Bhaktisandesam / Lord Jagannath of Puri

[Guest guest]

Hari-Om

 

 

Rath-Yatra of Lord Jaggan-Nathji

 

 

At the height of Indian summer, the Lord of Puri goes to his garden

palace for the annual summer vacation. He travels in some style from

his temple in Puri, to his garden temple, located outside the town.

Thousands of Hindus flock to see, and to pull the grand chariots from

one temple to the other. The English word " Jagannaut " comes from the

giant chariots of Lord Jagannath of Puri. The British were so stunned

by the size of the chariots, they coined a word for it!

In Puri, Lord Jagannath is worshipped with his elder brother Bala-

Rama and his sister Subhadra. Each sibling has his / her own chariot

and goes to the summer residence with great pomp. Each of the

chariots is covered in distinctly coloured cloth. Various symbols and

signs help pilgrims distinguish between the three gods. As a mark of

respect, and humbleness, the king of Puri sweeps the chariots of the

gods of Puri. Festival begins with a huge fanfare of conches,

trumpets, drums and cymbals. Accompanied by music and dancers, the

divine travellers begin their journey to the garden temple.

In order to accommodate the three chariots, the street leading from

the main temple to the garden temple is very wide. Temples, ashrams,

hotels, inns, shops and mansions of the old aristocracy line the

route. All buildings are colourfully decorated with flags, buntings

and awnings of bright colours. Ladies in colourful saries crowd the

balconies, doors and windows decked with flowers. Men and women rush

to pull the chariots along this main street of Puri. This is an

exciting time in Puri. The Lord who is rarely glimpsed outside his

inner sanctum, is now easily accessible to everyone in the streets of

Puri !

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, away from the

innumerable temple servants, away from their spouses, the siblings

enjoy their garden retreat. The temple routine in the garden temple

is very much relaxed compared to the main temple. Various festivities

and fun are planned for their short stay in this leafy abode. (

Depending on the lunar cycle, this festival can last anywhere from 1 -

2 weeks. )

As the Lord has only taken his brother and his sister on this

holiday, the wives are left at home! Alone and brooding, Goddess

Lakshmi (Goddess of wealth), seeks help from Goddess Vimala to get

their husband back. Travelling by night, in a closed palanquin, she

arrives at the garden temple of the Lord. She enchants the Lord and

entreats him to return.

A few days later, Lord returns to his city temple. Though delighted,

goddess Lakshmi orders the temple doors to be shut in His face - in

the vain hope of teaching Him a lesson! In the conversation that

follows, female attendants (dev-dasi) of the Goddess blame the Lord

of being inconsiderate, " Jack the Lad " , taking His wife for granted

and being far too easily led by the in-laws (sounds familiar?).

The Lord's servants explain that He really had no choice, He went

against His will, He still loves Her deeply and respects Her

enormously!! Eventually, the Lord offers the female gate-keepers

bribes and enters the inner sanctum to pacify the Goddess Lakshmi.

Such are the dramas of a married man's life! The next day, Lord and

the Goddess once again appear in the public, reconciled and as loving

as ever. Lord's summer vacation is over, and life in the great temple

returns to its age old routine.

 

 

 

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Jai Shree Krishna !