Dr Sambhu Dayal Agrawal
Noted Scholar, Writer-translator and Critic
Dr Jagannaath is widely known as a vanguard of education and educational administration at home and abroad. He has been instrumental in bringing up many educational institutions of repute in and outside India that impart quality education to thousands of students. Currently, he is the vice chancellor of Kalinga University, Raipur (Chhattisgarh). For his spiritual discourses and a personal Godly character, the ‘Lama Gangchen Peace Foundation of Italy’ and the title of ‘Lord Pundit’ was conferred upon him. Dr Jagannaath is a multifaceted personality that ranges from modern education and administration to a pious spiritual personal life and a kind and compassionate Guru trying to pass on all his virtues unto the disciples.
Before I speak anything about the spiritual attributes of Dr Jagannaath, let me first have a glimpse of the present scenario of some religious gurus all around us in the modern world. Nowadays, we see many so-called saffron-clad saints who have gathered unfathomable pelf by their commercial means like selling mahaprasad, selling their pictures and religious items. People visit their places, pay dakshinaa while touching their feet, again pay special oblations for paaduka-poojaa, guru-vandanaa, special darshan and aarti etcetera and the list goes on.
They acquire a new God-like name, and while living in luxury even claim themselves to be incarnations of God. Contrary to a saintly character, they get very easily teased and annoyed. They clandestinely indulge in all sorts of vices and promote many religious superstitions and even social taboos. Simple God-fearing people fall prey to them and some of them even destroy their own family and conjugal life with the plea that it is the teaching of their spiritual guru. Nevertheless, these millions of disciples get little of their much coveted mental peace or solace amid their disturbed family and social life. Dr Jagannaath has thus rightly said, “A very important fact is that we tend to worship the saints, those who are actually not, and fail to understand the real ones.” I take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to my friend, philosopher and guide Sriram Dash, the noted journalist and writer-poet of our times, for having compiled this book by asking personally and sending e-mails to all those acquainted with Dr Jagannath Patnaik, to contribute their view about him. He has been instrumental in practically collecting all the data and putting them on the computer after which I started my work. I therefore pass on all the credit of this compilation unto him and feel proud to have such a caring and loving friend like him.