After
complete deplastering of the Sikhra of Lord Jagannath temple ,24 miniature
sikhras popularly known as angasikharas are exposed.Architecturally thay are in
profile the typical Orissan rekha deul with all the distinctive features.The
important aspects of these shrines are that within the niche a sculpture is
also incorporated,the most important among them are Ganesh on the topmost
angasikhara of south-west corner of southern face and Brhma incorporated on the
middle shrine of south-west corner upper angasikhara Goddess Kali is
enshrined.On the eastern side of north-east corner top and middle miniature
shrines Nataraj and Surya are incorporated.On the northern face of the
sikhra,Siva is carved inside the niche of central angasikhara of north eastern
corner.The remaining niches are mostly occupied by Vishnu with the exception
that Yama,Kuvera and Surya or Agni too have been repeated.
The
eastern side with the outer wall of the Central largest miniature shrines
Dikpalas are shown alongwith their consorts which are also prominent in case of
Dakshya Prajapati and other temples constructed during Ganga period.Even on the
southern face,the Siva Ajaekapada Bhairava is incorporated.All thetse
incorporations of principal Hindu deities speak of novel composition of
cosmopolitan Hinduism.
There
miniature shrines meant for parsva Devata i.e. Varaha on south,Narasimha on
west and Trivikrama on north too are interesting from iconographical context.In
course of deplastering of the front vertical walls of all the three miniature
shrines,images of Vishnu are carved one above the other on both sides of the
walls numbering eight in each shrine.After close examination by the author,to
our utter surpise,they are identified as the representations of the popular 24
norms of Vishnu.Though the latter addition of the superstructure infront of
these principal niches has disturbed some of these significant icons by way of
insertion of the walls inside original one covering partly or inflicting
damages,the identification of 16 of them are successfully made.
The
discovery is unique of this kind in the context of Vishnu iconography in
Eastern India as so far nowhere in India all the 24 forms of Vishnu are
depicted within any known temples neithe in South nor in North India.
The
names of the twenty four forms are evidently selected out of the thousands
names of Vishnu given in the Anusasanaparvan of the "Mahabharata".The method
adopted in distinguishing one from the other of the twenty four forms is that
of skilful alteration of the four chief attributes of Vishnu i.e.
Smkha,Chakra,Gada and Padma held in the four hands by each of them. The famous
Chennakesava temple of the Hoyasala at Belur and Lakshmi Temple at Dola Gada
Valley,on the outer walls of the temple,some of these forms are incorporated
but not all the 24 forms as prominently carved in Lord Jagannath temple walls.
The
four weapons symbolize the Universal processes relevant to the divinity.Lotus
symbolizes creation (Srishti Bijam tatha padmam),discus-preservation (Chakram
Sthititinibandhanam),Mace-dissolution (Gada Samhara-Bijam), and
conch-emancipation of the soul from bondage (SamkhamKukti-nibandhanam).
It
is believed that each of the letters of the celebrated Gayatri Hymn (consisting
of 24 letters) is represented by one of the twenty four forms of Vishnu and
while performing the daily rituals of Sandhyas.It is the customary to recite
the names of the twenty four forms and consecreate the twenty four spots in the
body(Tantra-Sara).
The
importance of the discovery at Puri is that for the first time all the 24 forms
are depicted together in the form of sculptures on both sides of doorjambs
speaks of the deep sense the architects/builders were having about Gyatri Hymn
and daily rituals of Samdhya where it is customary to recite the 24 names of
Vishnu resulting their sculptural depiction in Jagannath temple which is
incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
