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| The Hindu Phenomenon |
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A UNIQUE PHENOMENON |
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clinch the issue. The Lingaraja temple in Bhubaneshwar, built in the
eleventh century, has two classes of priests: Brahmins and a class
called Badus who are ranked as Sudras and are said to be of tribal
origin. Not only are Badus priests of this important temple; they
also remain in the most intimate contact with the deity whose
personal attendants they are. Only they are allowed to bathe the
Lingaraja and adorn him and at festival time when the god, "represented
by his calanti pratima [original symbols of the deity], leaves the
temple only Badus may carry this movable image. Without them, it is
said, the god cannot move one step..."11
The temple legends confirm and explain the tribal origin of the cult: "They indicate that the deity was originally under a mango tree.. and it was not seen a a linga in the first two ages, Satya and Treta. In the Dvapara and Kali ages it revealed itself as linga... The Badus are described by the legend as tribals (sabaras) who originally inhabited the place and worshipped the linga under the tree".12
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