Overview
Lord Jagannath, worshipped along with His siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, is the presiding deity of the sacred city of Puri, Odisha. The Jagannath tradition emphasizes universal love, inclusivity, and devotion.
History & Legends
Lord Jagannath, is also popularly known as Mahaprabhu. The word Jagannath is derived from a confluence of two Sanskrit words, Jagat meaning “universe” and nātha meaning “Master” or “Lord”. Thus, Jagannath means “lord of the universe”. The trio of deities consisting of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are worshipped at the temple.
Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Maa Subhadra are worshipped on the Ratnavedi along with Sudarshan chakra. The four deities are carved out of dark colored Neem wood, which is considered auspicious for all Hindus. This also signifies that Jagannath is beyond space and time, and a symbol of universal love and brotherhood. This depicts the uniqueness of Shri Jagannath deity unlike other deities in Hindu temples, which are carved out of stone and precious metals. The deities are adorned with different clothing and jewels according to the season. The well-known descriptions, as found in the Skanda-Purana, Brahma Purana and other Puranas and later Odia Puranas, state that Lord Jagannath was formerly worshipped as Shri Neela Madhaba by a Savar king, the tribal chief, named Viswavasu.
According to Hindu mythology, King Indradyumma was ruling over the Malava Country in Satya Yuga, the age of Truth. He was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. After knowing about the Lord, King Indradyumna directed a Brahmin priest, Vidyapati, to discover the deity, who was worshipped secretly in a dense forest by Viswavasu. Vidyapati tried his paramount resources to locate the place, but he failed in the beginning. However, at the end, he managed to convince Viswavasu’s daughter Lalita to marry him. Following the marriage, due to repetitive requests of Vidyapati, Viswavasu took his son-in-law blindfolded to a cave where Lord Neela Madhaba was worshipped. Vidyapati was intelligent; in order to identify the path, he dropped mustard seeds on the ground while he was traveling along with Vidyapati. The mustard seeds sprouted into plants in a few days, which identified the way to the cave later on. On hearing the good news from him, King Indradyumna proceeded instantly to Odra desha, now known as Odisha, on a pilgrimage to visit the Lord. But on arrival he found the deity was missing. The king felt dejected but was adamant not to return without having a darshan of the Lord. He decided to perform fast unto death at Mount Neela, then a celestial voice cried ‘Thou shalt see him.’ Subsequently, the king performed one thousand Ashwamedha Yajna (sacrifice) and built a magnificent temple for Vishnu. The first Murti of Lord Narasimha was brought by Narada which got installed in the temple. Subsequently, during sleep, the king got an image in his dream of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Chakra Sudarshan. A cosmological voice also directed him to bring the massive dark colored Divine Log of wood floating on the seashore and make idols out of it. Sage Narada advised bringing the Divine Log of wood to a high altar, presently identified as the Mahavedi. Then Shri Visvakarma, the divine architect, emerged in the guise of an elderly carpenter and requested the king for an opportunity to carve the wooden idols which were to become deities. The carpenter made one condition with the king and queen: do not open the door for 21 days. However, after two weeks, the queen became anxious as she couldn’t hear any noise from inside. She assumed the carpenter to be dead and requested the king to open the door. On the 17th day, the king opened the door, but to their surprise, they found the three idols unfinished with incomplete hands, and the carpenter had disappeared. A divine voice told King Indradyumna to install these deities in the temple. The king then requested Shri Visvakarma to build a magnificent temple to house the deities, near the Kalpabata. Finally, the deities were installed in the temple by Brahma with divine rituals.
Lord Jagannath is known as “Darubrahma“. In the 28th Chapter of Skanda-Purana Purushottama-kshetra Mahatmya, Lord Brahma Himself reveals the true identity of Lord Shri Jagannath when He instructs King Indradyumna with these words: “Thinking it is a wooden image, O pre-eminent King, let there not be the idea in you that this is a mere image; this is verily the form of Supreme Brahman (Supreme Omnipresent God). As Param-Brahman takes away all sorrows and confers eternal bliss, He is known as Daru. According to the four Vedas therefore, the Lord is manifest in the form of Daru (sacred wood). He is the Creator of the entire Universe. He has also created Himself.” (Chapter 28, verses 39-41).
King Indradyumna then introduced the daily and special festive rituals of the Lord, as per scriptures, which continue to this day. The temple of Lord Jagannath constructed by King Indradyumna is considered to be the tallest monument in the world at 1,000 cubits high and also the most beautiful temple for Lord Vishnu.
Lord Shree Jagannath, Darubrahma
Shree Jagannath, Shri Baladev and Mata Subhadra are worshipped on the Ratnavedi along with Sudarshan chakra. All these deities are carved out of dark colored Neem wood, unlike deities in Hindu temples, which are carved out of stone and precious metals. Shri Jagannath is black in complexion, Shri Balabhadra is white, Mata Subhadra is turmeric yellow and the Sudarshan chakra is red in color. These deities are unique and signify that Shri Jagannath is beyond space and time and a symbol of universal love and brotherhood.
The glory and descriptions of manifestations of Shree Jagannath has been described in many sacred scriptures of Sanatana Vaidika Dharma ranging from the Vedas to the Puranas, followed by literary compositions in Sanskrit, Odia and other languages.
Rath Yatra
The annual Chariot Festival (Rath Yatra) is a 10-12-day annual visit of Lord Jagannath, along with his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and little Sister Lord Subhadra to Gundicha Temple via Mausi Maa Temple (maternal aunt’s home) near Saradha Bali, Puri, 3 km away from the Jagannath temple, for nine days, celebrates the deities’ public procession on majestic chariots, drawing devotees worldwide and symbolizing Jagannath’s outreach to all.
The Rath Yatra is not just about rituals, but also about play, devotion, love for Lord Jagannath, and a complete surrender to him. During the Yatra, caste, class, religion, or race don’t matter, and from the richest of people to people of another country and land can participate in the Yatra and try to touch or pull the chariot. It is said that participating in the Rath yatra by pulling the ropes is a direct service to the Lord and helps remove sins done by mistake.
Rath yatra is also the time when the Gods themselves come out to meet their devotees, unlike how devotees usually go to temples to visit the Lord.
Temple & Rituals
The Puri Jagannath Temple is renowned for its elaborate daily seva, Mahaprasad, and unique festivals such as Snana Purnima, Anavasara, Nabakalebara, and more.
Philosophy
The Jagannath tradition highlights devotion (bhakti), service (seva), and equality beyond caste, creed, or status, inspiring millions across the globe.
The philosophy of Lord Jagannath is a unique blend of inclusivity and humanitarianism, characterized by its assimilation of various religious traditions and emphasis on equality, universal brotherhood, and tolerance. It rejects sectarianism and caste-based divisions, promoting the idea that the divine is for everyone, transcending social and religious barriers. Lord Jagannath himself, with his distinct, unfinished form and enormous eyes, symbolizes the divine’s infinite perception, unconditional acceptance, and ability to look beyond appearances to embrace all beings equally.