Geography & History of r Jaganntha (by Arun Kr Upadhyay)

(Abstract)-Jaganntha is not a person, his incarnations are. As Purua of Vedas,

He is both world & its creator. However, He is located in Bhrata as it was heart
of world civilization. Within Bhrata also, He is at centre in both east-west &
north-south axis, called Heart zone. His worship started before glacial floods of
10,000 BC by Indradyumna and revived after floods by king Ikvku in 8576 BC.
His descendant Rma (4433-4361 BC) was himself an incarnation of Jaganntha
gave charge of worship to Vibhaa, king of Lank after death of his elder
brother Rvaa. So, the Ua Tantra of Rvaa was popular here giving the
name Orissa to the state. After Mahbhrata war, Chedi king Kharavel brought
Jina idol from Magadha in about 824 BC as per his inscription. It was made one of
4 Phas of ankarchrya in 483 BC. Old Temple was rebuilt by king Ananga
Bhmadeva in about 1200 AD at cost of 12.47 Crore gold coins. Part of old
structure is still visible under foundation.
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1. Jaganntha as Purua-At start of story of Bhagavn r Ka in skandha 10
of Bhgavata pura, it is stated that for eomoval of sorrow of earth as Gau,
gods led by Brahm approached Jaganntha, who is also Vsudeva (vsa =
space for world), V-Kapi (V = who does rain or var of drops in form of
galaxies, stars etc. Kapi = creation as before = copy), and Purua (Conscious
being in a Pura = structure, individual or the whole world as a being) ( //)
, ... ( ,
/)
Description of Jaganntha as Purua is in Purua-skta occurring in all Vedas,
which is recited for his worship. Purua is perceived at 4 levels. As root source,
there is no distinction between its parts, so it is beyond description, called
Partpara. Other 3 aspects are defined in Gt-(1) Kara-Form of all beings living
or inanimate is Kara (decaying) as any form gradually decays and finally dies.
(2) Akara-Despite continuous decay and change, function and identity of object
remains the same. This identification by name is hidden, called Kastha. Ka
also means top point of a mountain which gives its name, though it covers a
large area rising from ground level. Human body changes each minute from birth
till death, but all along he is called the same person-that is Akara purua. (3)
Avyaya-Chain of creation or change is called Avyaya (no loss), as there is no
overall change in system. What is lost at one place, is gain of other part. As it is
more permanent or superior, it is called Uttama (best) and Jaganntha is more
specifically called Puruottama. Place of Jaganntha is also called Puruottamaketra.
, -


2. Times of Incarnation-There are 5 eternal incarnations in space-(1) Matsya
(fish) is drops of galaxies floating in ocean of Rasa, (2) Krma is the creative
zone in which galaxy was formed-it has been called 10 times size of galaxy. (3)
Varha (boar)-Original spread of matter is like water of ocean, compact creation
is Bhmi. Intermediate stage is mixture of 2 called Varha (Boar = animal of
water & earth, or cloud= mixture of air & water). This is seen at 5 levels-diVarha (combination of galactic clouds), Yaja-Varha = Krma field from which
creation or Yaja started, veta-Varha = bright zone lighted by sun, Bh-Varha
= material from which earth was formed, Ema-Varha = Air cover of earth. (4)
Yaja-Varha = creation cycles at 9 levels (9 Sargas) giving 9 time scales. (5)
Vmana-Body of sun is Vmana in solar system which is 157 lakh times bigger

(Bhgavata, Viu puras). Sphere containing solid or rocky planets up to Mars

is called Dadhi-Vmana. That is size of Dadhi-samudra.
Human incarnations of Jaganntha are in different periods to end supremacy of
Asuras. 3 lokas of Indra were Russia (ka in Mahbhrata), China (middle
kingdom) & Bhrata. Asuras were supreme for 10 yugas = 3600 years till time of
Vaivasvata Manu (13900 BC). After Vaivasvata Manu, Satya (4800 years), Tret
(3600) and Dvpara (2400) ended in 3102 BC. Svyambhuva Manu was 26000
years before start of Kali in 3102 BC or about 1600 years before Vaivasvata
Manu.

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71 yugas from Svyambhuva to Kali start were of 360 years each, making it
26,000 years. This is conical rotation period of earth axis, due to which equinox
(when day-night are equal) point moves backwards. So, it is called precession of
equinox. 43 Yugas were up to Vaivasvata Manu, then remaining 28 yugas passed.
Great Asura kings were in 10 yugas before Vaivasvata Manu (17502-13902 BC)
(1) Fourth Yuga (16422-16062 BC)-Varha crossed ocean and killed Hirayka.
As per Zend-Avesta, Hirayka ruled in region of river Amazon (south America,
called Rastala, or Pukara dvpa opposite to Pukara town = Bukhara). They
worshipped God in form of Varha. To please him, Viu (human incarnation went
there with 18 associates putting mask of Boar. They were welcomed as friends.
Suddenly, they killed Hirayka in palace by deceit. Puras also tell that he
was killed by deceit, but details are not given.
(2) Fifth or sixth yuga (16062-15342 BC)-Hirayakaipu was king of Libya-Egypt
(Taltala loka). He was killed by Narasimha (incarnation of Viu from west
Orissa). He was in different continent and much later, but being of same power
block, was called younger brother of Hirayka.
(3) Seventh yuga (15342-14982 BC). His proper name also was Viu and
taught by Bharadvja. He took back 3 lokas of Indra from king Bali. Many asuras
thought that they could have defeated Devas in war and wars continued. To
pacify, Krma incarnation explained that unless there is joint mining, there will
be nothing to gain in war. So, there was joint mining. Asuras came from north
Africa to Jharkhanda where Mandr hill was main region of mining. Vsuki-Nga
of this region was coordinator; his temple lies at north end of Mandr. Later on,
Yavanas from nearby region (west Arab) were expelled to Greece. Thus, names of
minerals in Greek are titles of Asuras who came for mining-Aurum (Oram) = gold,

Kerketta (compass)-mapping, Hansad = refining ores, Minz (mina = fish) =

washing, Khalko (Chalcopyrite-copper ore) = copper, Hembram = mercury, Toppo
= Topaz, Ekka or Kacchhap = persons who built protective walls in mines, Sinku
= Tin ore (Stanic). Devas went for refining gold ores in Zimbabwe (Jmbnada
svara) and silver in Mexico (Mkika = silver). Again, wars started over share of
minerals. Finally Krttikeya, defeated Bali based in Kraucha dvpa (north
America in shape of flying bird). All this happened in period of Bali who was very
long lived. Krttikeya was related to Vmana as per tradition of Puri. He is called
Bhuleya = son of Bahul who is sister of Vmanas mother. Krttikeya period is
also indicated in Mahbhrata, Vana Parva (230/8-10) that Abhijit had fallen from
pole position (north pole hadshifted away from Abhijit = Vega). Then, start of
year was made from Dhanih in stead of Abhijit. That is system of Vedga
jyotia where year starts with Mgha month. Then it was start of rains (var), so
samvatsara (year) was called Vara. Its epoch could be slightly earlier in about
15,500 BC.
(4) Matsya incarnation-Vaivasvata period (13902 BC) was period of Deva
supremacy and no incarnations were needed. After that, there was period of
glacial floods from about 11000 to 10000 BC in period of Vaivasvata Yama called
Jamshed in Zend-Avesta. He has been called younger brother of Vaivasvata Many
as he continued the same tradition. His capital Sanyaman (Sana in Yemen) has
been stated 900 west from Amarvat of Indra. This was at east end of Indonesia
where Indra had made a monument to mark east step of Trivikrama (Rmyaa,
Kikindh ka 40/53). At end of flood, there was Matsya incarnation in 9533 BC
when Prabhava samvatsara started in both systems-Pitmaha & Srya-siddhnta
(Viu-dharmottara Pura 82/7-8, 81/23-24). Cycle of 60 years follows solar
year in Pitmaha system in south India. North India takes actual time of Jupiter in
a sign by mean motion which is about 361 days 4 hours. There are 86 Jupiter
years in 85 solar years. Thus both the cycles match in 85 x 60 = 5100 years.
5100 years after Matsya, Rma was born in 4433 BC when again it was Prabhava
in both systems. Persian records also tell glacial floods in 9564 BC. After this,
creation again started under abha Deva as in time of Svyambhuva Manu, so
he has been called descendant of Svayambhuva. Empire started like Vaivasvata
Manu by Ikvku on 1-11-8576 BC, so he has been called son of Vaivasvata
Manu.
(5) After Ikvku, incarnations are as per Vaivasvata era, called human births.
These can be calculated from start of Tret in 9102 BC (Yugas are not exactly of
360 years each). Datttreya was in yuga 10 (before 9102 BC), Mndht in yuga
15 (7662-7302 BC), Paraurma in yuga 19 (6582-6222 BC) and Rma in yuga 24
(4782-4422 BC).
()




These tally with other records. 18 generations after Mndhta was king Bhu
killed in 6777 BC by Dionysus (Megasthenes) = gap of about 800 years. 15
generations after Dionysus was Viu incarnation (Paraurma) after whose
death Kalamba samvat (Kollam in Kerala) started in 6177 BC = gap of 600 years.
(6) Ka expired at age of 125 years in 3102 BC when Kaliyuga started. Thus, he
was born on 19-7-3128 BC (Bhdra ukla 8).
(7) Buddha-There are 28 Buddhas described in Stpa-vama. Siddhrtha Buddha
was in 25th generation after Bhadbala of Ikvku clan killed in Mahbhrata. He
was born on 31-3-1886 BC (68 years after death of iunga of Magadha on 28-

2-1955 BC, called Kauzad era in Burma). He died on 27-3-1807 on 80th birthday
on Vaikha Prim. Gautama Buddha was born in 563 BC and also lived up to
about 80 years. In between there were other Buddhas also like Maitreya in
Cuttack. Viu incarnation Buddha was born as son of Ajina Brhmaa of
Magadha. In 756 BC, there was largest attack on India by Assyrian queen
Semiramis who had gathered 35 lakh army with help of all kings of central &
west Asia & north Africa. To counter that, Viu Buddha united 4 kings of northwest India at Mount Abu, forming Mlava-Gaa under king draka of Ujjain
when his aka started. This alliance lasted till rhara of 456 BC, called 300
years of democracy by Megasthenes.
(8) Kalki incarnation is yet to happen though his birthday is observed on Chaitra
ukla 12 (Kalki Pura 1/2/15). He will wipe out entire asura armies with sword
like a comet-like stories of star-wars.
3. Tradition of Jaganntha worship- (1) In time of Narasimha (about 16000
BC)
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This was in tradition of Varha incarnation. His followers have been called Sabara
= who dig the earth. This is origin of Oriya word Sabal = digging equipment.
Vaikhnasa (Khanana = digging, that is done by boar = Varha also) gama is
text of that tradition
Four festivals of that time are still observed in Orissa(a) 19 year yuga-Jaganntha appears in each yuga. But 19 year yuga is only in
Krttikeya calender (Vedga jyotia). Here, yuga of 19 year has 5 samvatsaras,
other 14 years are of other 4 types-Pari-, Id, Id, Anu-vatsaras.
(b) Mgha saptami-Ratha-ytr and bath is done on that day in Korka. That
was start of year & rains in time of Krttikeya. After 18000 years now, the season
has shifted back by 8.5 months in a cycle of 26,000 years.
(c) tala ah is observed in Sambalpur as marriage day of human parents of
Krttikeya. This is Jyeha month at height of summer, but it is still called talaah as it marked start of ta (winter) season in 15,500 BC.
(d) In time of Deva supremacy, start of uttaryaa or Divya-dina was when sun
was in Punarvasu star. So, the lord of Punarvasu was Aditi-mother of Devas.
Divya (of Devas) year started with Punarvasu star of Aditi. Thus, old year gave
birth to Aditi which created new year- ( //, //,
. /, . //). Then Ratha-ytr was start of Divya-year. Even
now Ratha-ytr or return festival is done when sun is in Punarvasu (4-19 July).
Pre-flood idols were of blue emerald. They were lost during time of Vaivasvata
Yama when glacial floods had come. , -


, , , ---



(2) Indradyumna-First Indradyumna was a Pya (Dravia) king in family of
abha Deva (about 9500 BC). His family tree is-Viu - Brahm -Svyambhuva

Manu - Priyavrata - gndhra - Nbhi - abha - Bharata -Sumati- Indradyumna.

By curse of sage Agastya, he was born as elephant and was caught by a
crocodile. He was saved by Nryaa and was born as king of same name in
Srya-vama (Vaivasvata Manu) Avantik in next life.
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He restarted worship of Jaganntha in Puri. He had control on eastern ocean and
the island in his name is called Aindradyumna = Andamans. He has been called a
king of Ikvku family, but he was in Satya-yuga (before 9102 BC), so prior to
Ikvku (Skanda pura-Vaiava-Utkala. 4/58). Worship of Jaganntha had been
forgotten after glacial floods. It was revived by Indradyumna with help of
Vidypati Sabara.Earlier idol was in shape of Narasimha (opposite was Sphinx in
Egypt with face of man & body of lion). Pre-flood idol was in stone. From
Indradyumna period, it was made with wood.
(3) Ikvku-His family worshipped Jaganntha as family-god. After Rma, worship
of Jaganntha was given to Vibhaa, younger brother of Rvaa who is
remembered as one of 12 great devotees. Thus, Ua-tantra of Rvaa was
popular here, giving the name Ua (Ura) to the region.
, , - - -

In context of Avamedha yaja of Rma, Jaganntha region has been described
in Padma-pura-south of Gang-sgara.
(4) Kharavel inscription tells that in 5th year of rule, i.e. 803 years after Nanda
(1634 BC) he repaired Panas (canal). Thus, his rule started in 835 BC. In 8th year
of rule, he defeated Yavana attack in Mathura-this tallies with Assyrian rise and
attack on India in 828 BC. In 11th year, he made janasad-bhavana (interpreted
as Kalinga jina) where persons from Trimira (or mitra = friendly) countries came.
This had not been done for 113 or 1300 years. It could be Sansada Bhavan of
modern times.
(5) ankarchrya (509-477 BC) set up 4 Phas including Govardhana Pha at
Puri in 483 BC. King of Nepal Vadevavarman had helped him in countering 12
Bodhisattvas at Puri, so king of Nepal was only king except king of Puri who was
entitled to worship Jaganntha as king.
(6) Haravardhana (605-646 AD) at Thaneswar ruled Orissa also. So, he was
performing Ratha-yatra as king of this region. Pu-vama kings are described
in this period, but at least 3 published inscriptions indicate that they were just
after king Janamejaya and were using his era. Their officers ruling at Mura
formed Maurya empire in 1534 BC. Huensang has described a Ratha-ytra in 642
AD which had occurred after 5 years.
(7) King Ananga Bhma Deva of Orissa in about 1200 AD constructed present
Jaganntha temple in 12.47 crore gold coins, of annual income of state.
4. Geography-All cosmic, physical & inner concepts of Jaganntha are
expressed by the term Dru Brahma indicated in k veda
( , //)
(Syaa commentary)-That wooden idol (of Jaganntha) made without human
effort exists on coast of ocean (in great land of Utkala). Worship that idol, which
is not destroyed by anybody. On its support only, one can achieve the highest
state.
There are many meanings ot Dru = tree-(1) Reverse tree is chain of creation
where source (mla) is called top and branches of creation are downwards. In

space, it has 5 stages (Parvas)-Svyambhuva (Universe), Parameh (Galaxy),

Saura (solar system), Chndra (sphere of moon orbit) and Bh-maala (earth).
These are indicated by Brahm, Viu, Indra, Soma, Agni whith 5 root vowels as
symbols-a, i, u, , l. Corresponding inner letters come in same sequence in
Mhevara-stras-h, y, v, r, l. These are bja (seed) mantras of 5 chakras in spinal
cord as image of 5 levels in space.
(1) Physical meaning is based on world geography. North hemisphere is mapped
in 4 sheets called 4 petals of earth lotus-Bhrata is 45 0 west & east of Ujjain. East
is Bhadrva, west is Ketumla & opposite is Uttara Kuru. Similarly, there are 4
sheets in south. 7 parts except Bhrata are 7 Talas. In map of Bhrata, there are
7 lokas from equator to north pole, like 7 lokas in space-Bh (south of Vindhya),
Bhuvar (Vindhya to Himlaya), Svar (Triviapa = Tibet), Mahar (China), Janah
(Mongolia), Tapas (Siberia-Steppees), Satya (polar cicle).
During great upheavals in glacial floods & ice ages in cycles of 24,000 years,
Bhrata was protected from calamity as it was protected in north by Himlayas.
Seen from north, it was called Indu (moon) due to 3 reasons (Huensang)-(a)
Himlaya has shape of crescent moon. With Kailsa at centre, it is symbol of
moon+ star in Islam. (b) Himlaya is cold like moon. (c) Bhrata spreads
knowledge like moon spreads light to whole world without any partiality.
Huensang tells that Greeks mis-pronounced Indu as Inde.
Bhrata has all climate zones and fertile land unravaged in floods. As it fed the
world (stated by Greeks like Megasthenes also), it was called Bhrata. Making up
the loss is Praa, so place of Jaganntha is called Puri.

( /)


( /,,, /, )
(2) Seen from south, Bhrata is inverted triangle. If crescent shape of Himlaya is
placed on it, it makes shape of heart. For providing knowledge & food, Bhrata is
heart of world, so its map is symbol of heart all over the world. Jaganntha
resides in heart of all beings (Gt 18/61), so its place Puri is at centre. In eastwest axis from Arab to Indonesia and in north-south from Himlaya to ocean-both
ways it is in middle. So, Puri is called Heart region. Centre of knowledge or
activity-both have been called Nyagrodha (Bunyan tree). Brahm is under
Nyagrodha in Pukara, 120 west (of Ujjain). This is present Bukhara in Uzbekistan.
Opposite to that is Pukara-dvpa (south America).

( /)

( //, //)
( //)
Place of Jaganntha also has been called Nyagrodha on coast of south sea.
Bunyan tree Is symbol of knowledge (Brahm), its secondary trees are students
and the group indicate Guru-iya tradition (iva). Bunyan tree regenerates after
main tree dies, so it indicates continuity of creation after floods, described in
context of Jaganntha.

( , )
(3) Dhma-There are 4 dhmas in space-Universe, galaxy, solar system-fourth is
uniform Rasa as source of universe. On that pattern, there are 4 samudras
(creative spheres-Bio, hydro, atmosphere, lithosphere). There are 4 dhmas in
Bhrata on that pattern-4 by ankara in 483 BC and other 4 by Gorakhanath for
Tantra. Dhma of Jaganntha is only one. But how far it extends? There are 3

zones of Dhma. Zone of influence is called Sma and Viu is called Tri-sm in
Sahasra-nma. Boundary is called Chandana (Chhadi = to cover). Boundary of
Jaganntha Puri is called Chandanapur. It is stated 5 kosa (15 kms) from temple.
Second zone is boundary of Jaganntha dhma which is 10 yojana wide (111
kms). So, it is 5 yojanas from centre till Ekmra, place of Lingarja. This is called
Harichandana and its protectors have the same title. Ekmra, Harichandana are
synonyms of Kalpa-vka (desire tree)-that is root desire of Jaganntha which
started creation.
, , ,

-

, -
Since, boundary of this Dhma extends 55.5 kms from centre, this length has
been called Dhma-yojana in Vedas. It is stated that U (twilight) is 30 dhma
ahead (in west) from sun (place of its rise). In India, twilight zone is 15 0 longitude
(180 in Europe due to more oblique surface). Thus, 1 dhma = 0.5 0 longitude.
This will vary for each latitude but on equator, it will be constant, i.e. 720 parts of
equator = 55.5 kms.

( //)
Third boundary is whole Bhrata having 12 jyotirlingas. Fourth boundary will be
whole earth.
(4) ankha region-Jaganntha-dhma between Mahnadi to south ocean is in
shape of ankha (conch). However, there are larger zones also. Bhrata was
earlier called Aja-nbha (navel of Aja = Viu). His navel place is Manipur
(Maipra chakra is in navel region) from which Brahm (Burma, now Myammar)
was born. Japan has been called Pacha-jana (=group of 5 islands) in Bhgavata
(5/19/30). Conch of Jaganntha came from that place, so it is called Pchajanya.
Even now, Japan is biggest source of Conch and worship is done there by conch
only. Combodia (local name Kambuja) also means conch. Rmyaa, Kikindh
ka (42/27) tells that in quarter part west (90 0 west of Ujjain), there is
Chakravn mountain (Mount Atlas in Ketumla, present Morocco) where Chakra
had been made by Vivakarm. For iron fencing, its ruler has been called Mura
(Bhgavata 10/59, Brahma 1/93). This is used by Jaganntha. In space, the
zodiac circle itself is Sudarana which cuts moon orbit in 2 points called RhuKetu.
5. Special Vedic words-Till today, about 50 Vedic words related to Indra and
Jaganntha are used only in region from Orissa to Indonesia. Some examples(1) Bhuasuni = Bh (land) of unah Indra. nya (Suniya = 0) on Bhdra ukla
12 when Vmana gave 3 lokas to Indra. Even now, first Suniya after coronation of
Orissa king is zero year. Indra as Vddha-rav (top in chain) is called Budharaja
in Sambalpur. Sambala = army cantonment, so it was place of Chinnamast
(Samaleshwari) called Vajra-vairochany. Att (Bhokt, having land grant) is Vra
( ... ( ) - ///). So, Attabira
is sout of Sambalpur. Only in Orissa, land grants are called 'Bira'. Other words are

khaala (controlling all parts), Khayata (controlling 1 part), Goj, Bayni,

Ghana-ghana (
( //). Elephant of Indra was Airvata (from
east of Iravat of Thailand) where elephants are still called white. It was called
Vari (k 1/133/2) which means elephant in Asam to Thailand. Indra was
Sutrm, so the west island of Indonesia is Sumatra. Indra was called Ba-mahn

( - //). So Baht is currency of Thailand (Indra

had many Baht) and great temple of Combodia is Angkor-bat.
(2) Mahbhu (Gt 11/23) is used only for Jaganntha. Dul was one of 6
mothers of Krttikeya (Taittirya samhit (4/4/5/10), whose temples are near Puri.
ok = son is used in Orissa only specially in west part ( ...
//). Major festivals of that period still continue as described above.
References(1) Original texts of Veda & Puras-mostly available on internet also.
(2) Chronology of Pura has been followed as it tallies more correctly with
history of west Asia and modern research on glacial periods. For Oxford
chronology of Indian history, there is no basis till today. Detailed note on
measures of space & time can be seen in my Hindi book Snkhya Siddhnta,
chapter 3 (Nag Publishers, Delhi 2006)
(3) Details of Jaganntha history & tradition as per Indian texts can be seen in
my book Vedic View of r Jaganntha by Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth,
Tirupati, 2006. Both books are available on internet Archives or on
scribd/Arunupadhyay.