Everybody knows that when the ‘Prasad’, cooked in the temple of Lord Jagannath is offered to Goddess Bimala it becomes ‘Mahaprasad’. What is the eagerness of devotees of Lord Jagannath to get this Mahaprasad waiting hours long to get it in the temple of Puri? By taking Mahaprasad, they feel that they have earned ‘Punya’. Even the dried Mahaprasad named as ‘Nirmalya’ is in great demand.
The people of Orissa preserve it to take even an iota of Nirmalya after performing daily Puja. Even in Orissa household it is required at the time of Nirbandha or (marriage negotiation). Even the bride and bridegrooms promise by holding Nirmalya that they will stick to this negotiation and not to betray each other. Moreover at the time of death, the Nirmalya and holy basil (Tulsi) with water is poured in the tongue and throat of the imminent deceased persons with the belief that by taking these items after their death their soul will remain in peace and there will be no ‘Jamadanda’ (Punishment) of the Belzibup. This is primarily the Hindu conviction.
There is a legend behind Mahaprasad. It is in ‘Tretaya’, that after beheading Ravana the ten-faced monster in Srilanka Lord Ramachandra, Laxman and others had just returned to Ayodha and the Prajas (subjects) were eulogising their heroic deeds. It was Urmila, the consort of Lord Laxman who was silently listening to the great happenings. All were unanimous that Laxmana was instrumental in killing Indrajit. All were discussing that Indrajit was so powerful and got boon that only that person who has not taken food for fourteen years constantly and who has not slept for fourteen years uninterruptedly can kill Indrajit.
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There was a meeting inside the palace in the evening time to know the truth behind this matter. Lord Rama questioned to Laxman that, Oh Laxman you have not taken food for continuous fourteen years, and what happened to those food packets, which I had given you at Panchabati during our stay ? Laxman patiently replied, Oh Lord, I have kept all those fruits in hole of Sami Tree at Panchabati. In order to ascertain the authenticity Lord Rama said, Oh Hanuman you go to Panchabati and bring back those food packets, which have been preserved in the hole of ‘Sami Tree’.
Lord Hanuman developed enigma on this matter. He thought, Lord is aware of my strength. He knows that I had brought the Gandhamardana in one hand, when Laxman was unconscious, the arrow of Indrajit. He became hesitant to bring those food packets, but at last he performed journey from Ayodhya to Sami Tree at Panchabati. Hanuman saw that those food packets have been kept intact but when he attempted to lift those food packets he could not lift and at last returned to Ayodhya and with humble words told his master, that he could not lift those food packets. Lord Rama could know that due to Hanumana’s ego that he could not lift those food packets. At last Laxman said, Oh ! Respected brother, I will fetch those fruits from Panchabati.
Laxman with his powerful arrow could bring back those food packets and all were accumulated in front of Lord Rama. Lord Rama was surprised and asked Hanuman to ascertain that whether the food items supplied to Laxmana for fourteen years have been kept intact or not ? Hanuman counted and informed that seven packets were not available. Lord Rama was eager to know from Laxman about those missing packets. Laxman most humbly replied, Oh my dear respected brother and Lord ! I am narrating the mistery behind it. Laxman said that when you and I had listened the news of death of our dearest father, Dasaratha in the forest you had not supplied me, the food on that very day.
When we got the news that Ravana has kidnapped Sita from Panchabati on that day you did not supply the food packet. Then it was on third occasion when Mahi Ravana took both of us to Patala to offer sacrifice before Lankeswari on that day also we were in fast and took no food.
On fourth occasion, when I became unconscious, due to arrow hitting of Indrajit I was not in a state to take food. On the day when Indrajit was beheaded had not taken food for fifth time. It was on the sixth occasion that when you beheaded Ravana you did not take any food. You had committed Brahmahatya as Ravana was a Brahmin and he was the son of Bisrarba Rishi. Lastly, when there was national mourning due to death of Ravana in Sri Lanka on the next day we joined the mourning and left Lanka without taking any food. Lord Rama was overwhelmed with the supreme sacrifice, dedication and renunciation of Laxman that Laxmana’s Bairagya (renunciation) is par excellence. Then he praised the supreme tyaga (sacrifice)of Urmila, that how she spent fourteen years without Laxman. ‘I had gone to fourteen years exile with my consort Sita. See such a wife who had made supreme sacrifice. She had eagerly waited the return of Laxman for fourteen years.’
‘All praise goes to Urmila’, Lord Rama told. ‘In Ayodhya we have got three thrones, one for me, one for Sita and another throne for Laxman. I order to-day that the fourth throne will be installed for Urmila’, said Rama. Urmila with folded hands told Rama, that ‘I have no desire for any throne. I may be given the opportunity to serve you. I have no aspiration.’ Then Rama was pleased and told Urmila, to seek for the boon as she wants. Then humble Urmila with folded hands said that if you want to grant me any boon, then please grant that in the ages to come there will be neither any temple for me, nor I will be worshipped on any throne. I want to become an incense stick by which I will give fragrance to you all. I will be at your lotus feet for ages to come as Nivedita.
Lord Rama was so pleased and over whelmed with such devotion of Urmila that, he uttered, ‘Oh Urmila’ ! I grant you this boon that in the Iron Age (Kalikala) when I will be worshipped at Puri Temple, Goddess Laxmi will not be installed by my side. Laxman in Tretaya has become my younger brother and in Kalikala he will be elder brother Balabhadra. You will be Mahaprasad and by your fragrance you will spread the flavour and will be worshipped. Any Prasad which will be offered to me will be offered to Goddess Bimala and then it will be Mahaprasad and will be taken as Prasad by devotees. You will remain as Mahaprasad and Nirmalya for years to come. Devotees will worship you and they will earn Punya for you, So Tretaya’s Urmila is the Bimala in Kalikala. Glory to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra and Bimala. Lord Rama further said, ‘In Kaliyuga, you will be worshipped as Annabrahma’. Urmila further prayed, ‘When you will be on Ratna Singhasana I will come in Bay of Bengal as a wave, the ripple (Urmi) to touch your golden feet. Lord Rama granting this boon and said ‘Oh Urmila ! Your selfless love and sacrifice is unparalleled and par excellence; it will be immortalized forever.’
Enjoy reading ur posts
Thank u for the post “the legend of mahaprasad”. V.enlightening
good information about lord jagganath.
Thank you for posting such a nice story. Very helpful to understand the glory of Mahaprasad. Hare Krishna.
Thank you very much for letting people know the prominence of Urmila and the Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannadh.
Thank you for enlightening us by this explanation and greatness of Umila
Every article that comes out daily is truly beautiful, strangely enough being a Hindu I did not know a lot of things, now I really feel blessed that I can gather so much information & pass on to others as well.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Can we get Mahaprasad abd nirmalya by post? If so please advice
moorkhaas ignorant people spreading ignorance . blind gurus lead blind shishyas. all in the name of concocted stories or ancient events.
THE UPANISHATH SAYS ANNAM BRAHMETHIVYAJANAATH. ANNAM NA INDYAATH. THIS ANNAM OR FOOD IT SELF IS MAHAPRAASAAD. SEE EVERYTHIG WHAT IS REATED IS FOR THE SAKE OF HUMAN BEING ONLY. THE CREATOR LOVES US SO MUCH/ HE IS SO SO KIND HE HAS CREATED ALL THE PLANETS AKASH AGNI VAAYU WATER THE EARTH THE PLANTS TREES FLOWERING OR FRUIT BEARING OR HERBS ALL PASHUS COWS AND FOOD IS ONLY FOR THE SAKE OF HUMAN BEING. HE IS VERY KIND HE LOVES US SO MUCH. MOREOVER HE HAS BESTOWED THE INTELLECTUAL FACULTY FOR HUMAN BEING SO THAT HE CAN ASCENT TO PARAMATMA HOOD BY EATING THE ANNAM. ALL THESE FACILITIES AE HIS PRASAAD. VEDA UPANISHAT RAMAYANA MAHABARATH DARSHANA SHASTRAS ALL ARE MAHAPRASAAD. PARAMATMA RESIDES EVERY WHERE. EESHAVAASYAMIDAM SERVAM. SARVAM KHALVIDAM BRAHMA. PURUSHA EVEDAGUM SARVAM. SO WHAT IS NECESSITY TO GO TO TEMPLE TO WORSHHIP. FIE ON ALL THESE PARAMPARE. ALL BECAUSE OF EGNORANCE. AND YOU ARE SPREADDING THIS MEDIA. THEN WHAT ONE HAS TO DO? HE SHOULD DO TAPASYA/PENANCE WITH YOGA AND USING GAYATHRI MANTHRA WHICH NOTHING BUT OUR OWN PRANA. GAYATHRI WHY PRAANA. USE GAYATHRI MANTHRA IN GREEVA PRANAYAMA AND DIGBANDHANA STATE THEN YOUR OWN SEXUAL ENERGY WILL SUBLIMATE TO AGNI AND THEN JYOTHI OR LIGHT BEYOND THE VELOCITY OF LIGHT AND ENTER ONES SAHASRARA AND HE BECOMES APARAV AATHARA OF THE PARAMATMA IT SELF IT IS JEEVAN MOKSHA. PASHYANTHI YAM YOGINA. WITHOUT KNOWING THIS SIMPLE WORSHING VIGRAHAS/PRATHIMAS ARE ALL CALLED APRABUDDHAS. PLEASE SPAREADDING IGNORANCE. ADHYATHMA IS PURELY SCIENTIFIC. IT IS NOT BASED ON KAKA/ BULL STORIES.
VEDAANTHA VIJNA SUNISCHITAARTHAHA .