Culture & Tradition of Odisha

Renowned Odishan culture and traditions

Amalgamating the ancient land of Kalinga, Kangod, Koshal, Odra and Utkal. Modern Odisha took its present form on April 1st 1936, the first state in the country to be formed on a linguistic basis Odisha has the finest cultural heritage and is famous in the world Odisha is the stronghold of all religious cultures in India like Jainism. Buddhism Saivism, Saktism and Vaishnavism. Each of these religions was propagated throughout the world and continuing till date. Taking the case of Jainism, for instance, which was preached by Mahavira on this very Soil of Odisha, it was practised right from 6th century BC to the 7th century AD, after which 1t declined, leaving a generalized impact on the other faiths. Famous Culture & Tradition Of Odisha.

The Buddhism was continued for a longer period and subsequently merged in the Jagannath cult when Buddha was accepted as an Incarnation on of Vishnu Odisha 1s a melting pot of different faiths and people of this land are lovers of universal brotherhood. There are innumerable temples, monuments with sculpted figures in Odisha for which it is called a veritable museum of the country. Odisha architecture holds a unique position due to its richness. The temple of Mukteswar, Konark, Rajarani, Lingarai, and Jagannath stands as an example to the indigenous artisans who built these stone temples and adorned their walls with fine sculptural motifs. The figures of these temples seem to be alive.

Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary

State of Odisha A culturally rich country

The moods of the figures fill as if communicate their language to the visitors. The same is true and performing arts like dance, music and also of artistic crafts. Odisha has several festivals which are observed with much pomp and ceremony. A great festival held at Puri·is called the Car Festival or Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath In three richly decorated wooden chariots, Lord Jagannath. Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra come out of the temple to give Darshan to all sections of devotees. The occasion was not only observed in Odisha but also abroad. This function essentially symbolizes the amalgamation of Buddhist and Vaishnav culture in Odisha.

Shaktism and Tantrism Culture in Odisha

The worship of a different form of female energy, Shakti means, which is traceable from Indian history since the pre-Vedic Indus Vedic civilisation. In this context their contextual instances are ‘found in Mahabharat. Harivmsa and Vayupu-Rana. During the fifth century AD Bhauakar was the king of Odisha. He was a follower of Buddhism and worshipper of Shakti. During that period, Jajpur was his capital. Queen Tribhuban Mahadevi has compared herself with Katyayani as Durga or Viraja. During that period female energy was conceived and executed on various occasions. The female energy was gradually introduced in Saivism because Siva was conceived as Ardhanariswar or half male and half-female. During that period Tantricism also developed which is continuing from the 7th century to date in Odisha. Famous Culture & Tradition Of Odisha

Buddhist Tantricism called Vajrayana, conceived of the Goddess Tara. The Tara images are found m such places as Banapur. Ratnagiri and Khiching in Odisha During the reign of Bhoumak ar Tantrik Shakti were worshipped and dominated at Bhubaneswar The then period Bhubaneswar was the centre of Saivism. The devotees of Siva (Kapallk) Worshipped. The Tantrik goddess called Chamunda and Mahisamardini for attainment of Siddhis Now four Shakti Shrines are found four sides of the Vrndu Sarovar tank near the Lingaraj temple Of these ‘four temples, Vaital, Mohini.

Raja_Doli_khela_Odia_festival

Famous Culture of Odisha

Uttareswar and another unnamed Vaital are most important. The presiding deity of Vaital temple 1st Chamunda. The name Vetal is derived from Vetal. the spirit that helps the Tantrik and Kapalikas for the attainment of Sadhana or Siddhis. Tantrik rites like human or animal sacrifice was being practised in front of the temple and are now abolished. Chamunda was not only worshipped by Saiva but also by the Buddhists. During Bhoumakar’s period, Khiching was the most important place of Chamunda. Famous Culture & Tradition Of Odisha.

Worship of Sapta Matruka begins in Odisha during the period of Bhoumakar. A group of seven mother goddesses called Sapta Matrika such as Varahi, Indrani, Vaishnavi, Kumari, Sivani, Brahmi, and Chamunda. These seven goddesses were accompanied by Ganesha and Virabhadra. These Sapta Matruka images are found at Jajpur, Belakhandi, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, and Bhubaneswar. Like Chamunda, the independent worship of Varahi was also found at Chourasi village of the Prachi valley in Puri district and Narendrapur in the Balasore district.

Shakti Peethas in Odisha

The Brahmanical Tantricism took shape in the form of Yogini Culture. The Kalika Purana states Odisha was the place where the Tantrikas, female just as the Kapalikas, became the devotees of Lord Siva and Yog1rns Kapalikas lived in a spiritual manner and controlling sexual intimacy for the attainment of Siddhi. The Yogini temple of Hirapur near Bhubaneswar contains sixty-four manifestations of Sakti The Yogini temple of Ranipur­ Jharial ( in the district of Balangir ) is a terrific Chamunda Pitha.

This temple possesses forty manifestations of Shakti. This was situated within the territory of the Somavamsis of Koshala. In Bhoumakar’s times, the Sulki rulers used to worship a mother goddess in form of a pillar which was named as goddess Stambheswari. The relation between Saivrsm and Tantricism is the cult of Siva, who is known as Bhairava, and his female consort, which is called Bhairavi or shakti, Parvati, Durga or Mahamaya.

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