Naga

By: Arpan Gourav Dash

~ Naga (ନାଗା) ~

The idol of Naga represents the age old Jaga Akhada culture of Puri. According to scholars, Nagas are saint of Shaiva sect who were practicing bodybuilding, wrestling and protecting the Temple from Buddhist, Mougal and Muslim invasions. To memorize this age old traditions huge clay idols of Naga used to made in different places of Puri during Gosani Jatra which is a indigenous culture and cannot be seen anywhere else.

The idol of Nagas shows a well built man standing upon two wild animals with winding his chest and showing masculinity and warrior-ism. Yellowish skin dress with loin cloth and tiger skin around his chest. That part is adorned with different weapons like shield, sword, dagger and knife. Holding mashal or flowers and a gun in both hands. His face consist big round fierce eyes, sharp nose, curly mustache and beard. On his head a headgear (handia – ହାଣ୍ଡିଆ) is adorned and a lotus flower is in the top of the headgear. His back is adorned with a bamboo mat (ତାଟି) as same as a bow.

The specialty is Lord Jagannath himself took this attire on 6th day of Kartika month. This tradition is connected with the open air festival of Puri called “SahiJata“. Naga Kota is situated which was a earlier practice centre of Naga Sadhus of Puri.

ହଟି ପିଛା ଆଗା ରଟିଲା ଯେ ନାଗା

ସେଟି ନୁହେଁ ମାୟା ବାଘା

ସାବାସେ ସାବାସେ ବୋଲୁଣୁ କିଏ ସେ

କଲେ ବାଦୀସାୟ ଘୋଘା ।।

ଏ ବୀରବେଶଟି ଘୋଷୁଁ ଜଂଘେ ଘଣ୍ଟି

ଚାହେଁ ଟେରେଇ ତରାଟି

ଖଣ୍ଡା ଢାଲ ଛୁରୀ ବନ୍ଧୁକ କଟାରୀ

ଛାଲ କଲିଙ୍ଗି ବାହୁଟି ।।

ନଳି ଶବଦକୁ ନକଲେ ନାଗାକୁ

ନିନ୍ଦା ବୋଲି ତୋଳି ଗାଞ୍ଜ

ବାରୁଦ ପୂରାଇ ଘୁରାଇ ଘୁରାଇ

ଭିଡେ କଲାକି ଆବାଜ ।।