SEB AYATS OF G OD : A CAS E ST UD Y OF T HE TE MP LE WORK ERS OF LOR D

JAGA NNA THA , AT P URI : T HE GRE ATES T REL IG IO US IN STI TU TE OF

EA ST ER N INDIA

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)

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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)

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DIRECT SERVITORS 35) INDIRECT SERVITORS(11)

PUROHITS KITCHEN KUDIA GARABADU GHANTUA BADHEI JOGANIYA CHUNERA SHRINGARI

(10) WORKERS SEVAK SEVAK SEVAK (1) (1) NIJOG (1)

(16) (1) (2) (1) (2)

CHITRAKAR S ELLERS OFFICERS SWEEPERS GUIDES

(6) (2) (1) (1) (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

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 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(fig 1) 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(Fig2) 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 POST PHD TECHNICAL

GRADUATION

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28% 46% 11% 7% 7% - 2%
One of the striking features suggested by this statistics(Fig3) 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 According to custom & tradition serving the lord is

FAMILY MEMBERS the hereditary right of the servitor’s family.What is
1 2 3 started by the father is taken up by his son and later
64% 28% 8% 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(Fig4) 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 As stated before all the workers engaged in the temple do

DIRECT INDIRECT not enjoy the same status as well as the right to have
39% 61% 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).(Fig5)

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

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 which would throw light on the personal life of the workers in regards to their housing
conditions & the facilities enjoyed by them.(Fig6 to 8)

TABLE6>HOUSE TYPE TABLE 7>ROOM FREQUENCY

PUCCA SEMI KACHCHA

PUCCA
65% 17% 17%

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:

A close analysis
RESPONSES
& a comparison
GOOD SATISFACTORY NOT SATISFACTORY BAD
39% 28% 20% 13% 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- (Fig9to11)

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 TABLE9>INCOME FROM TEMPLE TABLE10>INCOME FROM DONATIONS

<100 100 TO 300 TO >600

300 600

165% 26% 5% 53%

1000 TO 3000 >6000

<1000 3000 TO6000
9% 63% 15% 13%

TABLE 11>INCOME FROM LAND

<1000 1000 TO 3000 TO >6000

3000 6000
17% 33% 50%

MODE OF PAYMENT TO THE WORKERS

(TABLE>12) (TABLE>13)

BY THE TEMPLE BY THE PILGRIMS

CASH KIND BOTH NOTHING CASH KIND BOTH NOTHING

74% 13% 2% 11% 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

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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.(Fig12-13)

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 MUNICIPALITY BOTH NONE

PANCHAYAT
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. (Fig14)

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

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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.

REFERENCES: K.C.Mishra(1984 ):“ The cult of Jagannatha”

Anncharlott Eschmann,HermannKulke,Gaya CharanTripathi(1986):“The cult of

Jagannatha and the regional tradition of Orissa”

Somenath Khuntia(1995): “The Temple of Lord Jagannatha”

Ramchandra Mishra(2003):“Purusottam Kshetra”

Tables(1 to 14) Source:PRIMARY SURVEY(2006)