Navagunjara as a role of unity and diversity
Navagunjara's story is a fascinating tale rooted in Hindu mythology. The amalgamation of these creatures in Navagunjara represents the diverse attributes found in the natural world. A mythical creature symbolises the unity of diverse life forms and the divine’s manifold manifestations. Appearing before Arjuna during the pilgrimage, it challenges his understanding of reality, presenting a composite form with parts from nine different animals. It symbolizes the principle of interconnectedness for the divine’s presence in all life forms, aligning with Arjun's agreement and expectation of destruction and renewal in nature.
Symbolism and significance of Nava Gunjara
The rooster head
The rooster crowing at dawn is seen as a call to awaken and start the new, embodying the dispelling of darkness and ignorance with the light of knowledge. This behaviour exemplifies the complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors in regulating animal behaviour.
The peacock neck
The peacock is revered in Hinduism and other cultures for its beauty and grace. It’s associated with the deity Kartikeya. It reflects the universe’s splendour and the concept of divine creation. This phenomenon highlights the role of sexual selection in the evolution of species.
The parrot's beak
Parrots symbolise communication and are seen as divine messengers in various spiritual traditions. Patriots exhibit advanced cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and language skills. They are the key indicators of biodiversity and help to maintain healthy ecosystems.
The bull
The bull is sacred and is associated with Nandi, the vehicle of lord shiva. They are key indicators of strength, fertility, and endurance. It’s also a representation of dharma and the steadfast alternative of the spiritual divine.
Waist of a lion
Bravery and guidance represent the strength, courage, and capacity to exercise confident and authoritative leadership.
Tail of serpent
Insight and change symbolise transformation, hidden knowledge, and life’s cyclical nature.
Limbs of a tiger: Power, courage, and defence
Elephant Stability and Wisdom
Deer Grace and gentleness
Human Balance and intellect
The Navagunjara symbolises the unity of various attributes and virtues. Its combination of animals represents different qualities such as wisdom, strength, beauty, and knowledge. The creature's presence denotes the transcendent nature of divinity and the harmonious coexistence of contrasting elements. Furthermore, the Navagunjara embodied the concept of jiva atma, the Individual soul or self, and its eternal connection with the universal soul. Known as Paramathma. It serves as a reminder of the inherent divinity within every living being and the potential for spiritual growth and enlightenment.
The legacy of Navagunjara and its cultural impact
The Navagunjara story holds immense cultural significance, influencing various art forms and religious practices in Hinduism. Navagunjara’s extraordinary imagery has captured the imagination of artists and authors, inspiring countless works in different art forms and literary genres. Paintings, sculptures, and illustrations depict the majestic Navagunjara showcasing its unique combination of nine animals. Its portrayal in epic poems, plays, and novels further amplifies its essence, bringing mythological narratives alive.
After Arjuna was drifting in the jungles on the mountains of Mani Bhadra through the Mahabharata’s fratricidal war, he stumbled upon a peculiar animal that seemed to be an aggregate of distinct limbs of nine varied animals. This has been Navagunjara 3ft in elevation with the mind of a rooster, neck of a peacock, midsection of a loom, then the hump of a bull, including Siva Linga, serpent along with the tail, then three legs by an elephant, tiger, and an antelope, gavung a hand holding a lotus in bloom. Dazed by the old creature, such as look, Arjuna. Unconsciously picked up his massive Gandhi a to take an arrow in self-defence and abruptly retracted when he happened to glance at the blossoming lotus in his hand. As he considered in amazement, celebrating the creature, Vasudeva Sri Krishna looked before he introduced the animal, navagunjara, as among his manifestations, like the visavapuram, clarified by him in 11 of the Sri Madbhagavat Gita.
Naavahunjara symbolised as a multifaceted strategy to comprehend the greatest truth, infinite dimensional, without a person capable of recognising or disproving all of the truth’s dimensions. He or she might have the ability to perceive only a couple that could he much less than a drop in the sea. Directed from the principle, ekam sat, vipra bahuda vadanti, this diversity isn’t permitted to become wayward but geared towards supreme Unitarianism because of the last port of the call. Multiplicity might manifest in many different celestial deities, sects, faiths, and communities, temples and festivals, rituals, or rites. It can even be in various sorts of Darshana, which range from blatantly atheistic to greatly theistic. From Dvaita to Advaitha.
Lesson of acceptance
The story of Navagunjara teaches a valuable lesson on acceptance. It demonstrates that even the most strange and different elements may work together to produce something spectacular. This legendary creature represents the concept that variety should be accepted and appreciated. Just as Navagunjara’s different parts contribute to its overall magnificence. Our individual differences make the world a more vibrant place.
Acceptance involves acknowledging and appreciating the uniqueness of everyone and everything. By accepting variety, we can create a more inclusive and harmonious community.
The animal is a common motif in the pattachitra style of painting, of the Indian state of Odisha. The motif finds a place in pattachitra silk handloom sarees as well. The Nila chakra disc atop the Jagannath temple has eight navagunjaras carved on the outer circumference, with all facing towards the flag post above.
Navagunjara is also depicted in Gangufa playing cards as the king card and Arjuna as the minister card, in parts of Odisha, mainly in Puri district and Aru Rangi Sara in Ganjam district, Odisha. This set is known as Navagunjara.
References
- mythlok.com
- inspirituality.in