Lord Jagannath in the Form of Lord Raghunath and Lord Jadunath
Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe has fulfilled the desires of devotees who in different
ages had throng Puri to personally behold him in the form and shape of their own admired and adorned presiding deities. Take for instance, Ganapati Bhatta of Maharastra whose own
presiding adorned deity was Lord Ganesh during his visit to Puri desired to see Lord
Jagannath in the form of Lord Ganesh. Lord Jagannath had fulfilled the devotee's desire and gave him Darshana in the Snana Mandap on the day of Snana Purnima in the attire of Lord
Ganesh.
It is Adi Jagadguru Sankaracharya at the first Darsan of Lord Jagannath at Puri had recited
songs glorifying Lord Jagannath, which is best known and popular titled 'Shree Shree
Jagannath Satkam' written and recited in Sanskrit language.
It begins :
'Kadachit Kalindtata Bipin - Sangeeti Kabaro
Mudaviri-Nari-Badana Kamal Swada-Madhupah
Rama-Shambhu-Brahma Surapat Ganesha
Jagannath Wami Nayan Patha Gami Bhbatume(1)
Meaning : "Once you appeared in the woods on the banks of Kalindi dancing to the tune of the sweet concert. Seeking nectar from the lotus faces of cowherd women. Your feet adored by Laxmi, Shiva, Indra and Ganesh. O Lord, The Master of the Universe, Thou appear in my vision.
It was Jaban poet Salabega an ardent devotee of Lord Krushna had seen Krishna in Lord Jagannath and has written and recited many Bhajans and Janans on him. Sri Jagannath is
adorned in different attires basing upon Lilas-of Lord Krishna. These Veshas are Kaliya Dalan Vesha performed in Bhadra Krushna Ekadasi, Pralmasura Badha Vesha in Bhadra Krushna Dwadasi, Krushna Balaram Vesha in Bhadra Krushna Trayodasi, Radha Damodar Vesha from the month of Asunya Sukla Dasami to Kartika Sukla Dasami, Chacheri Vesha from Falgun Sukla Nabami to the end of Falguna Purnima. Lord Jagannath is a mysterious God. The Krushna devotees opined that Lord Jagannath is Lord Krishna. In the month of August-September (Bhadrab) Krushna Janmastami is celebrated in Srimandir and in the month of October-November (Kartika) Kartika Brata and Rasa Purnima are celebrated in Srimandir. There is a legend behind Sri Krishna's last rites that when Lord Krishna was shoot by Jarasabar's arrow and when he left his body for cremation all the limbs of Lord Krishna were burnt and the Navi portion could not be burnt. There are sunyabani (unseen sky words) that you throw it in the ocean. It is believed that the unburnt Navi of Lord Krishna has been kept inside the Daru Bigraha and it is replaced in the new Daru when Nabakalebara of Lord Jagannath is performed. Lord Balaram was Lord Krishna's eldest brother and Goddess Subhadra is his sister and even in this iron age (Kaliyuga) the three deities are worshiped in the sacred sanctum which is known as gem-thrown or Ratna Singhasan. So Jadunath of dwapar age is none else than Lord Jagannath. Lord Raghunath is also Lord Jagannath.
There is a legend behind it. When Santha Tulasi Das of 16th century after performing his holly journey to Prayag, Mathura and Kanchi had arrived Puri. Santha Tulasi Das had his pious desire that he will behold Lord Jagannath as Lord Raghunath. But when he entered the temple, he only saw that Lord Raghunath or Ram, Laxman and Sita are not seated in the holly sanctum and Lord Ram and Lord Laxmi have no arrows in their shoulders. He could not see in his own eye the Raghunath Vesha of Lord Jagannath and opined that Lord Jagannath is not Lord Raghunath. He then promised to leave Puri and not to take food and water until and unless he beholds his own adorned presiding deity Lord Raghunath. He left Puri and spent at Tulasichaura of Malatipatapur village adjacent to Puri. In the meanwhile, a boy with some Mahaprasad requested Santha Tulasi Das to eat something and drink water fetched by him. Tulasi denied. When he enquired about such attitude Santha Tulasi Das replied that unless and until he beholds in his own eye Lord Raghunath, he will not take anything or drink water. The boy then asked, did not not behold Lord Raghunath in Lord Jagannath ? He said that Jagannath has got no foot, no ear and no hand and how can he worship and take granted as my beloved Lord Raghunath. Then the boy hinted that he is an author of Ram Charita Manas and he is known as Rambola and in his Ram Charit Manas he has written about the God that
"Bina pada, Chalu, Bina Kana Suna, Bina Kara Karama Karjana."
Meaning that God or Param Brahma walks without foot, ears and performs Karma without the hand. Then Santha Tulasi Das was astonished that how can this boy is of a tender age could know about these spiritual things. The jeeva performs Karma and Lord Jagannath who is ParamBrahma does not perform any Karma as he is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. He can work without foot, can hear without ear can perform Karma without hand andthat is the greatness of Lord Jagannath. Then Tulasi Das with the boy went from Malatipatpur to Puri temple and the boy soon vanished in the temple and Santha Tulasi Das could see in the sacred sanctum the Veshas of Lord Raghunath, Goddess Sita and Lord Laxman and at last admitted that he has seen his own Raghunath in Lord Jagannath. So it is said that Lord Raghunath and Jadunath are also Lord Jagannath. So from time immemorial devotees of Ram Cult and Krushna cult visit Lord Jagannath Here lies the greatness of Lord Jagannath.
ByTarakanta Mohanty
working as Deputy Director
(P&PM)-cum-Deputy Secretary to Govt. in the
Information & Public Relations Department
source : "Orissa Review" July 2005
 |
| KRISHNA VESA |
 |
| RAGHUNATHA VESA |
Lord Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe has fulfilled the desires of devotees who in different
ages had throng Puri to personally behold him in the form and shape of their own admired and adorned presiding deities. Take for instance, Ganapati Bhatta of Maharastra whose own
presiding adorned deity was Lord Ganesh during his visit to Puri desired to see Lord
Jagannath in the form of Lord Ganesh. Lord Jagannath had fulfilled the devotee's desire and gave him Darshana in the Snana Mandap on the day of Snana Purnima in the attire of Lord
Ganesh.
It is Adi Jagadguru Sankaracharya at the first Darsan of Lord Jagannath at Puri had recited
songs glorifying Lord Jagannath, which is best known and popular titled 'Shree Shree
Jagannath Satkam' written and recited in Sanskrit language.
It begins :
'Kadachit Kalindtata Bipin - Sangeeti Kabaro
Mudaviri-Nari-Badana Kamal Swada-Madhupah
Rama-Shambhu-Brahma Surapat Ganesha
Jagannath Wami Nayan Patha Gami Bhbatume(1)
Meaning : "Once you appeared in the woods on the banks of Kalindi dancing to the tune of the sweet concert. Seeking nectar from the lotus faces of cowherd women. Your feet adored by Laxmi, Shiva, Indra and Ganesh. O Lord, The Master of the Universe, Thou appear in my vision.
It was Jaban poet Salabega an ardent devotee of Lord Krushna had seen Krishna in Lord Jagannath and has written and recited many Bhajans and Janans on him. Sri Jagannath is
adorned in different attires basing upon Lilas-of Lord Krishna. These Veshas are Kaliya Dalan Vesha performed in Bhadra Krushna Ekadasi, Pralmasura Badha Vesha in Bhadra Krushna Dwadasi, Krushna Balaram Vesha in Bhadra Krushna Trayodasi, Radha Damodar Vesha from the month of Asunya Sukla Dasami to Kartika Sukla Dasami, Chacheri Vesha from Falgun Sukla Nabami to the end of Falguna Purnima. Lord Jagannath is a mysterious God. The Krushna devotees opined that Lord Jagannath is Lord Krishna. In the month of August-September (Bhadrab) Krushna Janmastami is celebrated in Srimandir and in the month of October-November (Kartika) Kartika Brata and Rasa Purnima are celebrated in Srimandir. There is a legend behind Sri Krishna's last rites that when Lord Krishna was shoot by Jarasabar's arrow and when he left his body for cremation all the limbs of Lord Krishna were burnt and the Navi portion could not be burnt. There are sunyabani (unseen sky words) that you throw it in the ocean. It is believed that the unburnt Navi of Lord Krishna has been kept inside the Daru Bigraha and it is replaced in the new Daru when Nabakalebara of Lord Jagannath is performed. Lord Balaram was Lord Krishna's eldest brother and Goddess Subhadra is his sister and even in this iron age (Kaliyuga) the three deities are worshiped in the sacred sanctum which is known as gem-thrown or Ratna Singhasan. So Jadunath of dwapar age is none else than Lord Jagannath. Lord Raghunath is also Lord Jagannath.
There is a legend behind it. When Santha Tulasi Das of 16th century after performing his holly journey to Prayag, Mathura and Kanchi had arrived Puri. Santha Tulasi Das had his pious desire that he will behold Lord Jagannath as Lord Raghunath. But when he entered the temple, he only saw that Lord Raghunath or Ram, Laxman and Sita are not seated in the holly sanctum and Lord Ram and Lord Laxmi have no arrows in their shoulders. He could not see in his own eye the Raghunath Vesha of Lord Jagannath and opined that Lord Jagannath is not Lord Raghunath. He then promised to leave Puri and not to take food and water until and unless he beholds his own adorned presiding deity Lord Raghunath. He left Puri and spent at Tulasichaura of Malatipatapur village adjacent to Puri. In the meanwhile, a boy with some Mahaprasad requested Santha Tulasi Das to eat something and drink water fetched by him. Tulasi denied. When he enquired about such attitude Santha Tulasi Das replied that unless and until he beholds in his own eye Lord Raghunath, he will not take anything or drink water. The boy then asked, did not not behold Lord Raghunath in Lord Jagannath ? He said that Jagannath has got no foot, no ear and no hand and how can he worship and take granted as my beloved Lord Raghunath. Then the boy hinted that he is an author of Ram Charita Manas and he is known as Rambola and in his Ram Charit Manas he has written about the God that
"Bina pada, Chalu, Bina Kana Suna, Bina Kara Karama Karjana."
Meaning that God or Param Brahma walks without foot, ears and performs Karma without the hand. Then Santha Tulasi Das was astonished that how can this boy is of a tender age could know about these spiritual things. The jeeva performs Karma and Lord Jagannath who is ParamBrahma does not perform any Karma as he is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. He can work without foot, can hear without ear can perform Karma without hand andthat is the greatness of Lord Jagannath. Then Tulasi Das with the boy went from Malatipatpur to Puri temple and the boy soon vanished in the temple and Santha Tulasi Das could see in the sacred sanctum the Veshas of Lord Raghunath, Goddess Sita and Lord Laxman and at last admitted that he has seen his own Raghunath in Lord Jagannath. So it is said that Lord Raghunath and Jadunath are also Lord Jagannath. So from time immemorial devotees of Ram Cult and Krushna cult visit Lord Jagannath Here lies the greatness of Lord Jagannath.
ByTarakanta Mohanty
working as Deputy Director
(P&PM)-cum-Deputy Secretary to Govt. in the
Information & Public Relations Department
source : "Orissa Review" July 2005
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