॥ শ্রী শ্রী দুর্গা সহায় ॥

॥ জয় জগন্নাথ ॥

Not very long ago, there lived a ghost named Babana in the famous Oddiyana kshetra. In those days, the entire Oddiyana kshetra was thronged by many yogis, siddhas, tantrikas and bhaktas alike. Seekers of different paths came to this place to invoke the blessings of the Lord of the Universe and to have His darshan at the shankha-nabhi of Oddiyana kshetra. These people were the primary victims of Babana. Unlike other lay-ghosts, Babana never attacked ordinary people. His main job was to disturb and derange sincere devotees and spiritual practitioners.  “What is the point in troubling ordinary people who have no power to counter my spooky charms !” – he thought. “The real fun is in conquering people who can put up a challenge !”  The other ghosts, who were usually frightened of the bhaktas and siddhas, held Babana in high regard and that made him extremely proud of his abilities.

Once, on the new-moon night of the month of Ashwina, a great mystic was sitting in deep meditation at place near the temple of the Lord of the Universe. It was quite late and the last of the several earthen lamps offered in the temple for Deepotsava has flickered out. The cold land breeze ruffled his greying hair and beard, but the mystic remained unmoved, almost oblivious of the external world. Babana saw him and thought of having a Diwali dhamaka ! At once, several fire-crackers started exploding just beside the mystic, the sparks almost singed his deer-skin aasana but he remained unperturbed. Taken aback, Babana assumed the form of a great python and coiled himself around the mystic, ready to strike at his head. But the mystic remained still and Babana ultimately had to let go, since he was not a real snake. He tried many other forms in vain. The yogi just ignored him like a speck of dust at his feet. At last when Babana assumed the form a seductress, that he saw some movement in the mystic. No, his eyes were still closed, but his hand moved towards his kamandala, opening and closing its lid just once. And lo! Babana found himself trapped inside the kamandala ! He thrashed and banged against its interior but the mystic remained seated ignoring all his tantrums.

At dawn the yogi left his seat. A twinkle of boyish mischief shone across his wise old face as he picked up his kamandala and went to the sea-shore for Sandhya-vandana. By the time he completed his daily ablutions, Babana was shouting like mad from the depths of the kamandala. The Yogi had mercy on the poor trapped ghost and finally addressed him in a sweet voice:

“ O Babana ! Tell me, why do you trouble the devotees and seekers ? Don’t you have any other work ? ”

From the kamandala Babana replied,

“ Revered Sir ! No, actually I don’t have any other work. I have attained preta yoni due to my past karma and in this body, I can only trouble others. There is no fun in troubling common folk who are already overburdened with samsarik worries. So, I target the yogis. Conquering them gives me satisfaction !”

“Ah! That is the case ! ” replied the mystic. “If I free you and give you a better job … will you do that ?”

“Yes ofcourse !” panted Babana. “Anything for freedom !”

“Ok then, come with me ! Since, in spite of being a ghost you have only engaged with devotees and seekers so far, I feel that you are eligible for a direct service to the Lord of the Universe !” Saying this he took him to a beautiful garden-house where the Lord spends a week during the annual Chariot festival. Apart from these seven days, the garden-house remained empty and neglected.

“Many incidents of theft from this temple has been reported so far. From now on, your duty would be to provide security to this place when the Lord is not visiting. Frighten the thieves and protect everything here. And when the Lord arrives in His Chariot, you should stop haunting the place and take shelter on the western wall of the complex. Chant the names of the Lord and you will be liberated from being a preta ! ” With these words, the mystic released Babana there and went back to his hermitage.

Days, months and years passed, Babana did as he was told. He was now a changed ghost ! Rather, he was a devotee now. His sincere devotion did not go unnoticed by the Lord of the Universe. Once, on the day before the Chariot festival, the Lord in His Golden Avatara, Who was mercy personified, took part in cleaning the garden house and preparing it for the Lord’s visit, along with His followers. While the cleaning progressed, Babana quietly left for the western wall, chanting all the while. After cleaning, the devotees took bath in a nearby pond and everyone was served prasadam from a temple. The ever-merciful Golden Avatara then told His associates :

“A great devotee has not yet been served yet. Go and offer a plate of prasadam at the western wall !”

Babana could not believe his ears ! None other than the Golden Avatara has called him a “devotee” ! He was no longer a ghost ! No longer a preta !

He was liberated !

Notes:

  1. I have re-constructed the story based on inputs I have got from live commentary on Rathayatra. Anyone aware of the actual legend is welcome to share it.
  2. Feature image courtesty: unsplash.com ; Photographer: Anurag Chand  (https://unsplash.com/@anurag_chand ).