Whispers in Stone and Copper: Unveiling the History of Shrikshetra and Lord Jagannath

 

The Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri, a timeless beacon of faith, holds many mysteries. While we revere its divine presence, the temple’s origins and the story of its construction have been debated and discussed for centuries. Inscriptions on stone and copper plates, along with various historical accounts, offer valuable insights into the complex history of Purushottama Kshetra and its beloved deity, Lord Jagannath. Let’s delve into these historical records to understand how this sacred site has evolved over time.

 

Inscriptions and Copper Plates: Historical Echoes

 

Various inscriptions and copper plates offer glimpses into the past, revealing the names of kings, deities, and significant events related to Shrikshetra. Some prominent inscriptions include:

 

Nagpur Stone Inscription (1104 CE)

 

Gobindpur Stone Inscription (1137 CE)

 

Lingaraj Temple Stone Inscription (1230-38 CE)

 

Shri Kurma Temple Stone Inscription (1310 CE)

 

King Narasimhadeva’s Kapilasa Stone Inscription (1238-64 CE)

 

Shubhakaradeva’s Neulpur Stone Inscription (780-800 CE, some say 11th century CE)

 

Satana (Madhya Pradesh) Stone Inscription (10th century CE, some say 11th century CE)

 

Baramadeva Temple Stone Inscription (840-1088 CE)

 

Simachala Temple Stone Inscription (1319 CE)

 

Nrusingha Temple, Markandeshwara and Pataleshwara Stone Inscriptions (Puri) (1113-1238 CE)

 

Nagari Copper Plate (King Anangabhima Deva III) (1230 CE)

 

Draksharama Stone Inscription (1216 CE)

 

Dasagoba Copper Plate (1192-1211 CE)

 

Asankhali Copper Plate (1337 CE)

 

2nd Bhanudeva’s Copper Plate Inscription (Punjab Matha, Puri) (1311 CE)

 

These records, though fragmented and sometimes conflicting, provide a rich source of information for piecing together the history of Shrikshetra and Lord Jagannath.

 

The Debate over the Temple’s Builder

 

While it is widely believed that King Anantavarman Chodagangadeva of the Ganga dynasty built the current Shri Jagannath Temple in the 12th century, some scholars propose differing views.

 

Some believe that Chodagangadeva initiated the temple’s construction, which was completed during the reign of Anangabhima Deva III.

 

Stirling’s account states that Anangabhima Deva III built the temple in 1196 CE.

 

Hunter suggests that the construction began in 1174 and concluded in 1198 CE.

 

R.D. Banarjee attributed the construction to Chodagangadeva in the late 11th century.

 

Mahamahopadhyaya Sadashiv Kavyakantha also attributes the construction to Chodagangadeva in 1196 CE.

 

The Madala Panji credits Anangabhima Deva with the temple’s construction.

 

Professor Kailash Chandra Dash believes that Chodagangadeva built the temple, placing the establishment of the deities around 1124-25 CE.

 

Dr. Rajguru’s Perspective

 

Dr. Satyanarayan Rajguru, a prominent researcher, suggests that there was a Purushottama Temple on the Puri coast that fell into disrepair. The deities were then moved to a new temple constructed by King Yayati (II), believed to be the present-day Nrusingha Temple within Shri Jagannath Temple’s inner compound. This Vishnu temple, built in the first half of the 11th century, might have housed a four-armed idol of Shri Purushottama made of blue stone.

 

He states that Chodagangadeva completed the initial phase of construction, but further work, like the intricate carvings, was only completed during the reign of Anangabhima Deva III in 1230 CE. The Nagari Tamrashasana (copper plate) of Anangabhima Deva III suggests that a brahmin from Kashyapa gotra, Chandrakara Sharma, was the acharya (priest) for this construction.

 

Rajguru also notes that before building the Bada Deula, Chodagangadeva established the idols of Shri Purushottama, Balabhadra, and Subhadra in the Nrusingha Temple. He believes the small Nrusingha temple was originally built for Shri Purushottama and that for some reason, the original idols were moved out. He proposes that temple construction began later than 1137 CE. He highlights a sculptor named Palla as the lead artisan who took the project.

 

Other Scholarly Viewpoints

 

Professor Nabina Kumar Sahoo suggests that the present-day Nrusingha Temple was built by King Yayati Mahashivagupta (1023-1040 CE), originally as a Purushottama-Nrusingha temple.

 

Researcher Ravi Ray discovered a copper plate from the Choudwar area (1993), showing that the temple existed before Chodagangadeva’s rule. However, this claim is debated by Professor Kailash Chandra Dash.

 

Most scholars and historians accept that the Shri Jagannath Temple was constructed during the time of Chodagangadeva, with its four parts, (Biman, Mukhasala, Natmandir, and Bhogmandap). Some think Purushottama Deva added Natmandira and Pratap Rudra Deva added Bhog Mandap. The Madala Panji attributes the construction of the Bhog Mandap to King Purushottama Deva in his 7th year of rule and the outer enclosure to King Kapilendra Deva in his 15th year of rule.

 

The Complex History of Shri Jagannath

 

While popular belief credits King Indradyumna of Malwa with building the first Purushottama Jagannath temple, there is no historical evidence to support it. The story of Shri Jagannath’s origins remains a complex blend of myth and history. The stone inscriptions and copper plates provide invaluable records, while also highlighting the evolving narrative of the Lord and his sacred abode.

 

Bringing the Heritage Home

 

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