Niceties of Puri Jagannatha Ratha Yaathra - Unique & World famous Car festival

JaganNatHa RatHa YathRa

(Aashaada Sukla Dwiteeya)

Niceties of world famous PURI Car festival…

Also known as one of the ChaarDhaam, the four abodes of God in four directions viz...

·        Badari in the North,

·        Rameswaram in the South,

·        Puri Jagannath in the East and

·        Dwaraka in the West;

Sacred place Puri is known as PurusHottama Kshethra dedicated to Lord Purushottama one of the popular names/attributes of Lord Vishnu. Pouranic reference to Purushottama kshethra is said to have been made in Skaanda Purana.

Known earlier as NeElachala during Kruta Yuga, Lord Vishnu is believed to have manifested at this place revered as NeElaMadhava. Symbolically one can find a NeelaA Sudarshana chakra on the top of Sri Jagannath temple tower.

In ancient times Lord was worshiped at this place as Neelaa Maadhava by Savara (tribal) king ViswaAvasu.

In commemoration and as per the customs of the temple, removal and re-installation of the main idols for the purpose of Ratha Yaatra is performed only by the descendants of the Savara tribal king and they are called as Daitas.

Subsequently King Indradyumna constructed a temple for the deities which got destroyed in course of time.

Present gigantic temple was built in 12th century by Chodanganga Deva.

What is its uniqueness?

Main deities of the temple are Lord Jagannatha, Balabhadra (brother of Lord Sri Krishna), Subhadra (sister of Lord Sri Krishna) and Sudarshana (Chakra); It is the only temple where we find brothers and sister are worshiped as main deities on the same platform.

Uniqueness of Puri Jagannatha temple is that, the idols of main deities are made up of Margosa tree wood and they appear with incomplete limbs; with large eyes without eyelids; indicating that Lord Jagannatha who is "Nimishho-Animishhah" the one who is ever awake, ever alert, and ever vigilant; the one who keeps a continuous vigil on his devotees.

Lord Jagannatha is considered as none other than Lord SriManNarayana in wooden form (DaAru) and the shape is said to have been originally designed by Lord Brahma himself. Lord is also known as DaAru Brahma.

Brahmaadi Devathas are said to have performed Yagyna at this place as a result of which Lord Vishnu manifested from the sea in the form of a giant Tree (DaAru) the wood of which is shaped in the form of idols.

It is the only temple where idols of the main deities are changed whenever there is occurrence of Adhika Aashaada Maasa. Old idols are buried and new idols are made and installed. This ritual is known as Navakalebarotsavam.

Recent replacement took place in the year 2015 when it was Adhika Aashaada;

Unlike normal temples, here at Puri Kshethra the idols are not given daily bath rather this ritual called SnaAnotsavam is held only once in a year on the full moon day (Jyeshta Sukla Pournami) during Jyeshta maasam which also coincides with JyeshtaAbhishekam at Tirumala Kshethra.

Puri is a sanskrit word meaning the town or city and Jagannatha Puri is the place where Lord Jagannatha resides.

Sri VaAdirajaru visited Puri kshethra during his pilgrimage and eulogized Lord Jagannatha; we find a reference in Poorva-Prabdha of the script Thirtha-Prabandha;

"ratHostham kesAvam dRistva pUnarjanma na vidyatE" 

Puri car festival known as "Jagannatha Ratha Yaathra" is held every year for ten days starting from 2nd day of bright fortnight (Dwiteeya) in the Hindu lunar month Aashaada that generally falls during June-July of every year.

On the first day known as Gundicha Ratha Yaatra, idols of the Deities are taken in procession from Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple, where they are worshiped for ten days with all pooja and rituals.

On the ninth day they are brought back and the return journey is known as Bahuda Yaatra and the chariots are parked outside only.

On the tenth day the Deities are adorned with gold ornaments.

On the twelfth day the idols are taken inside and reinstalled inside sanctum sanctorum.

During Ratha Yathra, three deities Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out in procession mounted on separate chariots fully decorated and the distance covered by Ratha Yaathra is about 3 km. It is also known as Gundicha Ratha Yaatra.

Gundicha was the name of Queen wife of King Indradyumna and the temple is believed to have been built by her and hence, the name Gundicha Ratha Yaatra. It is the place where Vedic rituals (Yagna) were conducted in ancient days called MahaaVedi that is known today as Gundicha mandir.

According to local legends Gundicha Ratha Yaatra is to commemorate the journey of Lord Sri Krishna and his brother Sri Balarama from Gokul to Mathura to kill his maternal uncle Kamsa.

Every year new chariots are made for the car festival. The work of making the new chariots begins on the 3rd day of the bright fortnight in Hindu Lunar month Vaisaakha maasam on the day of Akshaya Trutheeya. 125 carpenters are involved in the construction of chariots supported by nine sculptors along with the main priest of the temple.

Height of

·        Lord Jagannath’s chariot is 45 ft with 16 wheels;

·        Balabhadra 44 ft with 14 wheels and

·        Subhadra 43 ft with 12 wheels.

Chariot of

·        Lord Jagannatha is known as Nandi Ghosha;

·        Balabhadra is known as Thaaladhwaja, and

·        Subhadra Devi is known as Darpadalana, also known as Padmadhwaja.

Eight-inches thick rope with 250 ft length is tied to each chariot for pulling it during Ratha Yaathra.

It is a custom and tradition that during the car festival Maharaja of Puri sweeps the front yard of the chariots with a broom stick before commencement of Ratha Yaatra and the ritual is known as CheraPahara. Indicating that even the highest sovereign of the country is a servant before the God > 'Hari Sarvottama'

Area of Jagannath temple is 10 acres (48000 sq yards). There are about 30 temples around the main temple.

Height of Sri Jagannath temple tower is 214 ft. and it is in the shape of a counch (Shankha). This place is also known as Shankha Kshethra.

Custom of car festivals held in Hindu temples is not uncommon, but the one that is held at Puri Jagannath temple has a unique significance. More than a million people from across the world participate in the car festival, perhaps largest gathering for a carnival.

"rathostham kesavam dristva punarjanma na vidyate"

It is believed that those who witness Lord Kesava seated on the Chariot during Rathotsavam will not be reborn; It is highly meritorious.

Temple kitchen has got capacity to cook for a lakh of devotees on a day. Mahaprasad is cooked only in earthen pots and the medium of cooking is fire wood only.

Every day 56 items of various dishes are prepared and offered as Naivedya to Lord Jaganaath.

Regarding kitchen of Jagannath temple, it is believed to be the largest in India. The food is prepared as per shastra. Even if a minor mistake occurs while cooking the prasad a fresh batch of dishes are again prepared.

In Sri Venkatesha Stothra (Brahmanda Purana) Lord Venkateswara is eulogized as...

"SrusHtikarthaa JaganNaatho MaAdhavo BhaktavatsalaH"

He is bHakTaVatsala - the one who is highly benevolent, affectionate, kind and loving towards His devotees.

VaAtsalyatva is one of the attributes of Lord Vishnu who is BhaktaVatsala;

“SarVaM JaGanNathaMayaM”

whatever is happening in the universe is leela of BhagaVaan Vishnu who is JaganNatha the supreme God of the Universe.

Jagat + NaAtha = JaganNatha...

the one who is the Lord of Universe,

the one who is the ruler and protector of Universe,

the one who is the owner, protector and controller of the Universe.

He is none other than Lord Vishnu the Supreme Godhead...

“SarVaM JaGanNathaMayaM” - "nAham kartA hariH kartA"

Sri KrushnaArpanamasthu

Hari Sarvottama - Vaayu Jeevottama

Sri GuruRaajo Vijayate