Janughantia : Unique Blend of A Devotee & A Legendary Warrior 

Janughantia : Unique Blend of A Devotee & A Legendary Warrior 

Introduction :

Here I am talking about the folk singers from Odisha called “Janughantia“. They are almost extinct, no more seen in their traditional attire in villages . The Odia word ‘ଜାନୁଘଣ୍ଟ’ or ‘ଜାନୁଘଣ୍ଟିଆ’ (Janughanta / Janu ghantia) is the combination of two words ‘Janu’ ( which means Thigh) and ghanta ( which means Bell).  That means “One who ties a bell over his thigh” (Janu ghantia). Actually they consider themselves as the descendants of Lord Parsuram, sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.They wander from one village to another  village and while walking the tied bell over their thighs generate  sounds and by this way people become aware about their presence and offer them fruits, vegetables and other food materials. Only a few of their dwindling population can be found in Nayagarh, Athagarh ,Badamba,Khandapada, Khordha, Cuttack, Ghumusar region of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and some other places of coastal Odisha.

Traditional Attire & Work Style of A Janughantia 

Image : prateek pattanaik 

Image: Kalinga tv

Bells seen tied on the right thigh, with an axe on his right hand and a brightly painted bowl  in his left hand , a Janughantia looks like a perfect combination of a devotee and a warrior . As the sound of jingling bells and serious calls to war resonate the village road , kids run out of their home as it declares the appearance of a Janughantia . A Janughantia is seen having applied sandalwood paste on his forehead, arms and chest, wearing a bunch of basil beads on his neck . “Kanthe tulsi, mukhe Rama, Janughanta Parasuram.” which can be roughly translated as  “wearing basil beads on my neck and repeating the name of Rama, I am a Janughanta Parsuram” .This is what is the self-introduction one janughantia usually offers . Parsuram carries a parasu, or an axe . Parasu (battle axe) is the principal instrument all Janughantias carry to distinguish themselves as the devotee of Parsuram.

He is  normally found challenging for a duel while whirling and swinging the axe threateningly which offers a captivating scene. Neither does he stop at any home nor moves from one home  to another asking for offerings. He continues to cross the village road just multiple times. Whatever is offered to him by any family during this walk, he acknowledges, and continues his walk . It is a stringently followed practice. Janughantias don’t ask for alms .They were initially forbidden to not receive alms from more than three households. However, with changing times they are no longer following that. After sunset they do not accept alms and open the bell from Janudesh ( thigh area ) . After opening the bell, they keep silent .  While walking along the path, they sing various devotional songs.

Origin & Growth 

Janughantia is a distinct sub-faction inside the Vaishnavite community who carry the surname of ‘Dasa’ as is practised by Vaishnavas. They identify themselves as the descendants of sage Parasuram . He was the offspring of sage Jamadagni of Bhrigu clan of which we find mention in Vedic literature. His mother’s name was Renuka. A hymn in Rig Veda is attributed to Parsuram (Rig 10.110). The name of ‘Janughant’ is mentioned in Madala Panji (Sri Jagannath temple chronicles) . Some Sanskrit texts mention the name of ‘Dhundumar’ instead of ‘Janughanta’ and ‘Kirtivirya’ instead of ‘Parsuram’. Among other personalities named as Parsuram , we find one from the Shaiva tradition who is the author of Parsuram Kalpa Sutra. People following this sect are prominently known as Janughantia.

Curiously, all Janughantias relate to Achyuta gotra. In Odisha, an enormous number of Vaishnavas convey Achyuta gotra . The credit goes to a fifteenth century Odia holy person, Achyutananda Dasa. He was one among the popular five holy person amigos, together known as PanchaSakha.

Theme Behind the One Act Plays of Janughantias

If we go through the literature of the epic Ramayana,  we find that while Lord  Ramachandra along with His entourage was getting back to Ayodhya from Mithila subsequent to the wedding of Sita,  His path was obstructed by sage Parsuram and that was a Himalayan blunder being committed by the sage Parsuram. This is what roughly says all the Janughantias in the form of one-act plays narrating the dialogues between Rama and Parsuram . Janughantias roam villages across Odisha. The discourse, dancing , singing and the jingling sound of bells on the thigh together make an intriguing scene for country crowds.

Parsuram was fomented, irate and irritated about Rama’s demonstration of breaking Shiva’s strong Pinaka bow. He challenged Lord Rama and asked for a fight and he was determined to kill him. It is to be noticed that Parsuram had battled against Kshatriya clans previously and had killed numerous Kshatriyas to make the surface of earth free of Kshatriyas 21 times. Rama stays cool and looks for allowing Him to proceed to Ayodhya . The discourse happens as Parsuram continues to challenge, undermining, and Rama attempts to bury the hatchet with the angry sage. Taking a gander at Rama’s quiet, tranquil disposition, the wise sage Parsuram  felt embarrassed for his rage. Nonetheless, he requests that Rama finish an assessment. Parsuram offers his own bow initially made for Vishnu, and requests that Rama string it and shoot a bolt. The cool and enlightened Lord Rama strings the bow and scores a bolt. At this point Parsuram realised that he was getting angry over a divine being . The fearless sage Parsuram perceives Rama as an epitome of edified Being, and asks for his pardon .

Conclusion : 

Earlier Janughantia was a kind of wanderer community.  Recently they have settled permanently in some places.  One of their professions is traditional healing…that is to give herbs to get rid of various diseases and especially to childless women  to make possible bear children. They submerge their axe (parasu) in water and afterwards give that water to dumb children so as to enable them to speak. They also have Guru Shishya parampara ( Guru disciple tradition) .

“Every year on the day of Vijaya Dashami during Dussehra festival, Janughantias ritually offer obeisance to the axe, the bell and the alm-bowl.

Though several Janughantias have already left their culture and have settled with other professions like temple priest, agriculture or else small scale trading etc. but nonetheless, still several individuals from this sampradaya ( community) certainly goes out to perform Janughanta act intermittently. If at all any one of you have any kind of childhood memories attached with these janughantias,  please write about it in the comment box.

Dr. Manoj Mishra, lunarsecstasy@gmail.com