The responsibility /elaborate system of temple servitors, with clearly appointed tasks. Otherwise an institution like the Temple of Jagannath would not run even for a single day. The Nitis or rites of Lord Jagannath temple are performed so orderly and timely that the requirement of the servitors is highly essential. If one Niti can not be performed timely than the entire schedule of the rituals will be disturbed.
For the conduct of the rituals of Lord Jagannath several categories of servitors were employed and a class of servitor (sevaka) is known as Nijoga. According to the Madalapanji or the Temple Chronicles, Ananga Bhima Dev (13th century) had established 36 Nijogas but with the march of time and according to the necessity, the number has increased considerably to 250. The entire network of employees engaged in the temple, indeed is a unique feature in the world.
Ganapati Raja of Puri : The Raja of Puri is the Adya-Sebaka or the fore most Sebaka of Lord Jagannath. He was the hereditary Superintendent of the Jagannath Temple since 1803. At presen the is the Chairman of the Temple Managing Committee under the provisions of Sri Jagannath Temple Act of 1954. The important function of the Raja is now to sweep the floors of the three chariots during the car festival with a golden broom (Chherapanhara). He also performs certain other duties during Chandana Yatra, Snana Yatra, Dola Yatra etc.
Mudiratha or Mudirasta is considered as the representative of the Raja on some occasions. He officiates for the Raja in the Chherapanhara and other functions when the Rajais prevented from performing them due to some reason or other.
Chhatisa Nijoga Nayaka, Pattajosi Mahapatra and Bhandara Nayaka: He is the Chief of the Nijogas and execute all orders of the temple authorities. He is to see that all the Sebakas do their duty properly. The person supervises the performance of the daily rituals and festivals coordinating with Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA). He also performs the "Sari Bandha" ceremony.
Bhitarcho Mahapatra : Bhittarcho Mahapatrais the first man to go for Dwarafita ceremony (responsible for the opening of temple doors) every morning and performs the morning rituals ‘Mangala Alati’ (morning aarti) and to examine the seals placed on the lock, the previous night. He checks the purity of the Bhoga offered.
Tadaukarana; Tadaukarana informs the Sebakas about the daily nitis of the deities. He maintains the traditional temple chronicle calledthe "Madala Panji"
Talicha Mohapatra seals the door at night after 'Pahuda' (end of last rituals at night before the doors are closed and deities go to sleep).
Deula Purohita performs major rituals on festive occasions, such as Akshya Tritya and Rath Yatra.
Other Karanas : Various kind of other Karanas looks after the daily accounts of the temple and distribute kheis.
Charchiat : The main function of the Charchiatis to make Charcha or to see that the nitis are performed regularly.
Brahmins or Purohit : The Purohit including the Deul Purohit makes the rites like Ratha Anukula. Abhisek etc. The Pujakas, who performs Vimanapuja in sixteen rituals (Solapuja) and shrotriya Brahmins, who are deputed for Nabakalebar to work as Acharyas and to perform regularly.
Puja Panda : Puja Pandas who perform Puja offer Naibedya to the deities. The Bada Panda, who is also included in the Puja Panda category is appointed to see that other Puja Pandas perform their duties regularly.
Daitas : Daitas form the core of the temple servitors. They are regarded as the descendants of the autochthonous priests who used to worship Jagananth in His Sabari-Narayana form. They exclusively dominate the rituals of Shri Jagannath on special occasions like Snana Yara, Nabakalebara, Anasara, Ratha Yatra etc.
Patis : Patis are the Brahmin Sebakas in the temple. They work with the Daitas but being Brahmins have got other special functions.
Duttas : Duttas paints the faces of the images, which is called Srimukha Singhara.
Khuntia : The main duty of the Khuntias is to give, "Manima Daka" and watch the deities. There are various types of Khuntias in the Sri Mandira like, Palliakhuntia, Behera Khuntia, Bileijaga Khuntia, Rukuna Harana Khuntia etc.
Changada Mekap : He is in-charge of the wardrobe of the deities. Palia mekap, who perform some specific duties and Akhanda Mekap, who light the Ratna Dipa of the deities from Dwarafita to Pahuda are other Mekaps.
Padhiaris : Padhiaris keeps watch near the Deities and calls servitors for different offerings of different stages of worship.
Gochhikars : They belongs to Padhiari class and watch Jaya Bijaya Dwara.
Binakara : He plays on the Bina when the Deities go to bed.
Bhitaragayeni : Bhitaragayeni sings at the time of Pahuda and other festivals.
Sampradanijoga : They are the dancing girls or the Maharis, who once used to dance inside the sanctum before the deities retired for the night.
Madeli : Madeli plays on Madala at the time of Patuara.
Sankhua : He blows Sankha or conch-shell with the Baijayantris (Musicians).
Kahalia : He plays on Bijekahali or trumpet.
Ghantua : Ghantua play on bell-metal gongs during daily rituals and on festivals.
Amania Chhatra : He holds the umbrella and tras over the deities during the festivals.
Gitagovinda Sebaka : This Sebaka use to sing the Gitagovinda of poet Jayadeva after the Badasinghara Dhupa and at Chandana lagi.
Chakra Dihuri : He is in-charge of arrangement of lamps inside the sanctum and holds the masal (lighted torch)
Singhari and Pasupalaka : They dress the deties at different times daily and perform Abakashapuja.
Suara Badu : The function of the Suara Badu is to watch the pokharia (floor of the inner sanctuary) several times, supply khata, chauki etc.
Patri Badu : They supplies Puja Upakarana throughout the day.
Gara Badu : They supplies water required during Pujas and nitis.
Sudhasuara : These servitors arrange, Ballabha Bhoga and other offerings.
Muduli : He is in charge of Puja utensils and other daily Puja upakaranas and supplies them to Mekapas.
Hadapa Nayaka, Bidia Jogania and Tambul Sevaka : They prepare and offer betels to the deities.
Ghatuaris : They prepare and serve Anjana, Chandan and Mahadipa for daily and Parbajatra Nitis.
Tulasia : He supplies Tulasi leaves daily for the Deities.
Dayanamali : He supplies scented flowers called Dayana which is the most favourite of Lord Jagannath.
Mahabhoi : He is an important servitor of the temple who supplies milk and curds to the temple kitchen and for rituals.
Paniapata : He supplies all the water throughout the day required in the temple for conducting the rituals.
Balita Sevakas : They supplies Arati Balita to the temple.
Kumbhar Bishois : They supply Handi, Kudua and other pottery required daily.
Daudia : Daudia supplies rope to draw water from Sri Bimala well.
Malachula Sevaka : He is a Mali or gardener by caste. He supplies Chula or floral decorations for the deities to wear.
Mali Suasia : He supplies wooden seats (Katha Pidha) for the Deities. He is obviously a carpenter by caste.
Joganias :Joganias supply offerings at different places during different rituals in the Temple.
Biman Badus : They carry all Bimans of the proxy images.
Chapa Behera and Dalais : They are generally boatman by caste and prepare boats during the Chandan yatra.
Ratha Bhois : They work and supply labourers for the construction of the chariots.
Kalabethias : They drag the chariots during the Car festivals.
Karatias : The Karatias or sawyers work for Car construction.
Tamra Bishoi : They work as copper smith in Car festivals.
Chitrakaras and Rupakaras : They paint and
colour the chariots and prepare pratimas for decoration of Cars.
Ojha Maharana : He is the blacksmith of the Temple.
Ratha Dahuka : He sings bawdy songs on the chariots during the Car festivals.
Banua :They supply the fire-works during festive occasion.
Chaka Apasar Sevaka : He take charge of Chaka Apasar from the tailor at the time of
Anasara.
Mandani : Mandani Servitors ties Chandua (Canopy) during festivals.
Kotha Suansia : These Sevakas work as labourers to prepare thatched huts, chhamundias etc. at festivals inside the Temple enclosure.
Suna Goswami : The work of Suna Goswami is to draw water from Suna Kuan on Snana Purnima (Bathing Festival) day.
Daraji : The Daraji stitches the garments of the deities.
Patara : He prepares silken ropes for the deities required on different occasions.
Badhei : Badhei or carpenters construct the chariots and bedsteads.
Panikunda Sevaka, Lugadhua and Mahasethi : Mahasethi cleans the clothes of the Deities every morning.
Bania : Bania is the goldsmith. He prepares ornaments and repairs them for the use of the Deities.
Mukha Pakhala : He supplies Muturi twigs for brushing the teeth of the Deities.
Khatuli Sevaka : The Sevakas, who places the wooden seats for the deities during the Abakasha Puja are called Khatuli Sevaka.
Darpania : He supplies Darpana (mirror) and cleans the utensils of the Deities.
Baidya : Baidya or the physician gives medicines to the Deities during Anasara.
Jyotisa or Khuri Nayaka : Jyotisa or the astrologer reads tithis before the Lord during the Abakas Puja.
Chunaras : He worships the image of Garuda.
Lenka : Lenka summons different servitors on different occasions for performing their allotted services.
Pradhani : He summons the priest and distributes Khei to different class of servitors at the Mukti Mandap.
Paikas : Paikas with their heads Dalei and Dala Beheras use to stay throughout the day and night at the Sri Mandira and work according to order of the temple authorities.
Mandir Sipahi : He guards the Temple inside the inner enclosure.
Suar : He cooks the offerings in the Temple kitchen for the Deities. For different dishes, there are various categories of Suaras like-Badasuara. Pithasuara, Chunasuara, Thalisuara, Amalusuara etc.
Rosha Amina & Rosha Paika : They watch and supervise the Temple Kitchen.
Handi Jogania : They supply pots for Bhogas.
Bahar Deuli Suaras : They are in-charge of Goddess Lakshmi's kitchen and cook in Lakshmi's Rosa. It is here mentioned that Goddess Lakshmi does not partake food from Jagannath's kitchen and runs her own kitchen exclusively for himself.
Rosa Kotha Bhoga Pania : They supplies water to kitchen.
Paniki Pata : This type of servitors dresses vegetables in the Kitchen. The vegetables like patato and tomato are not used in the kitchen being of foreign origin.
Rosa Mekap : He prepares gingers and other astringents and distributes ghee in the kitchen according to the requirement.
Chaula-Bachha : These servitors clean the rice to be cooked.
Chuna-Munda Samartha, Birimunda Samartha and Biribuha Samartha : All these servitors supply rice powder, flour and blackgram powder required in the kitchen.
Tanti Badu (Panti Badu) : They carry the offerings to the sanctum and usually cover their mouths with pieces of clothes while carrying the offerings.
Biduas : They make ready the offerings / cakes for beings carried to the sanctum by the tanti badus.
Dho Paikhalia, Gobara Pania, Angarua and Rabadia : These servitors wash and clean the kitchen and Chulis.
Sabuta Nijoga : Sabuta Nijoga offers special offerings at Swargadwara (Gateway to Heaven) on the evening of every new moon day (Amabasya).
Benta Bindha Paika : They are considered as hunters, who on behalf of the deities go to the Jagannath Ballabha Garden in a hunting expedition on a particular day for hunting.
Mudra : The servitor who puts Mudra at the time of putting seals is known as Mudra
It is said that Ganga King Ananga Bhima Deva provided this elaborate system of Chhatisa Nijoga in lieu of rent free lands. From the list it is gleaned that most of the servitors are non-Brahmins. The lists also indicate, how the servitors belonging to different castes of Hindu society assimilated themselves with the Brahmin caste, who are traditionally considered as the servitors in the Hindu Pantheon. As such it is significant that it pronounce a casteless social structure. Some times the Daitas even have the absolute right for the worship of the Deities than the Brahmins. The entire Hindu community inspite of its caste rigidity and social taboos have been assimilated into the Chhatisa Nijoga. This is in fact a unique feature of the Jagannath cult and His worship.
Source; shreejagannatha.in/sevaks
Authored by Anadi Sahoo
