whatever form one seeks, one sees the same in Jagannath.
The splendor of Jagannath Tattwa reflects the myriad expressions and ideas which sowed seeds of innumerable religions and spiritual traditions. How Jagannath is seen varies from one to another across the length and breadth of the land, opening up a plethora of views and perceptions.
The Jagannath Temple at Puri is one of the most magnificent and well-known temples in India. It is the abode of Lord Jagannath (“The Lord of the Universe”), his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra. There are many stories behind the origin of the temple but let us talk about the story that I have heard the most from all the local people of Odisha.
It is believed that Jara, the hunter who had killed Krishna, was reborn as a Shabara tribal man named Visvavasu. He discovers a congealed bluestone, which is believed by many to be Lord Krishna’s heart, in the forests around Puri and worships this giant stone as Nila Madhava. There was a local king called Indradyumna who felt all vacant in the world he ruled because he hankered for pleasure beyond material bounds: he long to see the Lord face to face. One day as Indradyumna lamented that he was not able to serve God directly, a pilgrim suddenly appeared. This man revealed how he had actually seen the Lord accept direct loving service in His Deity form of Nila Madhava. Hearing about this, The King immediately dispatched his chief brahminical priest, Vidyapati, to find this Deity.
After a month’s journey without rest, Vidyapati stopped around Mount Niladri, where he discovered the Sabaras tribe. He stayed at the house of a local chief, called Visvavasu. Vidyapati stayed there for some time and eventually married Lalita, the daughter of the Sabara leader Visvavasu. Vidyapati noticed some peculiar behavior of his host. Visvavasu would go out every day around noon and would return back to the house scented with fragrances of sandalwood, camphor, and musk. Vidyapati asked his wife about this and she informed him that his father would go daily to worship Nila Madhava. Lalita had been told by her father not to tell anyone about Nila Madhava, but she had overstepped that order by telling her husband. Vidyapati repeatedly requested to see Nila Madhava. Finally, due to his daughter’s pleas, Vishvavasu finally agreed to show Lord Nila Madhava to Vidyapati — only if he went to the site blindfolded. Vidyapati secretly carried some mustard seeds in his cloth and he dropped them onto the path that would eventually sprout as he was walking. When he reached Nila Madhava, the blindfold was removed and Vidyapati saw Nila Madhava. The brahmana then went to King Indradyumna and told him about his discovery. By following the mustard seeds, which had grown into small plants, they were able to follow the path to Nila Madhava. When they reached the spot, they could not find him. A disconsolate king makes a bed of Kusha grass, lies down on it, and says that he is going to fast unto death. That night, the blue lord appears in his sleep. “Build a large temple for me,” says the Lord. “Go to the seashore. You will find a large log of wood with markings that include a conch, a chakra, a mace, and a lotus (shankha-chakra-gada-padma), the four things that are carried by Lord Vishnu. Carve this log into four idols and install them in your temple.”. He tries to have his men lift the log, but even an entire army cannot move the thing. The king decides to kill himself — again. That night, the lord appears in his dreams again.
“Have my tribal devotees help your soldiers lift the log. Only then will it move,” says the voice. So King Indradyumna went to Visvavasu and requested the Sabara leader to help him carry out the Lord's request. The kingdom’s finest sculptors come to convert the log into the four idols. Every time they touch the log, their chisels break. Finally, Lord Vishwakarma came as an old stranger. He says that he will carve the log into the four god images so long as nobody disturbs him for 21 days.
The old man takes the giant monolithic log into the temple and shuts the door. Days go by. The door isn’t opened. What is the sculptor doing for food? A concerned queen orders that the door is to be opened after 15 days. The King and Queen did not see the sculptor, but instead, he saw the three forms of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, and Lord Balarama; and the last one is the Sudarshana chakra held by Lord Vishnu. Their fingers and toes were unfinished. Thinking of himself as a great offender the king decided to give up his life again. He then lay on a bed of Kusa grass and began to fast. Lord Jagannath appeared to him in a dream. He told the king that He is eternally situated here in Nilachala in the form of Lord Jagannath as Daru-brahman. I have no material hands and feet, but with my transcendental senses, I accept all the items offered by My devotees. Thus, the idols were installed in the temple in Puri. It is believed that the installation ceremony was performed by Lord Brahma himself.
The King prayed to Lord Jagannath that those in the family of the sculptor who manifested your form will continue to assist in constructing the three carts. He also told him that the descendants of Visvavasu, who served Me as Nila Madhava, should generations after generations serve Me. They shall be called as dayitas. The descendants of Vidyapati born from his brahmana wife should perform the Deity worship to me. The descendants born from his sabari wife, Lalita, should cook My food. They shall be known as suyaras.
Rituals and systems within the Temple have largely continued unchanged since its construction. The Lord of the Universe is worshipped here in a very unique manner. He and His siblings are loved and cared for as members of one’s family. Each morning, they are woken up by music and an arati. They are made to change out of their nightclothes and their teeth are brushed. They are given a bath and dressed in time for the morning darshan. They would be made to change again in time for a light early breakfast (Gopal Ballabh) consisting of fruits, curd, and green coconut. A second breakfast (Raj Bhoga) is served at 10 am which is followed up with some Betel nut to aid digestion. The deities eat an elaborate lunch (Madhyana Dhupa) at 1 pm.
Every heavy meal must be followed by a short siesta and the deities are no exception. Cots are brought into the sanctum sanctorum and the gods are left to slumber in peace. By 6 in the evening, the deities are awoken for an evening snack (Sandhya Dhupa) and darshan. Soon after, they are dressed for the Chandanalagi, the application of the cooling sandalwood paste, and gotten ready for the evening. The deities eat a late dinner (Badasinghar Bhoga) at 10:30 pm. Their cots are exchanged for substantially more comfortable couches in time for bed. A Sevak (the temple servitor) lulls them to sleep accompanied by the veena (a chordophone). The Lord of the Universe and his siblings are left to slumber in bliss till the next morning.
There are still so many interesting facts and rituals that take place here. To experience something so blissful and unique one should surely visit this place once in their lifetime. I have been to many temples and religious places but the routine which is followed here by the almighty is the nearest to a normal human life. This is a place where God even gets sick and gets cured, but sometimes they even die and take rebirth. Well, all that we can talk about later.