Is Rsabha the Jagannatha of Puri?

Summary

P.C. Roy Chaudhuri’s article explores whether the Jagannath cult of Puri has its roots in the worship of Ṛṣabha (Rishabha), the first Jain Tīrthaṅkara. Drawing on archaeological and literary evidence, Chaudhuri notes that Jainism flourished in Orissa long before Buddhism or Vaishnavism and that ancient Jain images, including those of Ṛṣabha, have been found throughout the region. He points out that works like the ‘Mahābhārata’ of Sarala Dās and the ‘Rasakallola’ of Dinakru Panḍit incorporate Jain stories, suggesting cultural interaction. The author compares rituals associated with Lord Jagannath—such as the Rathayātrā (chariot festival) and the snāna yātrā (bathing ceremony)—with similar ceremonies honouring Jain deities. He observes that the Jagannath chariot, which is pulled through Puri each year, resembles the chariots used in Jain festivals and that the deities on the chariot may symbolise Ṛṣabha and his attendants. He also notes that the names ‘Jagannath’ and ‘Dharma’ are attested in Jain texts and may have been adopted later by Vaishnavites. The article suggests that the name Jagannath itself could derive from Jain linguistic roots and that the early cult was linked to Jain cosmology. Chaudhuri concludes that while the Jagannath cult was eventually assimilated into Hinduism and is now primarily associated with Vishnu, its foundations may lie in early Jain worship of Ṛṣabha. He calls for further research on iconography, temple inscriptions and regional folklore to clarify the relationship between Jainism and the Jagannath tradition.