Dark Darling of Blue Hill:essence of simple surrender& triumphs of intimate devotion

[krsna]

Dark Darling of the Blue Hill

BY: SUN STAFF

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June 15, PURI, ORISSA (SUN) — The temple town of Puri in Orissa, one of the four most sacred sites of Hindus, has been a major centre of Vaishnavism for almost a millennium. A Deity of great antiquity, earlier known as Purushottama and Nilamadhava, Sri Jagannatha is the presiding Deity of its main temple.

 

Lord Jagannatha is considered as the creator of incarnations and a manifestion of the supreme divinity, Krishna and Vishnu. His palatial temple, Srimandira, was built in the twelfth century and is one of the finest specimens of the Kalinga style of architecture. The elevated grounds on which the temple stands is known as Blue Hill, Blue Region and Blue Mountain, also used as popular appellations of Lord Jagannatha. He represents the essence of simple surrender and the triumphs of intimate devotion.

 

Numerous saints and poets have poured out their most intimate personal communication to their Dark Darling of the Blue Hill in enchanting lyrical compositions. These songs, hymns to Jagannatha, have been sung to devotees for ages and are part of a living tradition even today.

 

In this Sun series, we will share a wonderful selection of these transcendental poems and other descriptive texts about Puri and the Jagannatha temple excerpted from the book Blue Hill, Hymns to Lord Jagannatha by Subas Pani.

 

Pani, who specialized in translating these lyrical compositions in Sanskrit and Oriyan, captures the flavour of the original musical compositions in a simple, lyrical style in English verse. His book also provides a deep insight into the cultural content with a rich tradition of history, rites and rituals surrounding the world famous Jagannatha festivals.

Dark Darling

 

"O Dark Darling! My life is consecrated to you. My life is futile without a glimpse of your dark countenance." This outpouring of intimate affection and deep devotion by Salabega is a quintessential expression of the relation of the devotee and Jagannatha. The saint poets, who sang hymns to please the Dark Lord, were devotees first and then poets. This relationship is very special. Jagannatha, literally, Lord of the Universe, is not some distant divinity ensconced in his heavenly abode, remote, aloof and beyond reach. The Dark Darling is someone very close, very intimate, a kinsman, and one dear and near. He is like the sakha, friend and companion of Arjuna, He is Kanhai, little Krishna of Yasoda, He is the Kanha of the gopis and kinsman and friend of the gopalas, the cowherds. He is one of our own, an atmiya, an intimate and close family relation, considered so by the daitas, sevakas or servitors who are the progeny of aboriginal tribes. This indicates the true significance of the endearment Dark Darling or Kalia Dhana, which devotees use to address Lord Jagannatha. Dhana also means the precious one, treasure or wealth.

 

At Srimandira, the main temple in the coastal town of Puri in Orissa, Lord Jagannatha, along with His elder brother Balabhadra, sister Subhadra and celestial wheel Sudarsana, which is represented as a staff, adorns an elevated platform called the Ratna Simhasana or the Bejewelled Throne. Lord Jagannatha worship primarily emphasizes simple surrender and unalloyed devotion as the chosen path for the devotee to reach Lord Jagannatha.

Jagannatha is not like any other deity. He is unique in more ways than one: in His appearance, His lifestyle, the rituals and festivals associated with Him, and His relationship with His devotees.