Ratha Yatra: The Divine Leela of Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe

Surrender to the Lotus feet of Lord Shree Jagannatha.

RATHA YATRA : Leela of Lord Jagannatha – The Lord of the Universe

Jai Jagannatha - "Jagat" means Universe and "nath" means Lord; Jagannatha - Lord of the Universe. He has his beloved devotees not only from Puri of Odisha or Paris from France. He has devotees from all over the world from north to south across the horizon, that why he is International not binded in single or any one religion, caste, creed , country--means he has devotees from Muslim community Bhakta Salabega who wrote poem of mahaprabhu shree Jagannatha, one of the favourite song “Ahe Nila Saila…” .

The French Sailor and the Miraculous Bell of Lord Jagannatha

Devotees from abroad from Christianity community French Sailor Albaque Beatow in 1746 was sailing the ship through the route in Bay of Bengal where they faced sea storm in the sea, were taking a bell from Pondicherry to present in the Church but devotees inside ship prayed Lord Jagannatha and storm rested and all they saved, as a mark of respect French sailor gifted the Bell to Shree Jagannatha Temple, which still date now was there inside the temple.

Saints Who Found Spiritual Connection with Lord Jagannatha

Significant saints like Nanak, Mahaveer, Shree Chaitanya are the most revered saints of the timeless history, their presence and their spiritual significance in the Shreekhetra puri connected to Lord Shree Jagannatha. Although Mahabahu-Jagannatha listens to prayer of every devotees without having ear, he walks with out his feet out of his temple to give darshan to devotees, he has his big round eyes 'Chakanayana' without eyelid and eyebrows- so that he not blink and not a single devotee be missed out from his sight, He has no hand but running the whole universe and also fulfil all the wishes--There is not God like him in the Universe who come out of his temple to see his devotees with chakanayana once in a year which is known as world famous Ratha Yatra or Car Festival.

But what is the significance, why and how did the Ratha Yatra start and held till today?

King Indradyumna and His Search for Lord Vishnu

King Indradyumna in the Satyug, was Emperor of Avanti who was a die-hard devotee of Lord Vishnu, was very much keen and curious to Darshan Lord Vishnu in his naked eye. On the prior information he knew that Lord Vishnu is in Neelachala getting worshiped in the form of Nilamadhaba, He sent his minister Bidyapati to Neelachala (Puri) in order to gain information on it, after reaching to the Village he found a Sabar Raja-Tribal King named Biswabasu worshipping the Lord Vishnu in the form of Nelamadhava in the Neelakandara (Cave) secretly because if he tells to anybody then Lord itself will disappear was the condition.

Biswabasu asked the reasons to Bidyapati why he visited him-he replied King Indradyumna has sent him–he is a devotee of Lord Vishnu and very much desperate to Darshan Lord Vishnu. But Biswavasu refused and hesitated to take anyone to the Nilakandara (Cave) as the condition prabhu would disappear. In the meanwhile Biswavashu fell in love and affairs started with Lalita–daughter of Vidyapati and later married to her. She convinced to his father to take Vidyapati to Darshan of Neelamadhaba, finally– Biswavasu agreed because he became now his Son in Law; but condition his eyes will be closed with cloth while the journey starts so that he became unanimous to the route but Bidyapati told Laita to take sesame seeds and drop it in meanwhile on the routes so that when it rains automatically plants will grow and will follow that route later to Nilakandara. Biswavasu made Bidyapati Darshan of Nelamadhava,--he became astonished while Darshan, at a time sacred garland fell from Lord –which signifies a sacred sign—like a green signal for King Indradyumna, Bidyapati gives to King Indradyumna.

King Indradyumna give a call to head Neelachala to its armies with elephants and horses, they reached Nilakandra King Indradyumna, Bidyapati found Lord Nilamadhava–Antardhanayam was no more there–disappeared–King Indradyumna's heart was shattered and he decided to die in the Mahodadhi- Sea. Whereas at that time it became Sunyavani–Celestial voice that “O–king three woods would come by flowing through sea, you take it, make Idols, build a temple and worship me in that form. I would be worshipped there”--King reached the sea shore really 3 woods shored in the seashore.

King call for - Carpenter but none able to did make the idol whereas at that time very old man reached to King and shows his willingness to do but with a condition that till 21 days doors of the temple will be closed and no one will listen voice of making the Idols, Indradyumna agreed to it, he came everyday and listens that sounds the old man working and went back on 15th day no sounds, he thought Old man died and opened the door Where he Saw the Lord Jaganntha Chakanya and Lord Bhalbhadra and Devi Subhadra as well as Sundarshan Chakra were unfinished and no one was there the old man already disappeared.

The Divine Establishment of the Jagannatha Temple

Again King felt guilty of his deed but Sunyavani-Celestial Voice reappeared again that “Hey Raja Indradyumna don’t be in guilt, Me myself has taken this form and make arrangements to do Yajna and Sthapana–establish me and worship in the Shree Mandira”. After that King Indradyumna called the Brahma, Lord Shiva all the Devtas came from sacred rituals took placed and the three Idols were sacredly placed as Lord Balabhabdra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Shree Jaganntha with Chakraraj Sudarshana in the Ratnabedi–Throne of Jewels.

By the devotion of King Indradyumna Lord Jagannatha very much pleased and O–mighty ask for boon and the king asked “Whatever difficulties might come in Neelachal that you will not leave” Shree Jagannatha said Tathastu and again said ask whatever more you want; King asked “His dying of descendant-No offsprings should born to his family, Lord asked why you asking for such boon– King replied His son or grand son will tell that my father/grand father has built the temple, by walking through roads when i listens people saying that ‘this is that king who built temple’--i felt like my heart burnt and deep pain to me like my devotion Bhakti is flown in the water–that’s why do that no will born like this to our dynasty who will claim this temple to their forefathers; Bhagwan–Tathastu Rajan”.

Queen Gundicha and the Divine Promise of Ratha Yatra

Meanwhile Queen Gundicha was standing beside King She said “what about me How i will Live I have Vatsalya Vhaab–have deep love feelings for a child you fulfilled King's wishes by dynasty descandant–Vanshaheen but How i will live throughout my Life.” At the very moment Lord Shree Jagannatha became her’s Queen baby- like Bal Gopal promises to “visit her mother Queen Gundicha house–Janmabedi (where they took incarnation or form) once in a year–which is Gundicha Temple where Mahaprabhu were born and Lord Jagannatha said that He will give Darshan to his uncountable devotees through Ratha Yatra–who can not enter temple, it will of 9 days 2 days To and fro to Shree Mandira and Gundicha Mandira and rest 7 days stays at Gundicha Temple–which will be called RATHA YATRA or GUNDICHA YATRA, when Mahaprabhu back to Shree Mandira it is BAHUDA YATRA. Devotees from far away across the globe are waiting for this special moment to connect their eyes with Chaka Akhi (Big Round eye) in the Badadanda (The road in front of Shree Jagannatha Temple). Mahaprabhu is playing with his leela to give salvation to human beings like us. the World famous CAR Festival- RATHA YATRA in Nelachala will give you Divine experience.

THAT'S WHY LORD JAGANNATHA and his RATHA YATRA are INTERNATIONAL !!