SEBAYATS OF GOD: A CASE STUDY OF THE TEMPLE WORKERS OF LORD JAGANNATHA, AT PURI: THE GREATEST RELIGIOUS INSTITUTE OF EASTERN INDIA
Author: JHIKMIK KAR
Article Posted: 29/07/2007
INTRODUCTION: To the Hindus the whole earth is sacred as it is believed to spring from the very body of God.Hindus call these sacred places to be “tirthas” which highlights the great acts of Gods & Goddesses as well as encompasses the mystic events surrounding them.
One of such sacred “crossings” is the Shrishetra Purushottam Shetra( Puri) or the Jagannatha dhaam,one of the abodes of lord Vishnu in the east.This avenue collects a vast array of mythic events related to Jagannatha, which over the centuries had attracted numerous pilgrims from different corners of the world.It is a place charged with power,purity a place where one’s petition are more readily fulfilled creating its own geographical space;a place where everything is sacred, blessed & narrates the story of its purity.
STUDY AREA:THE RELIGIOUS CENTRE EMPLOYING NEARLY 40000 WORKERS:
Lord Jagannatha Temple of Puri is the greatest religious centre which support a greater section of population who are directly & indirectly related to the temple.The words of Reclus written more than a hundred years ago still have their value.He stated “Religion is in fact the great, almost the only industry of Puri.”
Lord Jagannatha is the king of the state.The divine is worshipped here as a human being & is treated as the only living God in the Universe.To serve Him many societies of worshipper families have come to be formed.These are called “NIJOGS” (Sections)& they are grouped according to the services they provide in the temple.In the Temple Record Of Rights duties are assigned to each & every workers(sevaks) of the temple.Of the 150 Nijogs,36 are essential daily.One sevak of these 36 Nijogs must be present daily to carry out the ritual properly.No man can do these traditional duties except a member of that particular Nijog family.They work here in rotation (about 3 days in every 6 week one family is employed).In order to be fit for temple service,one initial ceremony is held in the temple called “SARI BANDHA” which actually gives the real permission to a sevak to serve the lord.
According to the Record Of Rights, the 36 Nijogs,who work daily are as follows:
1)mudirastra(king’s representative)2)chatisha nijog mahapatra(supreme authority controlling the sevaks)3)bitarchha mahapatra(performs the works of lighting of lamps)4)taluchha mahapatra(checks the purity of the temple kitchen)5)parichha nijog(invites goddess Lakshmi during mahaprasad)6)deula karan(inspects the temple works) 7)taluchha karana(8)charchiat nijog9)dayitapati nijog(worship Jagannatha asNilmadhav) 10)khuntia nijog(body gaurds)11)puja panda nijog(performs puja)12)bada panda(guides)13)mekap(storekeeper))14)pratihari(watches the deities) 5)gochikars(controls the pilgrims)16)veenakara(blows veena)17)madeli(put seals on temple gate)18)sankha nijog(blows sankha)19)kahalia(blows bugle)20)ghantua(plays drum)21)purana panda(recites purana)22)singhari(decorator)23)suar gadu(cleans the utensils)24)patri gadu(check the utensils)25)garabadu(provides water)26)sudha suar(put puja items in their containers)27)muduli(counts the no. of utensils)28)harapa nayaka(provides betal)29)tulsi nijog(provides tulsi leaves)30)dayana malis(supplies flower))31)mahabhoi(provides milk made items)32)paniapat(provide water)33)balita sevaks(supply wicks)34)kumbhar nijog(provides earthen pots)35)vimana badu(incharge of bhog)36)chitrakar(painter) &rupakar.In addition to these,others are 37)darpania(provides mirror)38)patras(make chariot ropes)39)darjis(make cloths)40)ratha dahuka(incharge of moving the ratha)41)maharana(carpenter)42)bahar deula sevak(worshipthe other deities)43)vishwakarma(carpenter)44)suars(prepares bhog)45)chunera nijog.(hoist flag on the top of the temple)
These servitors have gained so much popularity that today streets of Puri are named after them-1)khuntia sahi(colony)2)dayitapada sahi3)gaura bata sahi4)mahasuara sahi5)suar sahi. So it will be very much interesting to know about these workers with regards to their demographic characteristics,working & living conditions as well as the socio-economic status enjoyed by this different classes of workers in the present day scenario.
OBJECTIVE: The present study deals with the attempt to identify the-
1.Demographic characteristics of the sevaks
2.Working & living conditions of the servitors
3.Economic status of the workers
4.Political consciousness of the workers
DATA BASE & METHODOLOGY: The data collection includes both primary & secondary data.The secondary data consists of i) Religious texts of different types ii)Oral traditions of the temple. The primary data is based on-i)Socio-economic survey of temple personnels(both direct & indirect servitors).
SURVEY PROCEDURE: It had been very difficult to catch hold of the various workers at a time.So sampling techniques have been adopted in the survey procedure of the temple workers.In view of the survey done a brief sample structure may be created which would help the readers to identify the nature of survey done-
SAMPLE STRUCTURE:
TOTAL WORKERS SURVEYED(46)
DIRECT SERVITORS (35) INDIRECT SERVITORS(11)
PUROHITS (10) KITCHEN WORKERS (16)KUDIA SEVAK(1) GARABADU SEVAK (1) GHANTUA SEVAK (1) BADHEI(1) JOGANIYA(2) CHUNERA NIJOG(2) SHRINGARI (1)
THE SEBAYATS-MAIN CARRIER OF THE UNIVERSAL LORD & THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE TEMPLE: A BRIEF REVIEW:
INDICATORS:A)DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TEMPLE WORKERS: The demographic characteristics are studied under the following heads-1.Caste structure 2.Age composition 3.Level of education
B1)WORKING PATTERN &(B2)LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE WORKERS:1.Workers working inside & outside the temple 2.Family members of the workers employed3.Accessibility of the workers to the lord.LIVING CONDITIONS>1.a)House type b) Room frequency2.Responses of the workers regarding the facilities they enjoy in their houses.
C)ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE WORKERS:1Income structure>a)income from temple b)income from pilgrims c)income from landed property 2.Mode of payment to the workers >a)by the temple b)by the pilgrims.
D)DEGREE OF POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE WORKERS:1. Membership of the workers in political forum.
A)DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
TABLE 1>CASTE STRUCTURE:
CLASS CASTE PERCENTAGE OF WORKERS
UPPER BRAHMINS 67.39
MIDDLE KORONS 8.69
LOWER MIDDLE VAISHYAS 19.56
LOWER(UNTOUCHABLES)SUDRAS 4.35
A close analysis of the caste structure shows that the Brahmins are the masters & the sole controlling body involved in the service to the lord accounting for more than 60% of the total workers.They hold all the prestigious posts and regulate the entire rituals held within the temple.They are mainly concerned with the performances of the daily worship of the lord.In the ritualistic hierarchy the Brahmins are followed by the korons who also hold a position of dignity & respect guiding important rituals related to the lord.The vaishyas stand next to the korons in the societal scale who work as indirect servitors mainly acting as various helpers providing items of necessity required in the day to day rituals of the god.They do not hold high posts as well respectable status.The lowermost class is represented by the sudras who are considered as untouchables & are assigned with various laborious jobs such as sweeping the temple premise,cleaning,bringing water etc.They have no accessibility to the lord.It will be very much interesting to note here that Lord Jagannatha has been considered as a god of universal brotherhood but even today the only the Brahmins have the right to prepare food for the lord in the kitchen . Only the sudras are allowed to carry the bhog (cooked food)from the kitchen towards the sanctorum(where the idols are placed) but are allowed in the ratnavedi(place where the deities actually stands).Only the Brahmins can go there.So a clear division of labour is noticed inside the temple & works are assigned to the people on the basis of their socio-economic status.
TABLE 2>AGE COMPOSITION:
AGE GROUP 10 TO 20 20 TO 30 30 TO 40 >40
% OF WORKERS 26 17 24 36
The age structure of the workers as obtained shows that more than 36%of the sevaks represent the older section of the population falling in the age group of>40yrs.Whereas only 17% of the young age group are involved in the service to the lord.This put forward the question of suspicion whether the system of hereditary service to the lord are showing signs of decline?The next dominating age composition is represented by the lower age group of 10 to 20yrs reflecting children participation in the temple services.
TABLE 3>LEVEL OF EDUCATION
PRIMARY SECONDARY H.S. GRADUATION PG PHD TECHNICAL
28% 46% 11% 7% 7% - 2%
One of the striking features suggested by this statistics is that all the workers irrespective of their socio-economic status are literates, of which more than 45% have completed their schooling which is indeed very much dynamic.The % of workers who have completed their graduation &P.G. is also noteworthy. Though they are highly educated they have devoted themselves in the service of the lord. It also indirectly reflect the faith & bond which they share with the living idol who is responsible for their happiness and sadness.
B1)WORKING PATTERN OF THE WORKERS:
WORKERS WORKING OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE:
OUT OF TOTAL 30% WORK OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE
Of the total servitors who earn their livelihood by working inside the temple around 30% of them also work outside the temple.This section of people are mainly the indirect servitors who are not attached with the daily rituals.The workers outside the temple are engaged in various services such as decorators,painters,agriculture etc.
TABLE 4>FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE WORKERS EMPLOYED WITHIN THE TEMPLE:
NO. OF
FAMILY MEMBERS
1 2 3
64% 28% 8%
According to custom & tradition serving the lord is the hereditary right of the servitor’s family.What is started by the father is taken up by his son and later continued by his grandsons.This system is also in practice in the temple of lord Jagannatha and hence family participation is a must here.The statistics shows that more than 60% of the workers had at least one family member(his son,brother)employed in the temple works.It can be stated here that females are not allowed in the temple works except the devdasis who were allowed to sing in front of the lord ,a system which is in vogue now.Only 8% of the worker’s family had active participation in the temple works involving, around 3 members from each family.
TABLE 5>ACCESSIBILITY OF THE WORKERS TO THE LORD:
ACCESSIBILITY
DIRECT INDIRECT
39% 61%
As stated before all the workers engaged in the temple do not enjoy the same status as well as the right to have access to the lord.It varies according to the position one holds in the ritual hierarchy as well as in the societal scale.Of the total servitors surveyed,majority do not enjoy direct access to the God;a right which is only given to the upper caste Brahmin who are mainly involved in the daily sevapujas. (worshipping)(puja pandas).
B2)LIVING CONDITION OF THE WORKER: Apart from the temple it will be interesting as well essential to study about the present living condition of the workers which would throw light on the personal life of the workers in regards to their housing conditions & the facilities enjoyed by them.
TABLE6>HOUSE TYPE
PUCCA SEMI PUCCA KACHCHA
65% 17% 17%
TABLE 7>ROOM FREQUENCY
NO. OF ROOMS
1 TO 5 6 TO 10 11 TO 15 >15
69% 25% 4% 2%
TABLE8>RESPONSES REGARDING THE HOUSING FACILITIES ENJOYED IN RESPECT OF DRAINAGE,SANITATION, SEWERAGE SYSTEM ETC:
RESPONSES
GOOD SATISFACTORY NOT SATISFACTORY BAD
39% 28% 20% 13%
A close analysis & a comparison of the data suggest that most of the workers (>60%) live in pucca houses having around 1 to 5 rooms which highlights their satisfactory living conditions;though in respect of housing facilities a mixed reaction is obtained.Here it can be said that the upper class servitors(Brahmins,Koron)lived in a better conditions whereas the sudras (deprieved class)though have pucca houses doesn’t have a good standard of living.
C) ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE WORKERS :
The workers of lord Jagannatha temple derieve their income from the temple in lieu of the services they render.This salary is given by The Lord Jagannatha Temple Office which is fixed depending upon the type of work they do.Extra income is also earned from the pilgrims as donations(not all workers);some earn a handsome sum of money from their landed property (mainly from the rice fields).So the income is drawn from three sources.But it can be said that not all workers derieve their income from all these sources.The following data will clearly suggest it-
TABLE9>INCOME FROM TEMPLE TABLE10>INCOME FROM DONATIONS
<100 100 TO 300 300 TO 600 >600
165% 26% 5% 53%
<1000 1000 TO 3000 3000 TO6000 >6000
9% 63% 15% 13%
TABLE 11>INCOME FROM LAND
<1000 1000 TO 3000 3000 TO 6000 >6000
17% 33% 50%
MODE OF PAYMENT TO THE WORKERS
(TABLE>12)
BY THE TEMPLE
CASH KIND BOTH NOTHING
74% 13% 2% 11%
(TABLE>13)
BY THE PILGRIMS
CASH KIND BOTH NOTHING
41% 10% - 47%
Regarding the mode of payment to these workers(direct as well as indirect)a fixed salary in cash is paid to them by the Lord Jagannatha Temple Office in return of their services.But some upper class Brahmins (pujaris mainly)do not take cash(as told to us)but take a share of the bhoga(Prasad)which is being offered to the lord.It is a common practice that every sebayat of the lord will receive a share of this Jagannathaballava bhog(as it is called).Some pandas(Brahmins)who act as guides & help the tourists & pilgrims earn an extra income mainly in cash.But there are some workers(mainly the sudras) who donot get anything from the temple but manages a few from the pilgrims;whereas the upper caste Brahmins(purohits, pandas)is well served both by the temple as well as by the pilgrims.The above statistics proves it clearly.In Table>13, 47% of the workers who gets nothing from pilgrims mainly represent the lower class sudras & few sellers within the temple premise.;wheras the 11% workers who get nothing from the temple(as suggested in Table>12)also represent the deprieved class i,e the sudras.(
D)DEGREE OF POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE WORKERS: So far we have have studied the occupational pattern,as well as the living conditions of the workers.This study have also thrown light on their social status according to which their job status depend as already seen before.Now let us throw some light upon another aspect of their life---how far these sebayats are politically conscious?Everyday from dawn to twilight they have dedicated themselves to the service of the lord.So a general feeling may arrive that these workers are totally ignorant of political matters.But the statistical data as obtained show a mixed reaction.
TABLE>14 MEMBERSHIP/PARTICIPATION OF THE WORKERS IN POLITICAL FORUM
LOCAL PANCHAYAT MUNICIPALITY BOTH NONE
35% 15% 19% 39%
Of the total 46 workers surveyed around 35% workers are members of the local panchayat;more or less the same percentage of workers are totally ignorant of political matters.(30%).This section of servitors mainly includes the kitchen workers (sudras,brahmins)as well as the low class servitors who work as helpers of the upper class puja pandas & purohits.
CONCLUDING REMARKS:After dealing with the various aspects of the life of these temple workers the following deductions can be drawn------
A clear division of labour based on class,caste exist in the temple of the lord Jagannatha who Himself stands for equality & universal brotherhood.
The Brahmins(upper class) are the main sebayat group involved in the daily worship of the God & hold the highest post in all the ceremonial arrangements related to the lord.The have not class( Sudras)are the indirect servitors who had no real access to the lord & are employed in various labourious jobs.They are treated as untouchables which is very much unpleasant to see.Some reform measures must be adopted from the part of the temple office as well as the Government to improve their present status.The foremost necessity of the hour is to change the discriminatory attitude prevalent in the mind of the upper class servitors which will in reality would satisfy the universal lord & enhance the sacredness of the place ---as they themselves belief that the real happiness of Lord Jagannatha lies in the well-being of His subjects.