I am lucky to be married to Jagannath Swain Mohapatra, the chief badagrahi of Lord Jagannath. It feels as if it was yesterday when I had stepped into his house and in his life. The house was not a big like it is today. Time had passed. I have been blessed with the two beautiful sons. In the first year of marriage, it was difficult to adjust to a new culture, new custom.
But within a few months, I quietly adjusted to the system in my married home. In fact, I don't know when I became part of the system and when the entire system began to revolve around me. After one year of my marriage, there was Nabakalebar, the biggest festival of the Shree Jagannath culture when the deities are reborn.
Every thing was new for me then. I still remember the days when Swain Mohapatra had left along with others in search of the darubrahma. There was no media publicity. Everything was being done in a routine manner. I had not only spotted a teja (a spark) in his face but also found the same in each daitpati during that time. Being the wife of Swain Mohapatra, I have been closely involved in all these things. I started loving his passion to keep more than 100 cows, about 200 parrots and other animals in the House.
If you have the love for the Lord, you live for Him only. Then you can easily learn the intricate customs associated with the culture. You would be surprised to know that though I regularly visit the temple, I had never gone with him there even for a single day.
During the rath yatra period, we maintain a life of austerity for a month. Whatever name and fame we have got so far is because of His blessings only. When Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had visited our house in March and blessed my two daughters-in-law, my joy knew no bounds. Tears roll down my cheeks when I notice famous people touching the feet of my husband. It really touches me. Why do they do this? It's not because we are big people - they do it because for their love and devotion for Lord Jagannath. Without Him, we have no value.
Our life revolves around Him. I have also heard that if any one does the Brahma parivartan of Lord, their life span is reduced. Such stories give me pain. You cannot delve deep into the mind of a woman, but I silently sit before Him and place all my anxieties with the Lord. Within a few minutes of regaining my composure, I know that the Lord is there to protect me.
THE AUTHOR IS THE WIFE OF JAGANNATH SWAIN MOHAPATRA, CHIEF BADAGRAHI OF LORD JAGANNATH
As told to Subhashish Mohanty
Nirupama Das Mohapatra
I have forgotten the year when I got married to Haladar Das Mohapatra. Before my marriage, I was a great devotee of Lord Krishna. My day begins with his name only. After my marriage, when for the first time I saw Lord Jagannath, I felt it was Him only. That's how time flies.
I was told that my husband was born after a lot of puja-patha and his mother had conceived him when she was almost 50. His father had passed away when he was only eight.
Over the years, he struggled a lot. I have been a witness to that. Now because of His blessings only, we are comfortable. In fact, being the wife of a daitapati we consider ourselves as the sakhee (friend) of the Lord first, then comes husband and the family.
I have been blessed with three sons and all of them are now married. I have been lucky that due to the blessings of the Lord, I have got three beautiful daughters-in-law.
All of them are inclined to Lord Jagannath culture. I continue to tell them that whatever we have got in our life, it is because of His blessings only. Not only me, but also my daughters-in-law have realised that they have stepped into the house because of His wishes.
When I got married, Puri was not the big town it is today. During the month-long rath yatra, we never used to treat guests in our house. It is the same today. Even if my parents came, they were politely told not to enter. In fact, we maintain a life of austerity and our life sustains only on rice, mung dal, green banana and spinach. We also abstain from vegetable that are not allowed inside the temple during rath. Besides, we live on the mahaparsad, coming from the temple. Over the years, I have realised that such restrictions are good for us and help us maintain a disciplined life.
My husband is very reserved and a man of principles. He has already led the team of daiatapatis to search darubrahma during Nabakalebar. He is very particular about not breaching any rule or custom. He will tolerate anything, but not compromise on principles. I am happy that my sons, though highly educated, are following in the footsteps of their father. When I notice them going to the temple bare-bodied with just a scarf, I feel really happy and pray to the Lord that the age-old tradition continues.
• THE WRITER IS WIFE OF HALADHAR DAS MOHAPATRA, CHIEF BADAGRAHI OF LORD BALABHADRA
As told to Subhashish Mohanty
