JAGANNATH PURI YATRA

Jagannatha is regarded as Daru Brahman or the godhead as manifested in wood. His worship can be traced to the worship of trees by the Savaras (an ancient tribe). They normally used to lop off the unnecessary branches from a tree and worship only the trunk leaving two branches to represent the arms. On the top they would paint a human head. The idol of Jagannatha is a figure like this. His face is painted not carved. Trees have always been considered sacred by the Hindus. Even today the banyan tree and the peepul tree are worshipped in all parts of India.

There is nothing anthropomorphic about these idols. What is most attention catching are the eyes and the outstretched arms of the Lord. Many poems have been written about the glory of these eyes and arms. The two eyes are supposed to represent the sun and moon, the cosmic sources of light, life and energy. With only two eyes dominating the appearance of all three of them, the holy triad seems to be a symbol of That Being who sees the whole creation at one sweep and from whom nothing can be hidden in all the worlds!

There is nothing sectarian about the cult of Jagannatha. He seems to have absorbed all other cults and sects into his ample fold. From the worship of God in the Totem pole to the worship of the Supreme Brahman in Vedanta can be found in the figure of Jagannatha. He includes all types of worship, starting from the primitive cult of tree worship, and the esoteric practices of Tantra, the meditative approach of Buddhism and the universal tolerance of the Jains and finally the all-comprehensive approach of Vedanta. In whatever form you think of Him, in that same form will He come to you. This is what Krishna states in the Gita and Jagannatha is a living emblem of this dictum. His daily rituals and festivals carry traces of Jaina, Buddhist, Shaivite and Vaishnavite traditions.

Everything in Puri is big. The main road leading to the temple is known as the Bada Danda or the grand road, the sea next to it is the Mahodadhi or the widest ocean, the prasad or food offered to the deities is called the Mahaprasad or the great prasad. Needless to say, the deity himself is Jagannatha the Lord of the universe!

The temple also has the largest kitchen in the world and feeds thousands of devotees every day. The kitchen can prepare food for 100,000 people on a festival day and 25,000 is not unusual on a normal day. There are 36 traditional communities ('Chatisha Niyaga') who render specific hereditary service to the Deities. The temple has as many as 6,000 priests.

The temple is 65 metres high and stands on elevated ground so that it appears even larger. It can be seen from a long distance. The construction of the temple was begun by King Chora Ganda Deva and completed by his descendant Ananta Varman Chodaganda Deva in the 12th century.
On top of the temple is a chakra or wheel known as Nila Chakra or the blue wheel. It is made out of eight types of metals. It is 11 feet 8 inches high and has a circumference of about 36 feet. A flag, fifty feet in length is tied every day on a mast attached to the Nila Chakra. On every 'Ekadasi' (11^th day of the moon), a lamp is lit on top of the temple near the wheel. Only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple but it is said that those who cannot enter can have darshan of the 'Chakra' from outside, and they will get all the benefits of seeing the Deity. Even though it is a very hazardous climb up the walls of the temple to change the flag, to this day no accident has ever taken place which is one of the miracles attributed to this temple. Another is the fact that whatever the time of day, the huge 65 metre structure which encloses the deities never casts a shadow!

The temple complex comprises an area of 10.7 acres and is enclosed by two rectangular walls. The outer enclosure is called "Meghanada Prachira". The wall round this is 6m (20 feet) high. The inner enclosure is called "Kurmabedha". The walls were built during the 15th or 16th centuries. The main temple is surrounded by 30 different smaller temples. The "Narasimha temple" adjacent to the western side of the 'Mukti-Mandapa' is said to have been constructed even before the present temple.
The eastern gate is the man gate. In front of this is an 11m pillar, called "Aruna Stambha", so called because the figure on top of the pillar is Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun God. It used to be in front of the Sun Temple in Konark and was brought to Puri during the 18th century. When you enter this gate into the passage you will be struck by the huge face of Lord Jagannatha called "Patita Pavana" (Savior of the fallen). This Deity is visible from the road and is kept there so that non-Hindus can have 'Darshan' of the Lord.

The temple has four gates- the Eastern "Singhadwara" (Lion Gate), which has been mentioned above, the Southern "Ashwadwara" (Horse Gate), the Western "Vyaghradwara" (Tiger Gate), and the Northern "Hastidwara" (Elephant Gate). There is a carving of each of these animals at the entrance of their respective gates. The Lion Gate, which is the main gate is the largest and is located on the Grand Road. From here one has to climb twenty-two steps to reach the inner courtyard. These steps have been sanctified by the countless devotees who have climbed up and great respect is given to them. If you take a right turn after climbing the steps you will come to the Ananda Bazaar, where the Mahaprasad is sold. If however, you take a left turn at the top of the steps you reach the Kalpavata-or the thousand year old banyan tree. It is towards the south side of the temple and if you take a fruit from this and offer it at the foot of the tree, your wish will be fulfilled. For each wish you make you will have to renounce one favourite fruit for the duration of a year! Only then will your wish come true.

In the sanctum sanctorum are enthroned the idols of Balabhadra (white), Subhadra (yellow), and Jagannatha (black). They are seated on the "Ratna Simhasan" or throne of chlorite which is 16 feet long, 13feet wide and 4 feet high. Devotees can circumambulate the deities round this throne at specified times. The idol of Balabhadra is the tallest and is 6 feet high, Jagannatha is five feet and Subhadra is 4 feet. The emblem of Sudarshan is found next to Jagannatha. Facing this is the Mukhasala or the audience hall, which can be entered through three separate doors. The 'Kalaghata' door leads to the sanctum sanctorum. The southern door leads out of the temple and the northern to the 'Ratna Bhandar' (Treasury house).

After this comes the Bhoga Mandap which is a spacious hall, 18m in length and 17m wide. There are sculptures and paintings about Lord Krishna's pastimes and other stories in this hall. This is where food offerings are made to the Lord.

The temple has many festivals. Out of this the Ratha Yatra or the chariot festival is the most important. This is held on the 2nd day of the bright fortnight of Ashadh (June/July). This year 2024 it falls on Sunday 7^th July. It is meant to commemorate Lord Krishna’s journey from Gokula to Vrindavana. It is also an analogy of the journey of the jivatma (embodied soul) along the grand trunk road of life in which it is helped by the compassion and mercy of the Lord.

The very first yatra is supposed to have been in the 3rd century when the king moved the images of the deities from Sundarachala to Nilachala. Now it has become a national and internationally acclaimed festival. Three huge chariots carry the three figures of the deities down the wide road leading from the temple. Sudarshan is kept in Subhadra’s chariot. The idols are taken to the temple of Gundicha where they stay for nine days after which they return. Jagannath’s chariot is 45 feet high, is covered in yellow cloth, and has sixteen wheels. These denote the sixteen kalas or arts in Hinduism. They also denote the sixteen divine tattvas or principles. Balabhadra’s chariot is 44 feet high and covered in blue cloth and has fourteen wheels which stand for the fourteen Manvantaras of each yuga. Subhadra’s chariot is black and has twelve wheels which stand for the twelve months. All three cars have four spirited wooden horses and an imposing image of a wooden charioteer. This festival gives all people, irrespective of caste or creed, a chance to have a vision of the Lord. As the Lord comes out of the gate, people are even allowed to touch Him. He who normally cannot even be glimpsed by the non-believers and untouchables now allows himself to be viewed and handled by all. At this time no distinction is made between Brahmin and outcaste. Everyone is equal in His eyes. He grants the wishes of all who approach him. The King himself is His slave. This fact is showed dramatically by the fact that the Raja of Puri sweeps the floor of the cars with a golden broom and sprinkles sandal powder on the floor after the idols are placed into the chariots. The descendants of the Savaras are in sole charge of the images. No priest is allowed to intervene between Him and His people who are allowed to embrace him freely as one does a brother. The idol of Sudarshan is brought out first and placed in Subhadra’s chariot. Balabhadra’s car is taken out first followed by Subhadra’s and then Jagannatha’s. The devotees draw the cars down the Great Grand Road, towards the Gundicha temple which is 3 kilometres away. The cars are very heavy and once they start it is virtually impossible to stop or turn them.

Gundicha was supposed to be the wife of King Indradyumna who had constructed the first temple of Jagannath. The Gundicha temple has four gates and two enclosures. The gates lead to an enclosure around the main shrine. The shape of this enclosure is supposed to resemble a tortoise. Many small temples are found in this enclosure. After staying here for nine days, the gods start their return journey. There are many ceremonies connected with this. The idol of Lord Jagannath is the last to re-enter the temple and His return marks the end of the festival. Many factors contribute to make this a unique type of car festival.

Aum Namo Narayanaya.