Soma
Tools of the Path => Hinduism [Public] => Topic started by: Nichi on March 01, 2016, 10:07:00 AM
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I dub this entity the epitome of all that is confusing, complex, and contradictory in Hinduism!
It's Vedic, it isn't Vedic, it's considered to be an avatar of Vishnu - no, it's actually Krishna - no, it's connected to Shiva - no, it's connected to Buddha - no, it's actually tribal and connected to tree worship. It has no mythology - no, here are the myths connected to it.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/2a/a4/ef/2aa4ef41701269c6db8216508c0495e0.jpg)
Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha. Kalighat, Calcutta, 1860. The Jagannath trio, consisting of Jagannatha painted black as an alternative form of Krishna, Lord of the Universe, in the company of his brother Balabhadra and their little sister Subhadra in the middle.
One just has to scroll/scan through the headers in the article to glean all the disagreement:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath
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It is certainly one of the weirdest gods in Hinduism. We found it mainly in Orissa, and some far-out iconography.
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It is certainly one of the weirdest gods in Hinduism. We found it mainly in Orissa, and some far-out iconography.
That's the truth!
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKGtAtJXkAEm8ix.jpg)
The Jagannatha Ratha during the annual festival procession at #Puri, #Orissa~1820-2
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DKGtAtJXkAEm8ix.jpg
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(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ff/40/d8/ff40d8c6ebe4cd7fab4d93a1ac0f24c3.jpg)
The Jagannath trinity, with attendants, with caption in Persian. Company School, Patna, 19th century.
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(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ff/f9/db/fff9db6201bc6f4efcf2a8459228c6c3.jpg)
Kalighat collection: Buddha or Jagganath avatar. Orissans percieve Vishnu's Jagannath to be the 9th avatara, believing him to have been conceived as Adi (Primordal) Buddha. Watercolour on paper. Circa 3rd quarter 19th century.
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(https://i.pinimg.com/564x/65/31/7c/65317c0d5c317fba8e487db8cd2d149c.jpg)
Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra. Object: Calcutta, India Date: ca. 1830
Krishna was killed by a hunter. His bones were found and Vishnu directed a king, Indrayumna, to make an image of Jagannatha and place the bones inside it. The carpenter of the gods, Viswakarma, agreed to make the image if he was left undisturbed. On being interrupted by Indrayumna, Viswakarma lost his temper and refused to finish the image. This is said to explain the crude form taken by the Jagannatha image at Puri, where the body resembles a wooden stump with a large blunt head. ~V&AMuseum
Click/enlarge attachment for best view: