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pigeon, doves, swan or duck and hen are sacrificed for Ambika.
At Digapur, which is twenty kilometers down stream of river Kolava from Jaypur, a three-tier idol depicts Neminatha Ambika and Banjaruni. In the middle is Ambika, down below is Banjaruni riding on a lion, with a bough in hand. Banjaruni is the forest goddess of the tribals. On the top is Neminatha. Duck, Sheep & hens are offered to the Banjaruni every Tuesday and Friday by either a Paraja or a Bhumiyana. However, it is very interesting to find that Ambika is a vegeterian goddess, where as Banjaruni is a non-vegetarian goddess. Sacrificial blood kept in a leaf-mug is offered by priest to Banjaruni and not to Ambika. Mug containing blood is not poured on the idol. This is a typical cultural cross current of tribal worship and Jaina belief.
Infant mortallity is a base of the tribal society. The tribals attach much importance of the birth of a baby and elaborate rituals, including the incantations of a witch doctor (Gunia) undertaken. At Kecla, the tribals bring the new born to the Ambika idol for warding off the influence of evil spirits. As a part of Jaina ritual and tribal rites a Gurumayi (Priestess) performs the rites and black goat is sacrificed. Influence of Jainism had brought the Gurumayi ritual to the tribals. She also propitiates Ambika or any spirit at the time of sickness of a child.
In life crisis rites, the Koraputa tribal goes to the Jaina idols at the time of birth and sickness and not at the time of marriage or death.
In cyclic group rites, the most important are the Balijatra (Fertility rites). the Pusa Parva, Magha Parva or Mandei and the Caita Parva. Food gathering and shifting cultivation being most important aspects of the routine life of the tribals, they undertake elaborate rituals. In fertility rites, be that sowing of the seed or clearing a dense forest for shifting cultivation, the tribal goddess is invoked by sacrifices. At the same time, the Jaina Mahapuruşa is invoked, be that Rsabhanatha, Parasvanatha or Mahavira, Ambika or Cakresvart, Mahapuru or Mahapurusa is an influence of Jaina beliefs on the tribals.
In five places of Koraputa, such rituals are held followed by Landi or Dhemsa (Dance forms).
The most important place where such a festival is held is at Kumar Ganjana, about 40 kms. north of Koraputa. The place is called Devata Hanjar (Abode of Gods). The place is by the side of a tributary of Kolava. In a single block of stone, three figures of Mahavira, Parasvanatha and Ambika have been sculpted. In the middle stands Ambika, and on both sides are Mahavira & Parasvanatha in Padmasana. At the time of Badabheta (Mass hunting) of Caitra, the Gadaba priest paints the figures in blue stripes. He draws an intricate diagram in front of the idols and invokes their help in getting identity
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Arhat Vacana, January 99
| SR No. | 526541 |
| Book Title | Arhat Vachan 1999 01 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Anupam Jain |
| Publisher | Kundkund Gyanpith Indore |
| Publication Year | 1999 |
| Total Pages | 112 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Classification | Magazine, India_Arhat Vachan, & India |
| File Size | 8 MB |