absorbed Tantric Sahajia sect in the later period.
Buddhim to a large extent". (Stietencron : 12-13) Most probably it is during the 8th
We find mention of the terminology century, Purusottama Narasimha got
"Jagannath" for the first t ime in t he amalgamated with Lord Jagannath, the
Jnanasiddhi, composed by the tantrik Buddhist Supreme God of the Samala or Sambala
(Vajrayana) king Indrabhuti of Samalaka. kingdom of Indrabhuti and popularly came to
Scholars are yet to identify exactly who be known as Purusottama Jagannath.
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