There were five saints – Achyutānanda Dasa, Sisu Ananta Dasa, Jasobanta Dasa, Jagannātha Dasa, and Balarāma Dasa – who shaped Vaiṣṇava philosophy, spiritualism and literature of Odisha. These five saints (also known as Pancha-sakha or five friends) wrote Bhavishya Malika. These Panchasakha (five friends) of Lord Vishnu take birth on the earth every time in the cycle of four yugas (eras), i.e. Satya, Treta, Dwapara, and Kaliyuga. At the end of each Yuga, the Panchasakhas assist Lord Vishnu in the work of establishing righteousness or Dharma. After finishing Yuga Karma (respective deeds for which God incarnates), Lord Vishnu does Pratyavartana i.e. returns to his own abode (Goloka Vaikuntha). These Panchasakha take birth in different forms in every era and go back to the abode of Lord Vishnu after completing their work.
In Bhavishya Malika Granth and various other scriptures, it is mentioned that, in Satya Yuga, the names of these Panchasakhas were:-
- Narad,
- Markand,
- Gargav,
- Swayambhu, and
- Kripajal
These Panchasakhas took birth again at the end of Treta Yuga, at the time of establishment of Dharma by Lord Shri Ramchandra ji. Following were their names :-
- Nal,
- Neel,
- Jamwant,
- Shushen, and
- Hanuman
Although Hanuman ji was born as incarnation of Lord Shiva (Rudra Avatar), still he helped Lord Ramchandra ji in the work of establishing dharma by becoming one of the Panchasakha. After finishing their respective work, these Panchasakha returned back to the abode of Lord Vishnu.
In the Dwapara Yuga, the Panchasakhas took birth, and helped Lord Shri Krishna in the task of establishing Dharma. The names of Panchasakha in Dwapar Yuga were :-
- Dam,
- Sudama,
- Subal,
- Subahu, and
- Shribach
About 500 years before the end of Kaliyuga by the instructions of the “Nirakar ji” (the formless Supreme God), the Panchasakhas incarnated on the earth again and created the divine scripture ‘Bhavishya Malika’. The names of the Panchasakha in Kaliyuga were:-
- Achyutananda Das,
- Anant Das,
- Yashovant Das,
- Jagannath Das and
- Balram Das
Lord Shri Narayan says, “Whenever violence, hatred, anger, lust, jealousy etc. fills up in the hearts of people instead of kindness, forgiveness, affection, love, truthfulness, and the burden of sins increases on earth, religion is in danger, then I will incarnate as Kalkiram to remove the suffering of my devotees, to destroy the evil, to protect the sages, to lighten the burden of Mother Earth by establishing righteousness (Dharma). Even before I come, you can unite to re-establish the Dharma and compose the Bhavishya Malika Granth to save the devotees of the four yugas.
That’s why Achyutananda Das writes that –
“हेतु रसाइबा पाईं कि अच्युत साहास्त्र पुराण कले।
कलि काल ठारु बलि काल जाएं हक कथा टा लेखिले“
The above verse means that Mahapurush (the great sage) has mentioned everything that is going to happen during transition period from Kaliyuga to Sangam Yuga and from Sangam Yuga to Satyayuga in the form of Bhavishya Malika Granth in order to awaken the dormant consciousness of the devotees. After reading this scripture the consciousness of the devotees, who are under Kali’s (demon’s) influence, will awaken. Devotees will find Lord Kalki and surrender themselves in his lotus feet.
Lord of the world Jagannath ji gave a lotus garland to the great sage Achyutananda Das ji and instructed him that the place where all the flowers of garland would fall apart, that place will be your place of spiritual practice (Sadhana Peeth). On the instructions of Lord Jagannath ji, Achyutanand ji left the holy Jagannath place and started wandering. When Achyutanand ji reached a sacred place Nemal, on the banks of Chitrotpala river in Kendrapara district of Orissa, the last flower from the garland fell apart. According to scriptures, the lotus flower that emerged during Samudra Manthan (Churning of Ocean) in the Satya Yuga also fell at that place, hence the place is also known as the Padma Ban. Great sage Achyutananda Das ji started his spiritual practice at that place, and by meditating he created many scriptures and puranas for the salvation of the devotees of the Satya, Treta, Dwapar and Kali yuga. The same place later emerged in front of the people as Sidh Sthal (divine or holy land) of Achyutananda Das ji. While meditating at the lotus feet of the God, Achyutanand Dasji wrote about the same place (Siddha Sthal) –
“श्री अच्युत दास नेमाले निवास पद्म बने तांक स्थिति,
प्रभु न्क आज्ञा रु अनुभव करि लक्षे ग्रंथ लेखिछंति।
छतिस संहिता बास्तरि गीता वंशानु सप्त बिन्स रे,
उपवंशानु द्वादस खंड बेनी भविष्य सप्त खंड रे “
The above verse means that Mahapurush Achyutananda ji composed more than one lakh books by meditating on that divine place. Out of them, 36 Samhitas, 72 Gita, 27 Vanshcharitra, 24 Upvanshnu Charitra and 100 Malika texts have been composed. Apart from these, the other four Panch Sakhas, Anant Das Ji Maharaj, Yashobant Das Ji Maharaj, Jagannath Das Ji Maharaj and Balram Das Ji Maharaj also composed many Malika Granths. In spite of composing so many books, Panchasakha mentions that we have not written anything, Bhavishya Malika granth has been created for the welfare of mankind by the order of the supreme God. The devotees of the four ages as Tapi (Sage) in Satya Yuga, Kapi (monkey) in Treta Yuga, Gopi (cowherd that were Lord Krishna’s friends) in Dwapara Yuga and Bhakta (devotee) in Kali Yuga have again come to earth in this Anant Yuga. Panchasakha created Malika Granth to awaken the dormant consciousness of devotees, and to spread awareness that the time has come to join Prabhus Leela (God’s divine play). No matter where the devotee lives in the world, after listening and reading Malika, their consciousness will awaken, and they will find the abode of the Lord and will surrender themselves to Lord Kalkiram and contribute to the work of establishing dharma in the Anant yuga. After finding Lord Kalkiram, the devotees will follow and promote the rules and regulations given by the God himself in the Satya Yuga and will devote themselves completely. Achyutanand ji writes about this as-
“भकते उदे होइबे, गां गां बुलि मेलि करिबे, रामचन्द्र रे। हरि चरणे भजिबे, रामचन्द्र रे”
This means that wherever the devotees will go, they will do bhajan kirtan together and propagate the religion.
Introduction of Panchasakha
Mahapurush Sri Achyutananda Dasji-
Achyutananda ji was born in the year 1485 in Tilakana (also called Tripura) village of Kendrapara district of Orissa in a religious family. His father was Deenbandhu Khuntia and mother Padmavati ji. The great sage Achyutananda Das ji had composed 1,85,000 books, and on a Jyeshtha Shukla Ekadashi sat in meditation at Nemal Peeth and left his body by his own will on a full moon day and became one with the divine.
Following is the list of some famous books written by him –
- Harivansh Purana,
- Gopal nak Ogal o Loudi Khel,
- Baramasi Gita,
- Shunya Samhita,
- Anakar Brahma Samhita,
- Manibandh Gita,
- Jugabdhi Gita,
- Beej Sagar Gita,
- Abhed Kabach,
- Ashta Gujjari Nab Gujjari,
- Sharan Panjar,
- Stotra,
- Bipra Bachak,
- Maan Mahima and many bhajans,
- Patal,
- Raas,
- Janana,
- Chautisa (poetry with 34 stanzas starting with 34 letters in Oriya language is called Chautisa),
- Tika,
- Malika
Mahapurush Sri Shishu Anant Dasji-
Mahapurush Shishu Ananta Das ji was born in Balipatna village near Bhubaneswar in Puri district in Orissa in 1488 whose father was Kapilendra and mother Gaura Devi. Here is the name of a few famous texts composed by him…
- Hetu Uday Bhagwat,
- Bhakti Mukti Dayak Gita,
- Shishu Beda Tika,
- Shunya Naam Bhed,
- Artha Tareni,
- Ude Bakhra,
- Thik Bakhra and many bhajans,
- Chautisa,
- Malika Granth
Mahapurush Sri Jagannath Dasji-
Jagannath Das Ji Maharaj was born in Kapileshwar village in Puri district of Orissa. His father was Bhagwan Das and mother Padmavati. After Sanskrit Shrimad Bhagwat, he first composed Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapuran in Oriya language, after that he composed many Puran Shastras (scriptures) and Bhavishya Malika texts. Following are few famous texts written by him –
- Shol Chaupadi,
- Chari Chaupadi,
- Tulabhina,
- Daru Brahma Gita,
- Diksha Sambad,
- Artha Koili,
- Mruguni Stuti,
- Gupt Bhagwat,
- Anamay Kundali,
- Shri Krishna Kalpalata,
- Nitya Gupt Chintamani,
- Niladri Bilas,
- Kali Malika,
- Indra Malika Granth
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had adorned him with the title ‘Atibadi’ due to the depth of his scripture knowledge and devotion.
Mahapurush Sri Balram Dasji-
Mahapurush Balram Das ji was born in the year 1470 (at some places it is mentioned as 1482) in Chandrapur village in Puri district of Orissa. His father was Shomnath Mahapatra and mother Mahamaya Devi. Following are some of his great compositions
- Dadhyata Bhakti,
- Dandi Ramayana,
- Brahmanda Bhugol,
- Baula Gai Geet,
- Kamal Lochan Chautisa,
- Kanta Koili,
- Lakshmi Purana,
- Bedha Parikrama,
- Saptang Yogsar Tika,
- Bajra Kabach,
- Gyan Chudamani (Prose),
- Brahma Tika (Prose) etc.
He also wrote many other Shastra Puranas and Malika Granth. He took his last breath at a place called Samgara Pat in Puri district.
Mahapurush Shri Yashovant Das ji-
Yashovant Dasji Maharaj was born in Nandi village near Adhang in Cuttack district of Orissa in 1482 (at some places birth year mentioned is 1486). His father was Balabhadra Malla and mother Rekha Devi. Following are some of his great compositions…
- Chaurasi Agnya,
- Shib Swaradvaya,
- Shashthimala,
- Prem Bhakti Brahma Gita,
- Tika Gobind Chandra
Tike Gobinsa Chandra is famous in Bengal, Assam and many other regions of North India due to being a poem filled with compassion. He took his last breath in Margashirsha month Shukla Paksha Sashti (Odhani Shashthi).
Panchasakhas were endowed with spiritual knowledge. All the time those five great sages were in subtle contact with the formless supreme God (Nirakar ji), and whatever Nirakar ji used to tell them about the future, Panchasakhas wrote everything in the scripture Bhavishya Malika.
Brahma Gopal Mahagyata Achyutanand ji writes about this-
“आगम भाव जाणे यशोबंत गारकटा जंत्र जाणे अनंत
आगत नागत अच्युत जाणे बलराम दास तत्व बखाणे
भक्ति र भाव जाणे जगन्नाथ पंचसखा ए ओडिशा महन्त।
म्लेच्छ पतित उद्धारिबा पाईं जनम लभिले ओडिशा भुईं।“
Meaning:
Sri Yashobant Das Ji Maharaj was able to know all the things regarding Agam (tantra) Nigam (Mantra) among the Panchasakha. Mahapurush Shishu Anant Das Ji Maharaj was expert in knowing the future through coded mathematics. Mahapurush Achyutanand Das Ji Maharaj was full of knowledge of elements of past, present, future etc.
Mahpurush Balram Das Ji Maharaj had full knowledge of scriptures and universe elements. Mahapurush Jagannath Das Ji Maharaj had the most knowledge of the devotional element of Ashtadasa Purana.
The Panchasakhas wrote all their predictions by the instructions of Lord Shri Jagannath ji and the formless supreme God (Nirakar ji) in the sacred Bhavishya Malika scripture. These predictions are mainly about the salvation of the devotees, the union of the devotee and the Lord, the destruction of the sinners and the evildoers and the beginning of the divine Satya Yuga after the end of Kali Yuga. All these scriptures are now proving to be life saving for human society.
At present, the time of great destruction in the universe is approaching, and at such time, there is absolutely no other way than following the path shown by Bhavishya Malika and surrendering ourselves in the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu Lord Kalkiram.
“Jai Jagannath”