GODDESS CHARCHIKA
When we speak of devotees of Lord Jagannatha, generally people think of ordinary human beings only, but it is a universally recognized fact in Puri that the Devas and Devis, too, come to the Holy Dhama to show their deep devotion for the Lord of the Universe. In fact, it is said that they usually go to Darshana at the time of Pahuda, the particular ritual ceremony when Lord Jagannatha goes to sleep at night.
The Madala
Panji say that in 1368, one day the Goddess Charchika from Banki village
arrived late for Darshana and Lord Baladeva banned her from attending Pahuda,
saying that in her carelessness and pride, she had offended the service of the
Bhitarcha Mahapatra, who is in charge of the smooth observance of the ritual.
The Goddess was perplexed; she could understand that Lord Baladeva was up to
some special lila for the benefit of the universe, and she remained all night
on the 22 steps of the entrance to the temple, meditating on the divine plan to
instruct proud human beings through her example. In the morning Lord Baladeva
sent out a message from Lord Jagannatha, ordering her to become a servant in
the house of the Bhitarcha Mahapatra, to atone for her lack of respect.
Disguised as
a young widow in a white sari, Goddess Charchika went to the house of the
Mahapatra, who welcomed her like his own mother. She said she was ordered by
Jagannatha to become his servant, and the Mahapatra gladly accepted her as a
member of his family and asked her to take care of the house, as his own mother
had recently died. The young lady showed a great expertise, taking care of the
puja room, cleaning the utensils, changing the dress of the Deities and
lighting the lamps always in a perfect way. People were astonished to see her
devotional attitude and good manners, and asked her why she was not going to
the temple to have Darshana of Jagannatha; so many pilgrims came from far away
places and yet while living in Puri she did not go. She replied that everything
depends on one’s own destiny; she was not supposed to visit Lord Jagannatha in
His temple yet, and she would go when Jagannatha wanted. One day there was a
big storm and darkness fell. The Bhitarcha Mahapatra found his way back home
and knocked at the door, but the lamp had just gone out. He somehow entered and
handed the Mahaprasada, then he went to change into dry and clean clothes. But
he was perplexed. He asked how the young widow had managed to rekindle the lamp
without getting the flame from other lamps in the house or from neighbors, and
Charchika taking her original form stretched one leg to the top of the temple
and used the lamp there to light another house lamp.
After
revealing her real identity, Goddess Charchika explained all the events behind
the lila and the Bhitarcha Mahapatra assured her that he would ask Lord
Jagannatha permission for her to visit the temple.
Lord
Jagannatha was very pleased with Charchika and gave her the responsibility to
care for the Ratha during the festival. Before leaving the house of the
Mahapatra she offered him a boon, and he replied that he just wanted to see her
again. So the Mahapatra went to his puja room and saw a stone vigraha of the Devi
manifested from the floor; it is said that the vigraha is still there.
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