The Ultimate Odia Bhagabata: Jagannath Das’s Timeless Masterpiece

The author of Odia Bhagabata is Jagannath Das, a 15th-century poet and mystic. Jagannath Das was a disciple of Shri Chaitanya, a major mystic and devotee of Lord Krishna. He translated the Sanskrit Bhagavat Purana into Odia; this edition is widely revered.

It is also considered as the greatest tribute that a son can offer to his mother. The mother of Jagannath Das was deeply religious, but she could not understand the Sanskrit Bhagavat. She asked her son to translate the volume into an understandable Odia edition.

Jagannath Das is an immortal sage, a devout poet and one of the five Sakha of 15th century Odisha ( ପଞ୍ଚଦଶ ଶତାବ୍ଦୀ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ର ପଞ୍ଚସଖା କହିଲେ ବଳରାମ ଦାସ, ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ଦାସ, ଅଚ୍ୟୁତାନନ୍ଦ ଦାସ, ଯଶୋବନ୍ତ ଦାସ ଓ ଅନନ୍ତ ଦାସ ଙ୍କୁ ବୁଝାଏ).The Bhagabata composed by him is like the backbone of the spiritual and cultural life of the Odia people. A brief description of his biography and his works is given below:

Short Biography of Atibadi Jagannath Das

Birth: He was born on the eighth day of the eighth month of Bhadraba Shukla (Radhastami,  ଭାଦ୍ରବ ଶୁକ୍ଲ ପକ୍ଷ ରାଧାଷ୍ଟମୀ) in the year 1490 (according to some sources, 1487) in the Kapileshwarpur district of Puri.

Parents: His father’s name was Bhagavan Das and his mother’s name was Padmavati Devi. His father was a Purana Panda( ପୁରାଣ Panda) of the Puri temple ( ପୁରୀ ସ୍ଥିତ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ମନ୍ଦିରରେ) ।

Title ‘Atibadi’( ଅତିବଡି): Jagannath Das used to recite the Bhagabata sitting near the Bataganesh( ବଟଗଣେଶ ) of the temple. Impressed by his profound scholarship and devotion, Gaudiya sannyasi Sri Chaitanya Dev( ଗୌଡିୟ ସନ୍ୟାସୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ଚୈତନ୍ୟ ଦେବ) bestowed upon him the title ‘Atibadi’ (the best).

Panchasakha: He was one of the prominent Panchaskhas (Balram Das, Jagannath Das, Achyutananda Das, Yashovant Das and Ananta Das) of the Bhakti movement of Odisha.

Death: He passed away on the seventh day of Magha Shukla(ମାଘ ଶୁକ୍ଲ) in the year 1550 (some say 1552).

Major literary Compositions: 

Atibadi Jagannath Das has enriched Odia literature by composing many literary works in both Odia and Sanskrit.

1. Odia Bhagabata 

Odia Bhagabata overview

His best and most timeless work is the Odia Bhagabata.

# He translated the original Sanskrit Bhagavat into Odia in a very simple and understandable language.

# It is composed in the famous ‘Navakshari chhanda ( ନବାକ୍ଷରୀ ଛନ୍ଦ)’ (nine letters per line) style.The text is divided into 12 parts or cantos (skandhas ସ୍କନ୍ଧ) , containing numerous chapters and stanzas in a unique, simple nine-syllable meter. 

# It played a massive role in standardizing and enriching the Odia language, bringing profound spiritual teachings directly to common people.

2. Other major Odia works

Arthakoili ( ଅର୍ଥ କୋଇଲି) : This work by the devotee Jagannath Das explains the esoteric secrets of spiritual principles.

Tulavina( ତୁଳା ଭିଣା) : A unique combination of knowledge and devotion.

Darubrahma Gita( ଦାରୁବ୍ରହ୍ମ ଗୀତା) :  Based on the creation of the Darumurti of Mahaprabhu Jagannath ( ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ଙ୍କ ଦାରୁ ବିଗ୍ରହ) and his glory.

Gupta Bhagavata( ଗୁପ୍ତ ଭାଗବତ): This is also a remarkable spiritual work.

Usha Haran ( ଉଷା ହରଣ) : A beautiful poetic composition.

Mruguni Stuti ( ମୃଗୁଣୀ ସ୍ତୁତି) : A famous expression of surrender and supplication to the Lord.

3. Sanskrit Composition

He was not only proficient in Odia but also in Sanskrit. Among the Sanskrit texts he composed, the major ones are Bhakti Shatak (ଭକ୍ତି ଶତକ), Upasana Shatak ( ଉପାସନା ଶତକ) and Krishna Bhakti Kalpalata ( କୃଷ୍ଣ ଭକ୍ତି କଳ୍ପଲତା).

Cultural Impact of Odia Bhagabata: 

• Household Worship: The book is traditionally revered and worshiped as a sacred deity in many Odia homes.
• Bhagabata Tungi: Historically, rural villages featured a communal cottage or space called a bhagabata tungi ( ଭାଗବତ ଟୁଙ୍ଗି)  where villagers gathered nightly to read, sing, and discuss verses from this text.
• Accessibility: You can read or access digital versions through the Odia Bhagabata Arch.

Opening Invocation:

Here I am mentioning the very important opening stanza of the Odia Bhagabata , which is recited on the very opening day …that is Bhagabata Janma( ଭାଗବତ ଜନ୍ମ).

“ନମଇଁ ନୃସିଂହ ଚରଣ । ଅନାଦି ପରମ-କାରଣ” ।

Meaning: I bow down to the feet of Prabhu Nrusingha( ପ୍ରଭୁ ନୃସିଂହ) , the beginningless and supreme cause of the universe. 

“ମନୁଷ୍ୟ ଜନମ ପାଇଛ । ନିତ୍ୟ ବିଷ୍ଣୁ ନାମ ଗାଉଛ।”

Above said is another important line in Odia Bhagabata which speaks about the transience of mortal human life and hence the importance of chanting lord Vishnu’s name. It speaks about the necessity of remembering the divine all the time so as to remain detachedly attached to this fleeting nature of human life just like water droplets on the lotus leaves. 

In this context I would like to urge all of you to go through the following two articles.

Meaning: Today’s people are so foolish that they fail to recognize the very soul residing within our bodies. They worship various deities and follow different paths. They do not understand that the Supreme Soul is one and indivisible. Those who come to realize this attain My presence.

Conclusion: 

Jagannath Das gave a dignified place to the Odia language and united the Odia people. In Odisha, it is a widely held belief that the *Odia Bhagabata* should be read aloud to a person on their deathbed, so that after death, their soul may attain *Vaikuntha* (ବୈକୁଣ୍ଠ, the celestial abode of Lord Vishnu). Later the ‘Odia Bhagabata‘ of Jagannath Das played a pivotal role in bringing the classical language status to the regional language “Odia”. His simple verses are still echoing in the rural areas of Odisha.

Dr Manoj Mishra 

lunarsecstasy@gmail.com