**Puri Jagannath as a Tribal Deity**

Puri Jagannath is not considered a tribal deity. He is one of the major deities worshipped in the state of Odisha in India. The Jagannath Temple in Puri is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus and attracts millions of devotees every year. The deity is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is worshipped along with his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra.

The misconception that Puri Jagannath is a tribal deity might arise from the fact that the Jagannath cult has assimilated various tribal and folk elements into its rituals and practices. This assimilation has allowed the deity to be worshipped by people from diverse backgrounds, including tribal communities. The Jagannath cult has a history of inclusivity and has welcomed people from all walks of life into its fold.

**The Cheras and the Development of Malayalam**

The Cheras were one of the major ancient Dravidian kingdoms in South India, known for their maritime trade and cultural advancements. They ruled over a region that corresponds to present-day Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu. The Cheras played a significant role in the development of the Malayalam language.

**Formation of Malayalam**

Malayalam evolved from the Proto-Dravidian language and developed as a distinct language during the medieval period. The Cheras, with their capital at Mahodayapuram (present-day Kodungallur), contributed to the growth of Malayalam through their patronage of literature and the arts.

**Cultural Contributions**

1. **Language and Literature**: The Cheras patronized scholars and poets who composed works in Malayalam. They encouraged the growth of literature and supported the development of written scripts for the language. The Ramacharitam, a 13th-century epic in Malayalam, is one such example of their contribution.

2. **Trade and Contact**: The Cheras' extensive maritime trade with various regions, including the Arab world, influenced the vocabulary and cultural exchanges in Malayalam. This contact led to the assimilation of foreign words and cultural practices into the language.

3. **Art and Architecture**: The Cheras also contributed to the architectural heritage of Kerala. The famous Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, built during their reign, is an example of their architectural prowess.

**Conclusion**

The Cheras played a crucial role in the development of Malayalam as a distinct language. Through their patronage of literature, trade, and cultural exchanges, they contributed to the growth and enrichment of Malayalam. Their influence can still be seen in the language and cultural traditions of Kerala today.

The origin of the cult of Jagannath is mysterious. The deity itself accepts almost all the sects of Hindu Pantheon like Vedic religion, Vaishnavism, Saivism, Tantricism and Brahminism in His abode. In addition to these sects, Jainism and Buddhism acclaim the Jagannath triad belonging to their religions. In spite of this, scholars in the cult of Jagannath believe in the aboriginal tribal (Savara) origin of the Jagannath triad.

The story in the Purusottama Mahatmya of Skanda Purana – The story recorded in the Purusottama Mahatmya of Skanda Purana says that the shrine of Nilamadhava was located in the Blue hill (Nila Saila) surrounded by a forest. Indradyumna, the king of Avanti came to know about the sanctity of the place and Lord Nilamadhava. He sent Vidyapati to the place to get information of Nilamadhava. Once Vidyapati told to his wife Lalita about his desire to see the God. At first Visvavasu was unwilling to allow Vidyapati to take him to God Nilamadhava but later on he took him by covering his eyes in order to keep the secrecy of the shrine. But clever Vidyapati on the way secretly dropped mustard seeds, which germinated after a few days and opened the secret path to Nilamadhava. Vidyapati then returned to his master Indradyumna and reported the location of the shrine. The King was overwhelmed and started for Blue hill to have a Darsana (view). But to his misfortune he could not find the image there. In the night the king had a dream in which he saw a noble tree coming from the Svetadvipa where God Visnu appeared in his blue form. In the morning news came to the king that a log impressed with the signs of Visnu had come floating in the sea to the shore. The log was brought to the shore with great rejoicing and carved into four images of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarsana Chakra. Then Indradyumna constructed a temple on the Blue hill and consecrated the images.

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