The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.227

v2.c17.s1.227

The three large niches on the body of the temple contain, on the south side a colossal figure of Varāha with four hands, loaded with ornaments and dressed in figured brocade cloth like that of the Kārtika of the Bhuvanéśvara temple (*ante*, p. [74]) ; on the west that of Nṛsiṁha, or the man-lion incarnation of Viṣṇu, similarly draped; on the north that of Vāmana, the dwarf incarnation. The figures are made of chlorite and fairly well executed. They occupy the same positions which Bhagavatī, Kārtika and Gaṇeśa do in the Bhuvanéśvara Tower, and have, like them, open pavilions in front to protect them from rain and at the same time to enable the faithful to go up and have a near view of them (Plate LI, Nos. 64, 66 and 67). Close by the western pavilion, there is a small recess in the plinth in which is shown a human figure in bas-relief with its hands and feet manacled (No. 65). This is called Ekādaśī, or the personification of the 11th of the moon. According to the Hindu canonical law the 11th is a day of rigorous fast and none should eat anything on that day. High caste Hindu widows observe it most strictly and religious men take but a slight repast on that day. The observance of the fast, however, in a place where the eating of the rice offered to the god is the most important of religious observances to the bulk of the people, would be an inconvenient one, interfering with the sale of the rice twice a month, and consequently with the profits of the priesthood. It is accordingly said that on one occasion the genius of the day disputed with Jagannātha the propriety of his allowing people to eat rice on fast days and particularly on the day of which the genius was the regent. Jagannātha explained to him that canonical law could not have any controlling power over a place which was above all laws, but those of faith in him. The genius, however, was not satisfied and wished to exercise his power; he was accordingly ordered to be manacled and there he lies in his bond in effigy at the foot of the temple. It is possible that there is in this a reminiscence of Buddhism which repelled the modern innovation, for the fast is an institution of comparatively modern date; but of this there is no definite proof. It is worthy of note, however, that the fast is a strictly Vaiṣṇavite institution, uncared for by the Śāktas, and its rejection in the most renowned of Vaiṣṇavite temples in all India is significant.