Jai Jagannath

The origin of the Jagannath idol is steeped in myth and legend. One of the most captivating accounts comes from Sarala Dasa, a 15th-century Odia poet who penned his own version of the Mahabharata. In his tale, Krishna's demise is reimagined with a twist. A hunter named Jara mistakenly shoots Krishna, thinking his foot is a deer's ear. Arjuna, overcome with grief, attempts to cremate his friend, but Krishna's heart refuses to burn. A divine voice commands Arjuna to cast the heart into the ocean, tied to a log.

Centuries pass, and the log drifts from the west coast of Dwarka to the east coast, where Puri is located. Jara, the hunter, is reborn as Biswa Basu, a Shabara tribal man, who discovers the congealed blue stone - Krishna's heart - in the Puri forests and worships it as Nila Madhava. King Indradyumna, eager to possess this miraculous idol, sends a Brahmin priest, Vidyapati, to find it. Vidyapati uses his wits and cunning to locate the idol, which is hidden in a cave.

                                Rath Yatra

The king's forces arrive, but the idol has vanished. Indradyumna vows to fast unto death, but the blue lord appears in his dream, instructing him to build a grand temple and carve four idols from a log with specific markings. The log, too heavy for the king's soldiers to lift, is finally moved with the help of tribal devotees. The finest sculptors in the kingdom fail to carve the log, but an old stranger succeeds, only to vanish before completing the task. The half-finished idols are installed in the Puri temple, with Jagannath, Subhadra, Balarama, and Sudarshana chakra taking their places as revered deities.

My life is a mere reflection of Krishna’s grace. I am a localised version of one of his billion manifestations. All my life I have chased and followed his life. During my travel to Jagannath Puri, it was my great fortune to meet him alongside his siblings. It intrigued my curious mind to see him reward even his siblings. I smiled and witnessed one more of his great magic of always showcasing those who associate with him and love him. How well we know so many of his colleagues and associates through him. 

In the same breath, I wished if he could be closer home. Well, the Lord of the Universe heard me out. He decided to move to Gurjinder Vihar, too! I was astonished to see him right here where I live. 

Now, the four of us are together for good. 

                           

   Lord Jagannath Temple GVGN