This is not only a good news for the Vanvasis practising Hinduism, but also a ray of inspiration for them regarding their integral and internal alliance with this great way of life. Those Vanvasi brethren not knowing the Oriya language will no longer be debarred from celebrating the worship of Goddess Laxmi. It is so because the Oriya Laxmipurana has been translated into the Vanvasi language Kui, enabling them to read this scripture and chant the hymns in their mother tongue.
This great and remarkable achievement is the outcome of the years-long restless heroic endeavour undertaken by a dedicated man Shri Suresh Digal. Shri Suresh is a native of village Burupati under G. Udaygiri of Kandhamal district. Amid much pain and sufferings he has brought out the book after four painful years. The 36-page book warmly certifies his dedication, labour and pain.
The book is composed in a lyrical form, translating the original Laxmipurana written by the saint-poet Shri Balaram Das in Oriya verbalism. Really it'sa beautiful presentation of a social problem and its homely solutions. The story of the book reads thus: ?Lord Jagannath and his spouse Goddess Laxmi were leading a happy family life. One day a washerwoman namely Sriya, worshipped Laxmi on the eve of Laxmi Puja. On that very day Mother Laxmi visited her cottage and became immensely influenced with Sriya'sdeep love and pure devotion. She granted her a number of boons. But when Mother returned back to the temple, a storm broke out. Lord Jagannath having been compelled by his elder brother denied entry to her and accused her of going to the home of an untouchable lower-caste woman. But Mother pleaded her righteousness. But it went in vain. At last she left the ?Srimandir? and lived in a small cottage outside the temple. In course of time, the Lord of the Lords realised His fault and begged pardon from Laxmi and brought her back with a declaration for abolition of untouchability in the society in general and in the premises of Srimandir, Puri, in particular.?
Not only, this, the book specifies some Do'sand Don?ts for all, especially for women. Balaram Das'sLaxmi Pujan is considered to be a code of conduct for each household. But now it is made easily understandable for the Vanvasis, particularly ?Kondhas?.
While answering a question as to what made him to write the book, Suresh Digal said. ?I am a worker of Vishwa Hindu Parishad. While working in Vanvasi areas I found that the innocent and religious Vanvasis were not able to perform some Hindu rituals due to language barriers. Laxmi puja was one of them. This was making a great gap between the Vanvasis and the Nagarvasis. Christian missionaries were taking the advantage after this and converting them into Christianity. I thought a way to overcome this missionary menace and started writing the book?.
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