Sayana Thakura and ArdhHariLakshmi
In all Hindu temples, we follow the rituals prescribed in scriptures like the Panchartra Agama, Vaikhanasa Agama, Sarada Tilaka etc. But the Jagannath temple of Puri is unique because Vallabhacharya (Mahaprabhuji) wove several elements of Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism in the rituals called Ashtakala Puja Paddati.
So we look upon Lord Jagannath as the child form of Krishna, adorn Him in different garments throughout the day depending on the time, activity He is performing and the weather and offer Him food several times in a day.
In temples where the presiding deities are big, we created smaller Utsav murtis and take these swaroops out on processions in our streets during festivals.
But in the Jagannath temple, we find a unique swaroop called “Sayana Thakura” where the androgynous form of Vishnu known as Vaikuntha Kamalajaa retires for the day in the Sayana chambers (which symbolises Vishnu’s eternal abode Vaikuntha).
In some other Vishnu temples like Badrinath, Kedarnath, Jagannath and a few temples in Kerala that follow Agamic traditions, we worship ArdhaHariLakshmi after the Shayana aarti.
So we find paintings and icons of this rare composite form of Vaikuntha Kamalajaa only in eastern parts of India, Nepal, Kashmir, Harayana, Himachal Pradesh and in some parts of Rajasthan.
We call Vaikuntha Kamalaja by many other names like Lakshmi Narayan, Ardhanari Narayan, Vasudev Lakshmi and Vasudev Kamalaja. Essentially the swaroop of Vaikuntha Kamalajaa symbolises Sat-Chit-Ananda, Truth-Consciousness-Bliss.
We do not find any legends associated with this form of Vaikuntha Kamalajaa even in the Puranas.
Vaikuntha Kamalajaa in Tantra
But many Pancharatra treatises and Tantric iconographic texts like Saradatilak and Shilparatna clearly refer to a deity called Vaikuntha Kamalajaa, the androgynous form of Vishnu. In Tantra, goddesses play a key role.
The Purusha cannot do without Prakriti. The male needs the female to create and preserve order in the cosmos. Here we give the female an equal status. So the male and the female icons are joined together like in the swaroops of Ardhanarishwara and Vaikuntha Kamalaja. It is believed that Kashmiri sculptors first created the swaroop of Vasudev Lakshmi.
The swaroop of Vaikuntha Kamalajaa
The swaroop of Vaikuntha Kamalajaa is split down vertically and has eight hands. The right half is Vishnu and the left Lakshmi. In some icons, Vaikuntha Kamalajaa stands on a lotus pedestal. But in others, we can see Vaikuntha Kamalajaa either riding on Garuda and a tortoise or kneeling on either side of the deity.
The most interesting thing that we notice here is that the tortoise is associated with the Kurma Avatar of Vishnu and is also the mount of Yamunaji. Perhaps that is why Mahaprabhuji mentions the deity Kamalajaa twice in the Yamunashtak (verses 5 and 8).
Vishnu’s arms hold the Shankha, Chakra, Gadha and Padma while Lakshmi, as Kamalajaa, holds a Kalasha filled with gems, a mirror, a manuscript, a lotus and a manuscript in her hands. Sometimes the goddess is shown as holding a bell or rosary beads. We find two men standing on open lotuses on either side of the deity in this icon holding small Gadhas in their upraised hands.
*The left side represents Prakriti, materialism, the feminine, heart, emotions and the right side symbolises Purusha, spiritualism, the male/mind/thoughts. *
Essence of Vaikuntha Kamalajaa’s swaroop
The man below Vaikuntha Kamalajaa
The left leg of the man below Kamalajaa’s hands is straight and rests on the edge of the open lotus while his right leg is bent at his knee and rests on the other end of the lotus. This man sports a huge smile on his face and says, “O manavas, you are aware of the value of spiritualism. But right now, you choose to immerse yourselves in the riches of the material world. Look closely at my left hand. It is raised in warning.
There is no harm in enjoying the pleasures of wealth. At all. But don’t let wealth and material pleasures distort your perspectives and deter you from seeking a higher purpose in life.
Look at my right leg. It is bent and rests on the other end of the lotus. This symbolises that if you are receptive to the messages that Vaikuntha Kamalajaa sends your way, in time and with age, you too will go out of your way to rise above the transient materialistic pleasures of your life and learn to delve within.”
Vaikuntha Kamalajaa’s message
Kamalajaa holds a Kalash, a mirror, a half-open lotus and a book in her hands. The Kalash symbolises abundance, the mirror reflects reality, a half-open lotus represents detachment from materialism to experience bliss and the book symbolises the wisdom contained in the Vedas.
We need to keep in mind that Kamalajaa symbolises a fusion of Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism. So Kamalajaa says, “O manava, I may bless you with an abundance of wealth but that should not deter you from reflecting on the realities of life.
Your life can and should have a higher purpose too. And you will understand this only when you detach yourself from the joys and challenges of your material world and consciously seek the wisdom contained in the sacred scriptures.”
The man below Vishnu
Normally, we will find the Shankha, Chakra, Gadha and Padma in a cyclical order in Vishnu’s hands. But here Vishnu holds a Padma, Shankha, Gada and Chakra in his hands.
The man below Vishnu’s hands is a mirror image of the man below Kamalajaa – but has a frown on his face. It is as if he is saying, “Look at me. I immersed myself completely in my spiritual pursuits. I experienced bliss too. But very soon I realized that I cannot sustain my spiritual side on an empty stomach. Despite being so close to Vaikuntha Kamalajaa, I forgot that Vishnu too is incomplete without Lakshmi.
So don’t commit the same mistakes in your lives. Learn to retain your equanimity at all times in your lives. Balance spiritualism with materialism. Consciously.
Now, look at the order of Vishnu’s symbols carefully. Detach yourself from your spiritual world too. Every. Single. Day. Communicate with others. Understand what they are going through. Help as many souls as you can in whatever way you can. Take as many inner and outer journeys as possible to discover yourself.
Discipline your thoughts when you feel like detaching yourself from the material world completely. Confront the reality that you will have to live through your worldly life before you merge with me. You will learn to do all this in time but someday, you will imbibe the essence of the splendid swaroop of Vaikuntha Kamalajaa. And then you too will master the art of balancing materialism with spiritualism.”
Kamalajaa and Yamunaji
In verses 5 and 8 of the Yamunashtakam, Mahaprabhuji compares Yamunaji with Kamalajaa and says, “Materialistic people will worship Lakshmi. But Pushti bhaktas pursue bhakti and revere Yamunaji the most because she blesses us with bhakti.
Both Kamalajaa (Lakshmi) and Yamunaji are Krishna’s/Vishnu’s wives. But that is where the similarity ends. Yes, Kamalajaa represents Prakriti and complements Vishnu in every way.
But Yamunaji is the divine essence of Purna Purushotham Krishna Himself. She grants us what even Lakshmi can’t – bhakti. That is not all. Yamunaji displays her selfless nature time and again by cleansing the sins of all her bhaktas unquestioningly and bringing them all closer to Krishna Himself. Therefore Yamunaji holds a higher place in the hearts of Pushti Margiya Vaishnavs.”
We owe a lot to our ancestors indeed especially the artists. They have conveyed so many profound messages through their intricate sculptures and paintings. Time may change several things in our lives. But the values portrayed through these art forms will never fade…..
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