Navagunjara

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Navagunjara is a creature composed of nine different animals. The animal is a common motif in the Pata-Chitra style of painting, of the Indian state of Odisha. The beast is considered a form of the Hindu god Vishnu, or of Krishna, who is considered an Avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu. It is considered a variant of the virat-rupa (Omnipresent or vast) form of Krishna, that he displays to Arjuna, as mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, a part of the epic Mahabharata.[1]

Arjuna bows to Navagunjara, depicted here with the head of peacock the Odia form of jagannath'.

The version of the Mahabharata, written by the Odia poet Sarala Dasa, narrates the legend of Navagunjara; no other version has the story. Once, when Arjuna was doing penance on a hill, Krishna-Vishnu appears to him as Navagunjara. Navagunjara has the head of a rooster, and stands on three feet, those of an elephant, tiger and deer or horse; the fourth limb is a raised human arm carrying a lotus or a wheel. The beast has the neck of a peacock, the back or hump of a bull and the waist of a lion; the tail is a serpent. Initially, Arjuna was terrified as well as mesmerized by the strange creature and raises his bow to shoot it. Finally, Arjuna realizes that Navagunjara is a manifestation of Vishnu and drops his weapons, bowing before Navagunjara.[2]

The Navagunjara-Arjuna scene is sculpted at the northern side of the Jagannath Temple, Puri.[3] Also, the Nila Chakra disc atop the Jagannath Temple has eight Navagunjaras carved on the outer circumference, with all facing towards the flagpost above.

Navagunjara is also depicted in Ganjifa playing cards as the King card and Arjuna as the minister card, in parts of Orissa, mainly in Puri District and Ath-Rangi Sara in Ganjam District, Orissa. This set is known as Navagunjara.[4][5][6]

See also

References
  1. Cesarone, Bernard (2001). "Pata-Chitras of Orissa: An Illustration of Some Common Themes". journal. /www.asianart.com. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  2. Pattanaik, Devdutt (2003). Indian Mythology: Tales, Symbols, and Rituals from the Heart of the Subcontinent. Inner Traditions / Bear & Company. pp. 19, 21. ISBN 9780892818709.
  3. Starza, O. M. (1993). The Jagannatha Temple at Puri: Its Architecture, Art, and Cult. BRILL. p. 45. ISBN 9789004096738.
  4. Kishor Gordhandas (25 November 2007). "A Short History Of Ganjifa Cards". magazine. Epic India. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  5. "HISTORICAL NOTES". website. Geocities. Archived from the original on 23 July 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2008.
  6. "Asian Cards". website. Alta Carta. Retrieved 12 October 2008.


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