By Dr. Atul Devburman
Tripura was one of the ancient kingdom of Bharat Varsha. Its name is mentioned in the Great epic of Mahabharata and in the list of Kingdoms conquered by Samudra Gupta enumerated in Asoka pillar. There is no doubt about the antiquity of Tripura and her people. The culture and festivals of Tripuri people are also as old as the states. Among numerous festivals, the Kharchi puja is one of the most important festivals of Tripuri people. It has now assumed a state festival of Tripura, celebrated by both the Tripuris and non-Tripuris with much gaiety and jubilation.
Origin of Kharchi puja: Kharchi puja is worshipping of the 14 gods at the Chaturdas mandir, which is situated in Old Agartala, capital of Tripura kingdom till mid eighteen century. The temple is just 12 KM from Agartala. The fourteen gods are the ancestral Kula Devta of Tripuri people and royal Dynasty. Since when the fourteen gods had been worshiped by Tripuris is obscured by mysteries. It can how ever be linked to the early history of Tripuri people. There are many mythological stories about the origin of these fourteen gods and goddesses. There are both the gods and goddess, all of whom are benevolent gods. These gods had been around the Tripuri people for their wellbeing, peace, prosperity, and victory over the enemies. By the grace of these gods the Tripuri people had been able to rule over the vast majority of Bengal, part of Asom and whole of the eastern tract for centuries.
According to the royal chronicle Tripura Kingdom, the Rajmala, these fourteen gods were being worshiped by the kings of Tripura time since immemorial. King Tripur ascended the throne of Tripura, after the death of his father king Daitya. After he ascended the throne of Tripura kingdom he defeated and subjugated all the kings of neighboring state and he became very much arrogant, tyranny and oppressive. He equalized himself with the god rather than the representative of God. He prohibited any sort of puja or worship to any god, and directed and compelled all the subjects to worship him and his deity only. He was cruel oppressor, egoistic king of Tripura. The people of Tripura could not tolerate any more by the torture of king Tripur and prayed to Lord Shiva to protect them from the tyranny of Tripur.
The Lord Shiva appeared before the king Tripur and warned him of dire consequences but Tripur was no ordinary king to be cowed by lord Shiva, so Lord Shiva appeared in person before the king with his attire in tiger skin, dhamru, Trisul and pierced the chest of Tripur with his Trisul. That is the reason why Lord Shiva’ one of the name Tripurari came into existence.
After the death of king Tripur, there was again total lawlessness; anarchy and chaos in Tripura but this time is was due to absence of king in Tripura, there were no rule of law and no civil administration. Then the people again approached the Lord Shiva, prayed to him for the reprieve from this anarchy. Lord Shiva appeared before them and gave a boon that the widow queen of Tripur, Hiravati, to re-establish the temple of fourteen gods and celebrate the Kharchi Puja, worship of fourteen gods on the eight lunar day of Shravana month for continuous seven days; then only the queen will be blessed with a son, who will be the best king of Tripura, his name would be Trilochan, as he will have third eye like Him. He is will also be called Sibrai or Subrai Raja as he would be born by His blessing. This way the worshipping of fourteen Gods, Kharchi puja was re-introduced which was once prohibited by Tripura.
According to another version of a mythology, after the death of her husband Tripur, became sad and was praying only to Shiva, for blessing. One day when she was going for a bath to river ghat, she heard a cry from the branches of banyan tree. She looked in them found that there were fourteen deities scared and asked for her help. Below the tree, there was a Buffalo chasing them, which was looking ferocious. The gods told her to through her Risa, the chest garment, on the buffalo so that it is pacified. Accordingly she did as per direction and the buffalo left the place. Then the queen was told by the gods to take them and worship them as her racial gods or Kula devta; and since then these fourteen gods had been worshipped by Tripuri people.
The fourteen Gods : There are fourteen Gods and goddess among them listed in old texts. The gods and goddess are same as those of traditional Hindu Gods and Goddess. The names of the gods are 1. Subrai Raja 2. Sangrongma 3. Habung Bubagra 4.Twibuk Bubagra 5. Noukhontay Bubagra 6. Basuwa Bubagra 7. Manengfa 8. Minangfa 9. Kamshri 10. Dounai 11. Therouaifa 13. Khaski 14. Naka. The mytho-history of Tripura and her people is written in Rajratna karam and Rajmala, the former in Sanskrit while the latter in Bengali composed about 500 years back or more. According to Rajmala, the chronicle of royal history of Tripura, it was earlier written in Tripuri language, but latter on translated into Sanskrit and Bengali with the help of Royal Priest Durlabhendra Chontai and two Court Brahmin Sukreshwar and Baneshwar. While doing translations of Rajmala, the court Brahmins of Tripura translated the names of the Gods as follows: 1. Har 2. Uma 3. Hari 4. Ma 5. Vani 6. Kumar 7. Ganesh 8. Brahma 9. Prithvi 10. Ganga 11. Avdi 12. Agni 13. Kamesh 14. Himalaya.
The celebration of 14 gods is known as Kharchi, which is worshipped for seven days starting from 8th waxing (Shukla Paksha) day of Ashadh every year. All the deities of fourteen gods are made of alloy of eight metals baring that of Lord Shiva, which is made of Silver. The deities represent only half busts, a crescent moon on the back of head like that of Lord Shiva and a crown. In fact fifteen gods are worshipped, one deity of Mahakal form of Shiva is placed in the mid of these 14 gods’ deities. It’s shape is different from rest of the 14 deities which is made of alloy rod and looks like half-sitting man, He is known as Burasa by Tripuri people. He is paramount of all the 14 gods and goddess. Though there are 14 are worshipped during Kharchi puja for seven days, but during other the days of the year only 3 Gods are worshipped. These are first 3 gods in the serial which represents Brahma, Vishnu and Mahadev. Rest of the deities are placed in a sacred place under the custody of Chontai, the Priests.
The chief priest of 14 gods’ temple is known as Chontai. He is assisted by many priests who are known as Naran. There is also another category of priest to assist Chontai who are known as Deorai. One more category of priest is also there, known as Galim, whose duty is to sacrifice the sacrificial goat infront of the temple. These priests of the 14 gods’ temple have to maintain strict austerity through out the year. Earlier the chief priest used to be selected by Chontai but now they are nominated by the state government. The Chontai and the other priest have to be selected and nominated from among the Chontai caste of Tripuri people only. No other caste or sub-clan are illegible to become the Chontai and priests of 14 gods temple.
The festival of Kharchi puja is a grand affair, so accordingly the preparation for the festivals starts in advance. Now a days a preparatory committee is constituted to look after the festivals activity. Each deity of 14 Gods is carried individually by Narans for giving bath at the Saidra river, nearest to the Mandir. The Narans wear special dress code designated for them; carry the deity in front of the chest like carrying of a baby by Tripuri mother. Umbrella made of bamboo and cane is placed over the head of each Naran while taking the deities of 14 gods for bath. After the bath they are brought to the mandir and placed to their designated Asana. The puja starts early in the morning meticulously and elaborately and lasts for hours together. Then sacrifices of male-goats are performed for the State administration for the welfare of state in general. It is then followed by the sacrifices of male-goats offered by the common man. The devotees also offer various kinds of sweets, fruits, and other offerings. Some people set free pigeons in the name of Gods. Lakhs of devotees visit the Kharchi puja during these seven days festivals. The festival is no more belonged to Tripuris only; it has now the state festival of Tripura. Devotees from different parts of Tripura visit at the Kharchi puja irrespective of sect, caste, creed and ethnicity. Now a days devotees from other parts of north east also throng to the festival.
Seven days grand fair is organized in front of the mandir complex. Lots of children adult and old visit the fair and festival as it has become one and same. The state government declares gazzetted holiday on the first day of Kharchi puja every year. Cultural programs are arranged every evening for the entire seven days. Now a days cultural troupes of different tribes and non-tribes alike participate in the cultural program.
Philosophy: The almighty is known as Subrai. It is said that the Shravana month of Hindu calendar is favourite for Lord Shiva, which is one and same with Subrai of Tripuri people. That is why the festival of lord Shiva whether it is Amarnath Yatra, Kailas Yatra, Kanwaria for Shiva ratri are all celebrated around this month. Similarly Kharchi Puja, the worshipping of 14 gods of Tripuri people are also done during this month. The Kharchi Puja ends on the 14th day of waxing phase and it is followed by Guru Purnima the very next day. And the lord Shiva is the Guru of all the Gurus. It is believed by Tripuri that they are children of Lord Shiva and their legendary King Subrai Raja is also born with the blessing of Shiva that is why he is known as Sibrai, Subrai and Trilochan. That is the reason Tripuri people’s biggest festival is Kharchi puja celebration.
Spirituality: The 14 gods are authority or God of the following: Subrai Raja is Lord Shiva, the God of Trinity who is the creator, sustainer and destroyer of this cosmos, representing Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar. He is the Paramount Almighty, God of the Gods. Sangrongma is the Consort of Lord Shiva, mother of the universe. Habung Bubagra is the god of the Earth, Twibuk Bubagra is the goddess of Water, Noukhontay Bubagra is the god of crops, Basuwa Bubagra is god of Wealth, Manengfa is god of Life, Minangfa is god of Creation, Kamshri is god of Kama or fertility Dounai is god of Land, Therounaifa is god of Mountain, Khaski is god of Fire and Naka is God of Sky. Tripuri people believe in one Almighty as the creator and do not differentiate between the creator and creation, Tripuri people felt His presence and visualize His modified form in every thing of his creation. That is why they accept the existence of god in the earth, water, fire, air, sky, forest, mountain, paddy, cotton and every other material and they are just given different name by virtue of his manifestation. He is known in different name due to difference in time and place. Subrai raja is the paramount god of the fourteen gods and the creation and that is why His fierce form, the Mahakaleshwar form of Shiva is placed in middle of deities of the fourteen gods, seven deities on either side, who is known as Burasa by Tripuri people. During the performance of Kharchi Puja, it this form of Shiva who is worshipped first. This is the concept of mothiestic spiritualism vis-à-vis polytheism.
After the Kharchi puja only three deities of the 14 gods are worshipped through out the year. These are Shiva, His consort Sangrongma and the Habung Bubagra, who is the sustainer of the world. These three deities had been indentified as Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar, which are the trinity of Tripuri people.
The fourteen Gods are the highest order of Gods to the Tripuri, which are worshipped out side of the Kharchi puja, by the common Tripuris. The fourteen gods are worshipped during birth, during marriage and other religious rituals, but they are known as Lampra puja. The most strict and difficult puja is Ker Puja, it is worshipped with utmost austerity and purity, not even talking loudly is allowed during this puja, which is also worshipping of 14 gods but the deities of fourteen gods are not worshipped, and it is done after 14 days of Kharchi at the Royal palace of Tripura kings. The common Tripuris perform the Ker puja at the village. Now a days the images of the combined 14 gods are kept by most of the ordinary Tripuri people. This practice shows the popularity of 14 Gods among the Tripuri people in general.
