Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only
Explanation
The cult of Jagannatha at Puri (Odisha) is a prominent example of regional religious development in medieval India. It represents the evolution of Vaishnavism in Eastern India, characterized by the synthesis of local tribal traditions with Puranic Brahmanical Hinduism.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The deity Jagannatha is worshipped as a form of Vishnu or Krishna. By the 12th century, the Ganga dynasty rulers, particularly Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, patronized the temple, firmly establishing the deity within the Vaishnavite pantheon.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Unlike most Hindu deities in major temples which are made of stone or metal, the image of Lord Jagannatha (along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra) is made of wood. The idols are carved from a special type of Neem tree and are periodically replaced in a ritual known as Nabakalebara.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Historians and sociologists cite the Jagannatha cult as a classic example of the integration of "Little" and "Great" traditions. The "Little" tradition refers to local, tribal, or folk practices (the deity was originally worshipped by the local Sabara tribe), while the "Great" tradition refers to the codified, Sanskritic, and Brahmanical norms. The assimilation of a local tribal deity into the mainstream Hindu pantheon as Vishnu demonstrates this cultural synthesis.
Key Takeaway: The Jagannatha cult is unique for its wooden iconography (Daru Brahma) and its role in synthesizing tribal (Little) traditions with Puranic Vaishnavism (Great) traditions.