SOCIETY

Devotees give away child to be a hermit
during Mahima Mela in Orissa

     Joranada (Orissa): It's been over a century that, Joranda, a place in Orissa, has been hosting a grand annual fair known as "Mahima Mela" here at the mausoleum of a holy saint. But an age-old custom makes it distinct from many other religious occasions. Following a long held belief, a devotee asking for the fulfilment of a wish has to submit one's child to become a "Sanyasi" or, hermit in a symbolic gesture here. Organised at Joranda in Orissa's Dhenkanal District, it is said that legend, customs and deep faith of devotees of an erstwhile holy saint, Mahima Gosain, has led to the success and popularity of "Mahima Mela".

     People believe the vows taken upon during the "Mahima Mela" (fair) get fulfilled. But, as per a long-held custom, one needs to dedicate the child as a hermit of " Mahima Gaddi" or, the holy seat and then 'buy' him back. Basanti Nayak, a devotee, once wished at Mahima Gosain's mausoleum and took a vow to submit her son in the service of hermits here, provided her wish was fulfilled. After the fulfilment of her wish, she symbolically made her son a "Sanyasi", whom she brought back later under a ritual performed by her brother in exchange of a sum of money, rice and clarified butter or, Ghee as is mentioned in a ritual. "My child was seriously ill when he was born. I made a wish that if my child got well, I would make him a "Sanyasi" after five years. When he got well, I came here and symbolically made him a "Sanyasi" (a hermit). Then my brother bought him and now we can take our child back," said Basanti Nayak, another devotee. The annual fair is part of the religious philosophy "Alekh Dharma" evolved by the holy saint. Many of the ardent devotees have adapted the Mahima Gosain's philosophy in life. This mausoleum is a sort of pilgrimage centre for his followers. In Joranda, this mission is known as "Mahima Gaddi" and the mausoleum as the "Sunya Mandir" or, temple. Every year, thousands of devotees and others converge on the occasion when the entire village turns into a sea of colourful humanity for nearly a week. During the fair, the significant part is an "Ahuti" (religious offering) when hundreds of litres of ghee or, clarified butter is poured onto the Akhand Diya or, eternal lamp. It is believed that by lighting the "Akhand Diya", the environment here turns the envirionment pure and free from all evils. "Here we don't worship any idol God or Goddess. We only believe in Param Brahma.

     The main part of the fair is "Ahuti" and "Ahand Diya". While the clarified milk is poured into the lamp, smoke comes out from it. The smoke purifies the polluted environment and creates calmness in the minds of the people," said Srimad Daibi Kailchree Baba, a monk at the mausoleum. People from far off places camp here during the "Mahima Mela" for at least three days and participate in the annual event, which was held recently. The surging multitudes of "Mahima Sanyasis" (hermits) worship at the Mahima Gosain's mausoleum on this occasion and rememer the saint who is believed to have existed in the early 19th centrury. Not much is known about the founder of this sect except that he appeared as a young man at Puri in 1826 and is believed to have performed penance in the Himalayas. Mahima Gosain's charisma influenced a lot of people and his disciples started regarding him as an incarnation of Param-Bhram (the supreme originator). Ever since then, his sect that preaches peace grew in numbers and today converge at Joranda each year during "Mahima Mela". "The main objective behind this fair is to spread a message of peace all over the world and to destroy all evils," said Danachandra Baba, a hermit. A bell at this mausoleum is attracts one's attraction for its sonorous resonance. "The sound of the bell creates a holy environment, while its soothing sound creates calm and quite all around in devotees' hearts," said Baba Sri Dhrubanand Das, a saint. Although there are two groups (Bakkal Dhari and Koupini Dhari) among the followers of the Mahima Gadi, they cut across their differences and stay together during the fair at Joranda.
-Feb 9, 2007    

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