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Some plants and their parts used for worshiping Lord Jagannath

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Ushashee Mandal Gyanranjan Mahalik

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JAGANNATH Jagannath, 1(1), 2021

Some plants and their parts used for worshiping Lord

Jagannath
Ushashee Mandal and Gyanranjan Mahalik*

Department of Botany, School of Applied Sciences, Centurion University of Technology and Management,
Odisha, India
*Corresponding Email-id: gyanranjan.mahalik@cutm.ac.in

Abstract
Biological diversity is a phrase that refers to the tremendous diversity of human civilization. The two words that are bios and
diversity which means life and variety. Since the immemorial in the human communities, plants has been playing an
important role for the life support systems. Hinduism is the religion which is the unique in its way which has no founder
and originated in India and considered as the religion of the Indian people. It is one of the oldest religion in the humanity
that has given birth to the other religions such as Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism etc. Lord Jagannath who is known as Lord of
Universe. He is considered a non-sectarian deity and abstract form of Krishna, Purushottama & Param Brahma. It has been
observed that there are many plants and plants parts are used from the several years and here we have discussed about the
most important plant species used in worshiping Lord Jagannath in Odisha. The plant species with their botanical name,
local name, family, habitat, parts used and form of use are presented. About 28 plant species belongs to 21 families were
documented.
Keywords: Biodiversity, Hinduism, Lord Jagannath, Odisha, Plants, Survey
Introduction
Hinduism is one of the world's oldest and largest faiths from 3000 years back (Dalasingh et al., 2018).
Hindus use traditionally huge variety of plant species to worship various gods and goddesses. The
significance of plants in worshipping gods and goddesses has been expressed in several Vedas, as
well as in Hymns.Numerous plant species are related with religious functions, ceremonies, and
festival celebrations among Hindus in India.To define Hinduism, Indians use the word "Sanatana
Dharma," which means "everlasting tradition" or "everlasting path beyond human civilization" (Dash
et al. 2019; Mandal et al.....). In our great Human culture, plants having an important place globally.
Lord Jagannath who is known as Lord of Universe and abstract form of Krishna, Purushottama &
Param Brahma (Rajaguru 1992; Starza 1993; Ray 2007). He is a Hindu god who, together with his
brother Balabhadra and sister devi Subhadra, is worshipped in Bangladesh and India. Jagannath's
image is a handmade and adorned wooden stump with wide round eyes and a symmetric face, as
well as the absence of hands and legs. Jagannath's worshipping practises, sacraments, and rituals are
syncretic, and contain rituals that are not common in Hinduism (Patnaik, Patnaik 1994). In Odisha,
Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat, Assam, Manipur, and Tripura, he is a
prominent regional authority (Tripathy, Singh 2012). He is also noteworthy to Bangladesh's Hindus.
In Vaishnavism, the Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, is extremely important, and it is one of India's
Char Dham pilgrimage sites (Bryant 2007). The Jagannath temple is a large structure in the Nagara
Hindu temple style, standing over 61 metres (200 feet) tall which is one of the finest earliest forms of
Kalinga architecture, i.e., Odisha art and architecture. Since around 800 CE, it has been one of the
most important Hindu pilgrimage locations (Bansal 2008).

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JAGANNATH Jagannath, 1(1), 2021

Jagannath's adherents participate in a variety of traditional festivities. Thirteen of the several

festivals are significant (nilachakra.org. 2010). These are:

1. Niladri Mahodaya 8. Prarbana Yatra

2. Snana Yatra 9. Pusyavishek
3. Shri Gundicha or Ratha Yatra 10. Uttarayan
4. Shri Hari SayanYatra. 11. Dola Yatra
5. Utthapan Yatra 12. Damanak Chaturdasi &
6. Parswa Paribartan 13. Chandan Yatra
7. Dakhinayan Yatra
The most important of Jagannath's celebrations is the Ratha Yatra also called as chariot festival.
Throughout the year, the Jagannath Temple hosts a number of festivities. The Naba Kalebara's
celebrations are arguably the most lavish. The Lord Jagannath's rebirth, or transmigration from one
body to another, is commemorated by the Naba Kalebara. This rite occurs every 15th to 19th years.
The ceremony is most auspicious during the Jyaistha month (June-July), which has two full moons in
the adhimasa year (https://indianculture.gov.in). This paper gives information about some of the
important plants that are used for worshiping Lord Jagannath in Odisha, India.
Methodology
Various traditional Hindu cultural occasions were documented, along with relevant data on plant
species utilised in various pujas, socio-religious ceremonies, or festivals.An investigation into the
paperwork of plants and plant parts utilised for worshiping Lord Jagannath (Figure 1). The
documents on the significance of various plants, including the use of plants and plant components for
rituals, was collected and recorded. Data were obtained through interaction and connection with
some well-known specialised people, such as priests who conduct devotional activity and some
informed elder people involved in ceremonial activities. The botanical names were recorded and
identified with the help of the books (Saxena, Brahmam 1994; Haines 1921). The final specimens that
were collected is deposited in Herbarium unit, Department of Botany, Centurion University of
Technology and Management, Odisha, India.

Figure 1. Collection of photos while interaction with priests

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JAGANNATH Jagannath, 1(1), 2021

Results and discussion

According to the present investigation about 28 plant species from 21 families are enumerated that
are related with socio-cultural and religious beliefs and are employed in Lord Jagannath worship.
Communicating with priests and religion headmen yielded information about the use of various
plants and plant parts. Personality inventories, interviews, and discussions among local chiefs in their
own tongue were used to gather data. The plant species that mostly used is Ocimum tenuiflorum which
belongs to Lamiaceae family. For decoration and worship, several types of leaves, flowers for
garlands, fruits-seeds for prasad preparation, and plant species for worship are employed. Table 1
lists the plant species investigated in this study, along with their botanical name, local name, family,
habitat, portions used, and mode of usage (Figure 1-2).
Table 1: List of the important plants and their parts used fort worshiping Lord Jagannath

Sl. No Botanical Name Local name Family Habitat Parts Form of use
used
1. Anacardium occidentale Kaju Anacardiaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
L.
2. Ananas comosus (L.) Sapuri Bromeliaceae Shrub Fruits Used in prasad
Merr.
3. Annona reticulata L. Atta Annonaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
4. Cascabela thevetia (L.) Kaniara Apocyanaceae Shrub Flower Worshiping,
H. Lippold garlanding
5. Citrus sinensis (L.) Kamala Rutaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
Osbeck.
6. Clitoria ternatea L. Aparajeta Fabaceae Climber Flower Worshiping,
garlanding
7. Cocos nucifera L. Nadia Arecaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
8. Cucumis sativus L. Kakudi Cucurbitaceae Climber Fruits Used in prasad
9. Jasminum multiflorum Kunda Oleaceae Shrub Flower Worshiping,
(Burm.f.) Andrews garlanding
10. Mangifera indica L. Amba Anacardiaceae Tree Fruit Used as prasad
11. Michelia champaca L. Swarna Magnoliaceae Tree Flower Worshiping,
Champa garlanding
12. Musa sapientum L. Kadali Musaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
13. Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Gangasiuli Oleaceae Tree Flower Worshiping,
L. garlanding
14. Ocimum basilicum L. Durlava Lamiaceae Herb Leaves Worshiping
15. Osimum Carpuratulasi Lamiaceae Herb Leaves Worshiping
kilimandscharicum (R.
Br.) Guerke
16. Osimum tenuiflorum L. Tulasi Lamiaceae Herb Whole Worshiping
plant
17. Phoenix sylvestris (L.) Khajuri Arecaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
Roxb.
18. Polianthes tuberosa L. Rajanigandha Asparagaceae Tree Flower Worshiping,

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JAGANNATH Jagannath, 1(1), 2021

garlanding
19. Psidium guajava L. Pijuli Myrtaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
20. Punica granatum L. Dalimba Lythraceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
21. Pyrus communis L. Naspati Rosaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
22. Pyrus malus L. Seu Rosaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
23. Quisqualis indica L. Malati Combretaceae Climber Flower Worshiping
24. Santalum album L. Chandan Santalaceae Tree Wood Worshiping
25. Shorea robusta Gaertn. Sala Dipterocarpaceae Tree Wood Worshiping
26. Tabernaemontana Tagara Apocynaceae Small Tree, Flower Worshiping
divaricata (L.) R.Br. ex Shrub
Roem. & Schult.
27. Terminalia bellirica Bahada Combretaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad
(Gaertn.) Roxb.
28. Terminalia chebula Retz. Harida Combretaceae Tree Fruits Used in prasad

Climber
Herb
7% 11%
Shrub Clim 30%
Tree 14% ber 55%
68% Herb 15%

Shru
b

Used as prasad

Figure 2. Habitat wise distribution of plant species Figure 3. Distribution as per mode of uses

Conclusion
The study of plants that are used for worshiping in Hindu traditions which shows the importance of
plants in the human life. The present study helps us to know about the religious plants and the plant
parts used for worshiping Lord Jagannath. This study makes us understand how people are
contributing in conserving plants and forest of their own interest to check their religious activities &
social culture. In Hindu tradition, it is believed that numerous supernatural beings and Goddesses
have distinct personalities and that they favour different plants based on their colour, fragrance, and
other characteristics.
Acknowledgement
The authors would like to convey their appreciation to all those who have furnished facts for the
fulfilment of this work, including senior people, priests, and religious headmen. Special thanks to
priests and other co-members for their valuable help and kind assistance during the conduct of this
work, as well as for offering additional information about the work.
References
Bansal, S. P. (2008). Hindu pilgrimage. Pustak Mahal.
Bryant, E. F. (2007). Krishna: a sourcebook. Oxford University Press.

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 JAGANNATH Jagannath, 1(1), 2021

Dalasingh, B. K., Mahalik, G., & Parida, S. (2018). Study on the use of Plants and Plant parts in Durga Puja for
Worshipping of the Goddess Durga in Odisha, India. International Journal of Management Technology
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for Worshipping of the Lord Ganesha in Odisha, India. International Journal of Advance Science and
Technology, 28(13), 63-71.
Festivals of Lord Sri Jagannath. nilachakra.org. 2010. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 3
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