Sacred Jackfruit Tree, Kaina

The Sacred Jackfruit Tree, Kaina is a historical site where a jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus) growing in the small hill of Kaina was used by Rajarshi Bhagya Chandra (who was earlier known by the name Shree Jai Singh Maharaja), the King of Manipur in the 18th century, following a dream with a visionary message given to him by Lord Krishna to carve His images. Accordingly, seven images of Lord Krishna were carved from the jackfruit tree and deified in various temples in Manipur and in neighboring Assam. One such temple is the Shree Govindajee Temple in Imphal.[1][2]

Location

The Sacred Jackfruit Tree in Kaina Mountain, which was a royal orchard of the palace, is 29 kilometres (18 mi) from Imphal. The Kaina mountain rises to height of about 921 m.[2][3]

Historical legend

According to mythological lore related to the Bhagya Chandra, the King of Manipur, who ruled in 1759, Lord Krishna appeared to him in a dream and in a vision directed the king to carve His images from a particular jackfruit tree in Kaina. In 1765, Chandra was defeated by King Alungpaya of Burma (now Myanmar) and as a result he escaped to Cachar in Assam and took asylum with King Swagadeva Rajeshwer Singh of Tekhau. However, Chandra's uncle who had plotted with the Burmese king to oust him from Manipur complained to Rajeshwer Singh, the King of Assam that Chandra was an "impostor". Then the Assamese king who became suspicious ordered that Chandra should fight a rogue elephant to prove his bravery and innocence. As king Chandra was a highly religious person, dedicated to the worship of Lord Krishna, he appealed to Krishna to help him. Acceding to Chandra's prayers Krishna appeared to him, the night before the fight with the elephant, in a vision, and told the king to face the elephant in front of the jackfruti tree in which he will be present, holding a rosary of Tulsi, and also that after the fight he should carve His images from that particular jackfruit tree and deify and worship them in temples built for the purpose. Next day when the encounter took place in front of the jackfruit tree in Kaina, the wild elephant instead of attacking Bhagya Chandra, bowed before him with reverence. After this the king of Assam decided to help Bhagya Chandra to retrieve his kingdom. [1] With the help of the king of Assam, Chandra led an army to Manipur and won back his kingdom.[4] Once back in his Kingdom Chandra forgot about his promise to Lord Krishna about carving His images from the jackfruit tree and build temples deifying them for worship. One day Krishna appeared in the garb of a boy before a woman at Kaina, asked her to give him food and also narrated to her about the commitment made to Him by King Chandral the boy did not reappear again. When this incident was conveyed to the King, Chandra realized his lapse and immediately came to Kaina to find the jackfruit tree to make the images of Lord Krishna. However, with the first hit by an axe the tree started bleeding forcing them to stop cutting, and then they appeased the tree by offering worship. Following this the tree was uprooted without trouble and was transported for making images from it.[1]

Carvings

Shree Govindajee Temple in Imphal.

For carving the images, the uprooted jackfruit tree from Kaina was transported by floating it along a river to Langthaband where images were carved, after the tree and its roots were dried.[1] The wood carving was done by Sapam Laxman under the guidance of Wanghei Pandit Angom Gopiram, the Pacha Hanchapa. Laxman took three years to carve the images. [3] In all, seven images were carved from this tree. The first image of Krishna carved and was installed at the Shri Govindajee Temple in the palace at Imphal. The second image was deified at Bihaynath Govinda temple at Sagalband; the third image was installed at the Shree Gopinath Temple at Ningthoukmbam; the fourth at Nityananda Temple at Khwai lamabam leikai in Imphal; the fifth image was deified at Shree Madanmohan at Oinam Thingel, Imphal. The sixth image was defied at Anuprabhu at Nabadwip at Nadia of West Bengal and the seventh image installed at.[1]

The first image made by Laxman, which was installed at the Shree Govindajee Temple in Imphal is 3 ft 10 inches. Carving of the image was started on Friday the 12th of Hiyaang-gei (November as per Manipuri calendar) 1776 and the completly carved image was inaugurated three years later on Friday the 11th of Hiyaang-gei 1779.[3]

Ras Lila dance in Manipur.

When the first temple was built at Imphal, Lord Krishna again appeared to the king and in a vision revelaed his mystic Ras dance. Then the king, who himself was poet and connoisseur of arts, directed Guru Swarupanand to seek the collaboration of all the famous exponents of dance in Manipur and adapt the Jagai-Nin-Thaag Purang- to the Ras Lila of Lord Krishna.[4]

The location from where the jackfruit tree was brought to make the images has been declared as historical archaeological site by the Archaeological department of Manipur.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Advani 2014, p. 168.
  2. 1 2 "Manipur Places worth visiting". Kaina - The scared place of Hindus. Manipur National Informatics Centre. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Sana 2010, p. 192.
  4. 1 2 Devi 1990, p. 175.

Bibliography

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