Deepak Kumar Panda
The place Uddiyana or Oddiyana has played
a significant role in Buddhism, specially in Tantric Buddhism. Saraha -
initiator of Buddha Kapalatantra, Kambala and Padmabraja of Debarajatantra,
Luipa initiator of Samputa tilaka, Lalitabajra of Krashnayamari Tantra,
Gambhirabajra of Bajramatra, Kukkuri of Mahamaya, Pito of Kalachakra, Sabaripa
- all have connection with Uddiyana. Uddiyana is more famous because of
Indrabhuti, the king of Sambhala in Uddiyana, his sister Laxmikara and adopted
son Mahapadmasambhava. Mahapadhasambhava is regarded as the second Buddha who
has founded Lamaism in Tibbet.
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| Padmasambhaba |
The founder of Bajrajana Buddism, king
Indrabhuti of Sambhal in Uddiyana was in deep sorrow as his only son was dead.
The people were in measery as his kingdom was facing the problem of famine and
drought. A lotus with thousand patels bloosmed and on it a child was found. The
child got the name Padmasambhava and Indrabhuti made him the crown prince. With
rain, good days and happiness returned to Sambhal. Padmasambhava became an youth
and got married to Bhasadhara, daughter of Chandrakumar the king of Simhala.
But once while dancing the trident fail from his hand and it killed the son of
minister Kamata. As per law, the king ordered Padmasambhava to leave the palace
and directed him to roam and stay in charnel grounds, wandering in the
cremation grounds. Padma got knowledge from Dakinis. Then he got different
teachings and learned tantras from Prabhahasti, Gruhyabudha, Garab Dorje,
Anand, Asta Vidyahara, Srisaya etc. After enlightenment, he went to Sahor or
Jahor, where he met princess Mandaraba. Both Padma and the princess went to
Maratika cave for sadhana and stayed there for three months. Thereafter, they
came to Uddiyana and stayed for thirteen years. Then Padmasambhava went to
Nepal. Seven member delegation team sent by king Trisang Detasena of Tibbet met
Padma and invited him to Tibbet. Padma went there and founded Lamaism. He
became guru Rimpoche. First matha was established at Samye with first statue of
Padmasambhava. After fiftyfive years and six months Padma left Tibbet leaving
twentyfive desciples.
To locate or identify Uddiyana and
Sambhala many eminent historians have put best of their efforts and have tried
hard. Some of them are in opinion that Uddiyana was at Swat Vally. Others have
tried to find it in Assam or Bengal. But there are several arguments and
reasons to believe that odisha is Uddiyana and Sambalpur is Sambhala of eighth
centuary
It is a well-known fact that the word
Odisha has been derived from Oda, Odra or Udra. The meaning of odra is rice eating
people. In Manu's writing and in Mahabharata as well as in other Sanskrit texts
we can find these words Udra or Odra. Sarla Das has mentioned Odra Rashtra
Mandala in his 'Mahabharata'. Brahmeswar temple inscription of Bhubaneswar has
stated that Somavamshi king Janmejaya killed the king of Odra desha in war.
After this war Somabamshi or Keshri dynasty rule started in whole of Odisha and
neighboring areas. According to ups and downs in history, the place is mentioned
as Udra desha or rashtra to Odra Visaya. In different Linguistic texts this
place is called in different ways. We find oddak in Pall Apajana. In old Greek
texts it has been described as Oretas. In Persian or Arabic, it is called Urshin
or Ursfin. Al Beruni has mentioned Urd Bisau. When British came it became
Orissa. The north Indians call it Udisa. The Bengalis says Udissa. Even people
of western Odisha used to call it Udsa. The word Odisha has got first ever
mention in 1436 AD inscription of Kapilendra Dev in Jagannath temple and
Lingaraj temple. Kalika Purana says "Odrapitham parswametu tathei
chandeswara sivam Katyayani Jagannatham Udresaong cha Prajujayet".
Bhaumakara queen of Odra has compared herself with Katyayani. All grants given
during Bhaumakara rule has got Odra desha or Odra visaya mentioned. In Bouddha
Sadhanamala one can find Uddiyan instead of Uddiyana. It is interesting to note
that Chaturasiti Siddha Prabriti has mentioned Indrabhuti as the king of
Odibhisa.
We can easily come into the conclussion, that there was different devriviation of Odra or Odisha and Uddiyana is one of them.
Marichi. Kurukulla, Lokeswara, Urdhwapala. Bajrabarahi were being worshiped in Uddiyana. These idols are found in large number along with Manjushree, Padmapani, Bajrapani, Trailokya, Bijiya, Kambala, Heruka, Bhairabi, Chamunda in Odisha. Kurukulla and Bajrabarahi idols are not found in any other places except Odisha. Taranath has mentioned that pitho of Kalachakra Tantra was sent to Sambhala who brought many tantras from Sambhala which was tought to the students in Ratnagiri. Alongwith Ratnagiri there are several Buddhist sites in Odisha such as Udayagiri, Lalitgiri, Bajragiri, Langudi, Panturi, Jaema, Radhanagar in Jajpur district, Ayodhya, Solampur, Jayrampur, Khadipada, Kupari, Mohanapada, Bardhanpur of Batesore, Khiching of Mayurbhanj, Nibaran, Kurum of Pud, Sitabinji of Keonjhar, Tarapur of Jagatsinghpur, Buddhakhol of Ganjam, Rameswar, Kendupatana, Choudwar of Cuttack, Ranipur Jharial, Salebhata, Maraguda, Boudh. Shyamsundarpur, Paragalpur, Ganiapali (Mechalinda Vihar), Parimalagiri (Pa-Mo-Lo-Ki-Li as mentioned by Hiuen -Tsang) etc. At the time when Hiuen -Tsang visited Odisha all most all people of the state were Buddhist and there were one hundered Boudha Vihara. According to an inscription Bajrapani was from Mangalakostha of Uddiyana. This Mangalakostha can be identified with Mangalapura near Jajpur.
According to Nepalese Tantra belief, Sariputta was told by Buddha that he will come down to the earth as Padmasambhava in future and that his gaining of knowledge place will be Viraja. Kubajika Tantra says Viraja was the goddes of Uddiyana. Jajpur in Odisha is now also regarded as Viraja Khetra or the place of Viraja.
Now let's have a glance at Charjyageeti.
Fifty dohas are written by 25 Siddhacharyas. They are Luipa, Sabaripa, Kanhupa
and others. In which language Charjageeti is written ? Not in the language
which was practicised in Swat Valley. The language is purely of Eastern India.
The linguistic experts says, during the course of emergence of local languages
there was a time when whole of Eastern India was using this language in
transitional period. Because we find a congregation of Odiya, Bengali,
Assamee and Maithili words of today. Even there are Sambalpuri words, the language of Western Odisha spoken by one and half crores
people. Adh raati, Andhari, Khambha, Khunti, Khaal, Gunjuri mall, Gharein,
Aamhen. Tumhen, Haate, Pasen, Dihen, Parke, Maarmi, Bujhsi, Haandi, Dull, Duar,
Meli, Tohar, Uncha, Daari, Gohal for Guhal and even Bhusku means fat. These
words are very common in Sambalpuri language.
Indrabhuti the profounder of Bajrayana
Buddhism is the first person who have mentioned the word Jagannath. In his
Gyanasiddhi Jagannath is mentioned in the opening verse and in four other
verses.
Indrabhuti has described Jagannath as the
avatar of Buddha. He did mention Jagannath . Jagannath is the pricipal idol of Odisha.
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| Padmasambhaba Guru Rinpoche |
Anangabajra, the guru of Indrabhuti has
also mentioned Jagannath in his Pragyonpaaya Binischaya Siddhi. In this text we
find the name of Subhakara Dev. Subhakara Dev -I was the Bhaumakara king of
Odraka or Toshali. A letter and text Gandhabyuha was sent to the Chinese king
in AD 795 by him. His copper plates are found in Odisha. His name is mentioned
in the Padmapani Abalokiteswara idol kept at Bhubaneswar Museum.
Indrabhuti's sister Laxmikara, the
founder of Sahajayana Boudha dharma was the wife of Seol and doughter-in-law of
king Jalendra of Lankapuri. Lankapuri is identified with Subamapura or Sonepur
of West Odisha. This place is a wellknown tantra-pitha. In the last part of the
10th century while giving two copper plate grants from Subarnapura, Kumar
Someswara Dev has declaired himself as the ruler of Paschima Lanka. Now also
goddess Lankeswari is being worshiped at Subarnapura or Sonepur. Padmasambhava
was married to Mandaraba of Sahor or Jahor. This place is identified with
Kendujhor of Odisha. A hill is there at Kendujhar which bears the name Jaharai
Sandhaa.
According to "Chandamarichitantra
Ratnabali" Sambalaka of Uddiyana was situated at the river bank of
Mahanadi with full of diamonds. Ptolemy has mentioned that in mandalai, near
river manad, Sambalaka is a big city. Gibbon has stated that Rome was supplied
with diamonds from the mines of Sumelpur in Bengal . Barahamihira, Chandeswar,
Tipanthata, Hiuen -Tsang, General Conningham, Tobarniyar, Prof Ball, O'malley
and many more have written about the place Sambaipur where diamonds are found
from river Mahanadi. There is a long history of Dimond collection from river
mahanadi at Sambalpur. The Sambalpur king of 16th, 17th Century are known as
Hirakhanda Chatrapati maharaj. In 1799 One Mr. T. Motte was sent by Lord Clive
to have a visit of the Dimond mines of Sambalpur, who has written an account on
it. In Asiatic Journal published from London in 1934 Rahul Ramakrityayana has
identified Sambhal with Sambalpur.
So. the historical background and
existence of Sambalpur alongwith Odisha, Odivisha, Odra, Udra, Uddiyana etc.,
mentioning of Jagannath by Indrabhuti, language of Charyageeti, relationship of
Biraja khetra orjajpurwith Padmasambhava and other mentioned facts are
sufficient to say that uddiyana is Odisha and Sambhal is Sambalpur. Dr. Nabin
Kumar Sahu by his elaborate writting in the book 'Buddhism in Orissa' has
proved this. Mr. H. P. Shastri, Dr. Binoyatosh Bhattacharya, Prof. Winternitz,
Dr. P. Cordier are of the belief that Uddiyana is the same as Odisha.
News Editor
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