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7. Atavadi: "Too great"
In the early 1870's, when he was a deputy
magistrate stationed in Jagannath Puri, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur arrested,
judged and jailed a pseudo-incarnation of Maha Vishnu named Bisa Kisen. This
man had mystic powers: he used to sit near a fire and lean into the flames,
then lift his head and make flames come out of his hair. He had two companions
who went by the names Brahma and Shiva. Many wealthy and influential Hindus of
Orissa were under Bisa Kisen's sway. They sent him funds for constructing a
temple and also provided him with women for "rasa-lila." He boasted
he would drive the British out of Orissa and rule it as a divine king. Bisa
Kisen belonged to the ativadi-apasampradaya.
In a letter dated August 18, 1871 that was
addressed to the editor of a Cuttack newspaper called Progress, Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakur described the origin, philosophy and practices of the ativadi
sect. What follows is a synopsis of the most pertinent points of that letter,
along with additional details gleaned from Apasampradaya-svarupa by
H.H. Bhakti-vilasa Bharati Maharaja.
a) The ativadis
claim to be vaishnavas, but in fact they are quite opposed to the
principles of Vaishnavism.
b) This apasampradaya
was started by one Jagannatha dasa at the time Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was
staying at Puri as a sannyasi. He claimed to be a disciple of Srila
Haridas Thakur, but later on he broke his connection with Thakur and began
preaching his own ideas. For instance, he had his followers cover their mouths
while chanting the maha-mantra, and told them to chant the second half
(Hare Rama) first, before Hare Krishna.
c) The word ativadi
means "too great." Once Jagannatha dasa arrogantly approached Lord
Caitanya, ignoring the Lord's associates like Svarupa Damodara, who would
screen visitors so that they would not disturb the Lord with some strange
presentation of wrong ideas. This Jagannatha dasa wanted to recite his own
translation of Srimad-Bhagavatam, which contained five chapters of his
own invention. He also wanted to explain his independent manner of chanting
Hare Krishna. To avoid him, Lord Caitanya said, "A fallen soul like Me is
not worthy enough to hear the Bhagavatam composed by an author like
you." Then Jagannatha das declared Lord Caitanya to be Krishna, and
himself Radharani. The Lord replied, "Sir, you have become too great (ativadi).
An insignificant and fallen soul like Me can have nothing to do with you."
d) Very foolishly,
Jagannatha dasa and his followers took the Lord's statement as praise instead
of what it really was -- a condemnation. Thus this apasampradaya
considers itself more well-read in the scriptures than Mahaprabhu and His
associtates, and likewise better in judgement and logic. Jagannatha das was
also "too great" when he seemingly or supposedly exhibited an
eight-armed form to prove himself even greater in mystic opulence than Lord
Caitanya.
e) Jagannatha das had a
sweet singing voice, which attracted women to him. He engaged these ladies in
massaging his body. When brought to the court of Prataparudra Maharaja for
indecent behaviour on this account, he said to the King, "I don't see any
difference between men and women." He was imprisoned for conduct
unbecoming a vaishnava sadhu.
f) Jagannatha dasa had
been living in an ashrama donated to him and his followers by the King,
but when he rejected Haridas Thakur and started his own nonsense, the King took
the property back. Then Jagannatha founded his own ashrama on the sea
shore; it is called the Satlahari Mandira, and can still be seen today.
g) Ativadi priests
sometimes dress up as women on certain religious occasions; they are known for
loosely mixing with women.
h) The ativadis are very
influential in Orissa because Jagannatha das's Oriyan translations of Srimad-Bhagavatam
and Bhagavad-gita are widely liked, especially by simple people who are
not so discriminating about what is authorized and what is not. The ativadis
have often exploited their influence for political ends, and can be quite
fanatical. In this sense, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur said they resemble certain
Islamic sects like the wahabis.
i) They appear to be very
devoted to Lord Jagannatha. It is a source of pride among this group to claim
that Lord Jagannatha has personally revealed some truth or prophecy to them.
Thus every respected ativadi can recite what they call their malika,
or series of revelations from the Lord. A common prediction one will hear from
them is the year the world will end.
j) Yet at the same time,
despite their fervor for Jagannatha, the scriptures they have received from
their founder contain many impersonal ideas. Though they worship the Lord's
form in life, they believe after death they will realize that He has no form,
and that they will merge into Him. This shows the influence of Sankaracarya's
Advaita philosophy.
k) Ativadis are
mystics. They practice yoga and sometimes work magic, to cure diseases, for
instance. They form a secret brotherhood, like the Freemasons in the West, and
are also involved with drugs like marihuana and opium. Bhaktivinoda Thakur
reckoned there were 15,000 of them in Orissa during his stay there. At that
time, they were often engaged in conspiracies against the government.
l) Bisa Kisen was only
one of many self-proclaimed avatars hailing from this apasampradaya.
Lord Caitanya instructed, avatar nahi kahe -- ami avatar: "The real
incarnation of the Lord never claims Himself to be so."