Introduction: The Grand Festival of Ratha Yatra
This year the Rath Yatra will commence in Odisha on the 6th of July. Before you head on to attend the grand festivity, let’s go through this video talking about the significance of the festival and the deity it is associated with.
Lord Jagannath is a Hindu deity whose name roughly translates to the Lord of the World. He is celebrated and revered across India as the ninth avatar of Vishnu. He is particularly important in the northeastern part of the country, mainly in Odisha and West Bengal. Considered an incarnate of Vishnu, Lord Jagannath is known to be compassionate and benevolent.
Few Facts on Lord Jagannath and the Ratha Yatra:
Lord Jagannath
- Meaning of Name: “Jagannath” comes from Sanskrit words “Jagat” (universe) and “Nath” (lord), meaning “Lord of the Universe”.
- Deity Form: Lord Jagannath is worshipped as a form of Lord Krishna or Lord Vishnu, and sometimes as Buddha in certain traditions.
- Iconography: He is depicted with large, round eyes and incomplete limbs, symbolizing infinite compassion and accessibility to all.
- Symbolism: Represents universal love, acceptance, and spiritual unity, transcending caste and creed.
- Associated Legends: Includes the story of King Indradyumna, divine manifestation from a sacred log, and the Kanchi conquest legend.
- Temple: The Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, is one of the holiest Hindu temples.
Ratha Yatra
- Meaning: “Ratha Yatra” means “Chariot Festival”
- Date: Celebrated annually in June–July (bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh)
- Location: Held in Puri, Odisha, and replicated worldwide
- Participants: Over 10 lakh (1 million) devotees attend in Puri, making it the largest annual religious festival.
- Deities Involved: Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.
- Chariots: Three massive, newly constructed wooden chariots each year for each deity, with specific designs and dimensions.
- Jagannath: Nandighosha (16 wheels, 44′ 2″ height)
- Balabhadra: Taladhwaja (14 wheels, 43′ 3″ height)
- Subhadra: Darpadalana (12 wheels, 42′ 3″ height)
- Construction: Takes 2 months, involving over 100 carpenters and 200 artisans, using more than 1000 wooden logs.
- Rituals: Begins after the King of Puri sweeps the road with a golden broom (Chhera Panhara), symbolizing humility and equality.
- Journey: Deities travel from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple (aunt’s home), stay for 7–9 days, and return (Bahuda Yatra).
- Significance: Symbolizes unity, inclusivity, selfless service, and the cycle of renewal.
- Global Celebrations: Celebrated in major cities worldwide, including the US, by diaspora and ISKCON communities
The Appearance and Symbolism
Painted in the same dark blue and black color as Vishnu and his other avatar Krishna. However, Lord Jagannath does not have hands, legs, and ears. This representation stems from the belief that Lord Jagannath is omnipresent and can experience reality everywhere without having to be necessarily present in a tangible form.
There are many versions of tales associated with Lord Jagannath’s origin. Even though the accuracy of each account can be disputed, each tale presents a refreshing perspective on Lord Jagannath and speaks volumes about his popularity among devote
Historical References and Tribal Origins
Devotees, Hindu as well as Indian writers and poets claim that Lord Jagannath finds mention in the Puranas and other sacred Hindu scriptures. He is described as an eternal incarnate of Lord Vishnu who has been present since ancient times.
However, other sources claim that Lord Jagannath is a tribal who was later accepted as a Hindu god. The Savara tribe that occupied Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal worshipped a deity akin to Lord Jagannath. Like his sculpture lacks limbs, Savara too prayed to a common pillar-shaped deity made of wood. This deity later evolved into Lord Jagannath, who has become one of the most revered gods in Hinduism.
The Legend of Krishna’s Heart
Another story claims that Lord Jagannath emerged from the dead body of Lord Krishna. According to the story, after many years of the Mahabharata war, mistaking the resting Krishna for a deer, a hunter named Jara shoots an arrow that pierces Lord Krishna’s feet and angers him. Thus, Lord Krishna leaves the mortal world.
Real-life, the last rites of Lord Krishna as per the Hindu tradition — Krishna’s whole body turned into ashes except for his heart. Jara was shocked that the heart remained untouched by fire. Unlike a biological heart, there was an exotic metallic encased device pulsating and radiating vibrant waves and currents. The hunter Jara was stunned and clueless.
Read More Samarthguru Online Program.
It is believed that a cosmic voice instructed him to tie the heart to a wooden log and toss it into the river. The heart flowed through the river and, after a long period of time, it reached the shores of Puri in Odisha. Biswabasu, the head of the tribal community called Savara, discovered the heart of Shri Krishna, which was in the form of a concentrated blue stone.
The tribal head realized its divine nature, so he established the heart inside a cave and started worshipping it as Nila Madhava.
The Temple and the Sacred Log
Puri was then ruled by a king named Indradyumna, who was a Vishnu devotee, and Lord Vishnu came in his dreams and asked him to build a temple for him. Indradyumna then began to search for the finest tribe.
The king Indradyumna had another dream where Lord Vishnu advised him that a wooden plank of a neem plant is floating across the ocean of Puri, and he should make the idol through that particular wood and install Nila Madhava inside the idol. After waking up from the dream, the king ran towards the ocean where he actually found the neem wooden plank.
Biswabasu helped the king lift up the wooden plank and hand over Nila Madhava to the king. Now, the sacred log called Brahma Daru had to be carved and sculpted. Could even make a mark on it with a chisel.
The Mysterious Craftsman
Vishwakarma, the architect of the gods, appeared before the king in the guise of an old man. He said that he would do the job but only on one condition — he was going to take 21 days to carve the image inside a sealed chamber and that nobody would disturb him till he was done with his job. The king agreed to his condition and allowed him to work on making the idol inside a closed chamber.
People could hear the sound of hammering and chiseling, but after a few days, the queen couldn’t hear any sound from the chamber. She became anxious and informed the king. She requested the king to open the chamber and see if the old man was alive. Indradyumna was reluctant.
The king broke his promise. Vishwakarma disappeared immediately, leaving behind the half-built idol. This is the legend and explanation of the unusual icon that we see in the Garbha Griha of the temple. The king took it as God’s will and installed the idols of Krishna, Subhadra, and Balarama in the Jagannath temple of Puri.
About Jagannath Temple, Puri
The Jagannath Temple at Puri in Odisha is one of the biggest dedicated to Lord Jagannath and is an integral part of the Char Dham pilgrim journey. The temple was constructed by King Anantavarman in the 12th century. It houses three deities — Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra, and his brother Balarama.
Instead of worshipping this avatar of Vishnu with his spouse, the temple at Puri is unique because it is the only shrine dedicated to worshipping Vishnu with his siblings. While Lord Jagannath is painted black, the other two deities are colored in lighter shades.
Another interesting feature is that all deities are made out of wood and not metal or stone. The temple has four entrance gates and a Sudarshan Chakra mounted atop its main structure. It is claimed that a certain supernatural force occupies it that defies scientific logic.
For example, the flags placed on top of the temple always flow in the opposite direction of the wind, and the temple virtually casts no shadow at any given time of the day. While it is difficult to ascertain whether this claim is merely hearsay or fact, devotees of the Lord believe that these incidents reflect the sacred power of Lord Jagannath.
Major Festivals: Rath Yatra and Snan Yatra
Festivals are celebrated in honor of Lord Jagannath in Puri. The most popular and significant one is the Rath Yatra, which takes place once every year in June and July. During this festival, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balarama are placed on three separate extravagant chariots and carried to the Gundicha Temple, which is located a few kilometers away from Jagannath.
The journey of these three idols is celebrated, and masses of devotees gather to pay their respect to the deities and accompany them on their journey. This journey is viewed as Lord Jagannath’s visit to his maternal aunt and a brief sojourn from his home.
On the ninth day of the festival, which is marked by Niladri Bije, the three deities return to their sanctum in Puri.
Snan Yatra is another major festival celebrated during the Hindu calendar month of Jyeshtha. Before the deities begin the Rath Yatra, they are carried out of the sanctum and placed in another mandap located within the temple compound. Here, the three deities are bathed with more than 100 containers of water and then dressed in fine fabric.
For two weeks after the bath and festivities, the temple remains closed for the devotees because it is believed that the deities have caught a cold due to the intense bathing ritual.
Nabakalebara and Historical Challenges
Both the Snan Yatra and Rath Yatra are integral aspects of Nabakalebara, which is believed to be an occasion marking the rebirth of Jagannath. Due to its significant position in the Hindu pilgrimage, the Jagannath temple at Puri has been a site of repeated attacks and looting.
The temple had been invaded 17 to 18 times since its establishment. The first attack took place in 1340 by the Sultan of Bengal. Even though many people were killed and injured in the incident, the idols could not be stolen or vandalized. Successive attacks were made by other Muslim Sultans and rulers to plunder the temple.The Story and Significance of Lord Jagannath and Ratha Yatra
Conclusion
Lord Jagannath is significant to his many devotees because he looks after the cosmos and ensures that good always prevails over evil.
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