Act of devotion
The chariots are pulled by lakhs of devotees with thick coir ropes, taking the Gods to the Sri Gundicha temple, about three km down the Grand Road for a week-long vacation.
The Sri Gundicha temple was named after the wife of the mythical King Indradyumna, who is believed to have installed the Nilamadhav deity in Puri.
It was at this temple that the idols, in their present form, were shaped and taken to the main temple in a procession, in what must have been the first Rath Yatra.
Melting pot
Jagannath is also an ideological tool long used by the elite, whether political or religious, to expand their support base.
It is an ideological melting pot, and there is no greater example of this than the Rath Yatra in which all sects of Hinduism participate.
Jagannath is identified with the lords Vishnu, Krishna, Shiva and even the Shakti cult, which is what makes the Rath Yatra such a unique religious event.
The little boy held his father's hand tightly. The huge crowd of devotees was surging towards the three multicoloured wooden chariots balanced on 12-foot wheels. The bright canopies were decorated with flags that were fluttering in the wind, pretty against the blue skies.
Crashing cymbals glistened in the bright sunshine, while the beating of drums, mridangas, set the mood. Scores of perspiring hands were tugging at the strong, long nylon ropes, dragging the three rathas or chariots onward. Cries of "Jai Jagannath! Jai Jagannath!" rent the air. Watching his father devoutly join his palms together in namaskara, the child began to wonder what all this was about.
Child : Daddy! What is the meaning of 'Jagannath'?
Father : 'Jagat' means universe and 'Nath' means Lord.
Child : If He is Lord of the universe, why is He being pulled around by ropes in such a primitive fashion? Why can't He be driven around in an air-conditioned car? You say He's a VIP, but i see no security guards...
Father : Lord Jagannath is bound by the ropes of His devotees' affection. He goes wherever they take Him. He rides in a high, open cart because everyone can see Him. Jagannath fears no one because He is protected by the love of His devotees. He needs no security.
Child : Why does Lord Jagannath have such big, round eyes?
Father : He is staring wide-eyed at all of us, showering everyone with His love; He is thrilled to see His devotees! He is Shyamsundara Krishna of Vrindavan.
Child : He doesn't look like the beautiful statues of Krishna I’ve seen. Why is Jagannath not Sundar? His hands are like short wooden posts and... where are his legs? This idol looks really strange.
Father : Krishna was barely 12 years old, like you, when He left Vrindavan for Mathura with Balarama. He promised His dear companions, the gopis and gopas, and His parents Nanda and Yashoda, that He would return soon.
The Brijwasis waited anxiously for Krishna's return. The pain of separation was unbearable, and as decades went by, they ate and slept little. Krishna moved to Dwarka, married and settled there. But Krishna, too, yearned to return to Vrindavan for he missed the gopis, gopas, family and friends.
Even in His sleep, He would cry out for His Brijwasi friends. Unable to bear the pitiable condition of their brother, one fine day Balarama and Subhadra rush off with Krishna to Vrindavan.
When they reach Vrindavan, Balarama and Subhadra are wonderstruck at the deep, intense love of the Brijwasis for Krishna, despite long years of separation. The siblings' heads and legs 'enter' into their bodies and they are paralysed with shock.
The power of devotional love overtakes them and their eyes widen in awe.
When Krishna sees His dearest devotee, Radhika, lying lifeless and burning with the fever of separation, He runs toward Her but His body, too, gets paralysed, with His hands and legs retracting into His body like that of a tortoise.
His lotus petal-like eyes widen enormously to become round like saucers. He weeps and falls unconscious at Radhika's feet.
Child : So Daddy, Jagannath is actually Shyamsundar Krishna!
Father : Yes, my child. It's just that Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra are depicted as described in the story i just told you. They were so overwhelmed by the intense love of the Brijwasis...
Child : Jai Jagannath!
courtesy:indiatimes |
