Lord Jagannath of Puri- the temple, the show and the show stopper
Bhakti or devotion is a deep, sincere, emotion of love for God; it is an intense, strong personal relationship with the Divine. Rituals and observances can be taught, but Bhakti cannot be passed down as lessons. And yet, every Hindu affirms his/her Bhakti as a sentiment of love, reverence, or adoration for the Absolute.
In today’s world, bhakti seems enigmatic, strange and sometimes bizarre for those who value rationality and science. We are engaging in a world that looks upon words like worship, God, bhakti, and Divine as primitive and unscientific, when once upon a time, these were everyday words and deeds. But even today, we, Indians, possess the unique proficiency to intellectualize the stars and planets with academic curiosity, and still look up to that very sky in reverence to that formless Divine entity. We bow down to worship a stone as easily as we study its earthly make up.
It was not uncommon in my growing up years, in the 1970s, to have a household where members practiced Hindu rituals in their own way. Some went to temples, while some stayed home and prayed at the altar. Some member preferred dhyana and some other member chanted mantras. From an educated professional to an unread farmer, each understood God in his/her own personal way and worked on his/her own personal relationship.
A fondness or attachment to a form of a deity forms the central theme of bhakti. Most Hindu divine forms possess exquisite features, graceful limbs (sometimes more than a human, but never less), and life-like eyes.
But there is one ancient temple, where the main deity has no physiognomy, no limbs, and huge eyes with no eye-lids. He represents oneness in all forms and beings. He is Lord Jagannatha of Purushottam Kshetra, more popularly called Puri.
On this hallowed ground of Puri stands the extremely sacred, visually stunning, and an architectural wonder in the world - the temple of Lord Jagannatha.
Who is Lord Jagannatha?
Jagannatha literally means the ‘Lord of the Universe’ or ‘Friend of the Universe’. In Sanatana Dharma, there is no ‘anaatha’ (one without a protector), because Jagannatha is the One protector, benefactor, parent, sibling and a companion of everyone and every being on this Universe.
The main deity is a form of Lord Krishna, who resides in the temple along with His two siblings -His elder brother Balabhadra, and His sister Subhadra. Because, the deities are carved from the same kind of neem wood, with variations in color, they are considered siblings.
The fourth deity is Vishnu’s powerful weapon, the Sudarshana Chakra, which rests atop the temple. The temple itself rests on a hill called ‘Nilachala’.
The three deities represent the confluence of Vaishanava bhakti in Jagannatha, Shaiva bhakti in Balabhadra, and the female power, Shakti, in Subhadra. It is Shakti that moves the two dormant energies of Vishnu and Shiva, and is therefore seated between Jagannatha and Balabhadra.
This energy and power of Lord Jagannatha is also mentioned in the Vedas. ‘Ja’ is Rig Veda that belongs to Balabhadra, ‘Ga’ is Sama Veda of Jagannatha, ‘Na’ is Yajurveda of Subhadra and ‘Tha’is Atharva Veda of Sudarshana Chakra.
The unique form of Jagannatha:
The idols of the three deities are made of neem wood, called ‘Daaruvu’.
The form of Lord Jagannatha is represented by huge eyes set in a square head, short limbs and no visible physical structure. This form represents the infinite all-pervading power, vigilant, and ever protective over every being of His creation. He is also called Chakhaki, or Chakadola (round lid-less eyes).
It is also said that this image of the wide-eyed Lord epitomises supreme ecstasy, when His body is absorbed into space and His eyes reflect infinite joy. His big, round eyes behold a child-like playfulness and innocence, filled with deep compassion for His creation. It is also a reminder for the devotee to ‘look’ within, and to ‘see’ beyond the limited form.
The wonders and mysteries of Lord Jagannath temple
This temple existed several eons (yugas) ago. It was ordained that the idols should be made of wood and the divine architect Vishwakarma built the temple and the idols. They are meant to look unfinished. Several mysteries surround the temple of Lord Jagannath.
The Neela Chakra or Sudarshana Chakra rests on top of the 45-storey building. It is made from ‘ashtadhaathuvu’ or eight metals. It weighs 2200 Kilograms and can be seen from any point in the city of Puri. The Neela Chakra changes colors at various times in the day. How did they mount this two-ton wheel atop the temple?
The temple flag is called ‘Patita Bhavana Bana’. It is considered auspicious if it is always fluttering in the wind. Interestingly, the flutter of the flag is in the opposite direction to the wind’s course.
Every day the flag is changed by a priest who climbs the 45-storey temple structure. If this ritual is missed even one single day, the temple is shut down for the next 18 years!!
The temple does not cast its shadow on the ground at any time of the day.
The ritual of changing the old idols to the new ones called ‘Nabakalebara’, takes place once in 12 years. The new idols are installed in the main temple and the old idols are ‘buried’ in a specified place with full honors.
Numerous astounding events take place from the identification of the exact trees and their location, till the idols are carved. For example, it is said that the local deity, Mangala Gowri, gives the exact location, and description of the trees, to the head priest in a dream.
At the time when the new idols are installed, the temple is brought to complete darkness both inside and outside. The Government of Odisha shuts down electricity and power for the hours when performing this ritual.
The head priest who installs the new idols is blind-folded as he removes a mysterious substance, and places it gently into the new idol. The priests call this the ‘Brahma Padarth’ and likens the feel of this substance to the softness of a baby rabbit.
The temple is situated on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. One can hear the sound of the waves for kilometers, but inside the temple, it's all silence!
The famous Rath Yatra:
Rath Yatra of Puri, is the oldest chariot procession in the world! It marks the journey of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, from the main temple to the home of His aunt Gundicha. This 3-kilometer journey is a dazzling spectacle of cultural extravaganza and magnificent celebrations.
It is the only temple where the actual idols are brought out for the chariot procession.
In the past, the King would sweep the 3-kilometer path with a broom of gold, in the presence of his citizens, to show that no man is above the Lord. And in serving the Lord, we express our highest form of devotion and gratitude.
Every year, this auspicious festival falls in the month of Aashada (month of July, beginning of monsoon season). From the gathering of the logs for the chariot, making of the idols, to preparation of the Mahaprasad (the great offering), every aspect of this amazing festival is a marvelous feature.
Amazing facts of the chariots:
Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra-the three main deities of the temple- travel in three separate chariots-Nandighosha, Taladhwaja and Padmadhwaja respectively.
· The Lord’s chariot has 18 wheels, 16 wheels drive Balarama and Subhadra’s chariot has 14 wheels.
· Every year new chariots are built with the same dimensions and model of the actual temple. 4 horses are attached to each chariot.
· About 1,400 carpenters are employed into making these chariots.
· Ancient technique of measurement using hands and fingers are used to gauge the length and breadth of the vehicles.
· Wooden pegs and joints are used instead of metal nails.
· The tops of the chariot replicate the actual structure of Lord Jagannath temple. A team of 15 skilled tailors make these canopies using 2,000 meters of red and yellow cloth.
This chariot is pulled by hundreds of devotees and pilgrims, who come to witness this grand event, with devotion and enthusiasm. The rope is made of strong coconut fibers, 8 inches in diameter. Lord Jagannath’s rope is called Shankachuda.
Everyone who has witnessed this event declare that Lord Jagannath’s chariot refuses to move for a long time, no matter how many hundreds of people push and pull the chariot. After hours of persistence and perseverance, the chariot finally shifts.
The English word ‘Jaggernaut’ is derived from Lord Jagannath’s heavy chariot.
What is the spiritual symbolism of the Rath Yatra?
The human body is a Ratha (a chariot) that moves on Kala Chakra (the wheels of time). The beauty and glory of this Ratha is in the Rathika (the charioteer), who is the soul of chariot. This Rathika is present in all of us. If we allow His wisdom to control the senses of the mind and body, then the sacred Yatra (journey) of human life moves on unperturbed and unagitated by troubles, worries and dilemmas.
The 3-mile yatra represents the 3 temperaments of any human being – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
The journey is as significant as the destination. The Lord is ‘moved’ only when He is satisfied with the devotees’ faith and perseverance. The destination of the human yatra is salvation or ‘moksha’.
The Mahaprasad:
The sacred offering prepared during the Rath Yatra is called Naivedya or Mahaprasad.
· The temple kitchen is the largest in the world with a capacity to cook for 50,000 devotees in a day.
· 56 delicious items are prepared as Mahaprasad
· Mahaprasad is cooked in 7 earthen pots placed one on top of the other on one single fire.
· About 700 cooks are involved in this preparation
· Mahaprasad is served to everyone irrespective of their religious beliefs, caste, social or economic status.
· Only native vegetables, lentils and ghee are used in the preparation.
One Jagannatha = Oneness of spirit
This magnificent Rath Yatra has been glorified by many saints, seers and poets alike. The tribals of Odisha hold this festival with utmost reverence. They offer rare plants and herbs to the Lord, as a reminder about the importance of environment and conservation.
At the 'heart' of this temple and all its ritual is the spirit of Oneness.
At the end of the 11-day yatra, the chariots are dismantled and used as firewood in the temple kitchen. The following year, all new chariots are built and once again Lord Jagannath ascends the chariot to meet, greet and delight His devotees, and once again the yatra begins.