🔆Jagannath Cult, Bengal-Odisha Relations & Temple Controversy 📍 Historical and Cultural Syncretism ✅ Deep historical and religious interactions between Bengal and Odisha ✅ Jagannath worship is a unique blend of Hinduism, Buddhism, Nath and Siddha sects, and tribal traditions like the Savara (Sabar) cult 📍 Jagannath Temple Controversy ✅ West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee built a Jagannath temple in Digha ✅ Sparked opposition in Odisha where Jagannath is traditionally worshipped at Puri temple, one of the Char Dhams ✅ Critics call it cultural appropriation or replication of a sacred tradition 📍 Religious Significance of Jagannath Cult ✅ Distinct iconography: large-faced idols of Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balarama, no Radha or Rukmini ✅ Draws from tribal, Buddhist, Vaishnava traditions, stressing inclusivity and egalitarianism 📍 Rituals and Inclusivity ✅ Mahaprasad eaten on leaf plates, seated on ground — fostering equality ✅ Devotees from all castes partake together, symbolizing unity and spiritual equality 📍 Buddhist Influences ✅ Legends suggest incorporation of Buddhist elements in the cult ✅ Jagannath idol linked to earlier Buddhist relics and iconography 📍 Mythological Origins ✅ As per Sarala Das’s 15th-century Mahabharata, idols made from divine wood linked to Krishna’s remains from Dwarka ✅ Lord Vishnu appeared in dream; celestial carpenters shaped the idol 📍 Devotional Expressions Beyond Odisha ✅ Jagannath tradition inspires devotional practices beyond Odisha, including Bengal ✅ Poets like Salabega, a Muslim devotee, symbolize spiritual inclusiveness 📍 Contemporary Perspective ✅ Controversy reflects modern identity politics rather than spiritual concerns ✅ Bengal’s temple seen as continuation of Jagannath’s inclusive