Puri Rath Yatra - A Long Waiting Event to Celebrate
Puri Rath Yatra - A Long Waiting Event to Celebrate
Since time immemorial, Puri the city on the eastern cost of India has been claiming as a major attraction for saints and servants of different faiths who usually visit for Salvation. Puri is known to the world over for its great temple of Lord Jagannath, which is one among the four holiest places of pilgrimate (Chaturdham) in India. Lord Jagnnath, the presiding deity and center of assimilation of various religious and faiths and believes has been worshipped by the savara tribals from 240 B.C. The cult of Jagannath which accepts the philosophical aspects of all religious and faith and which has survived and sustained throughout the course of history is the quistessence of Orissan life and culture. He is really the synthesis of the essence of Jainism, Buddhism, Tantricism and Vaishnavism, the ritualistic aspects of which are manifested in his daily worship. Hence all claim Jagannath to be their symbolical deity for all times to come.
Jagannath is neither a seculpture nor a painting worshipped n an uniconic form without hands, legs and other human features unlike the deities of Hind Pantheon. Many stories and legends around this God made him highly controversial and yet most acceptable and adorable. But the all accepted appropriate tale clarifies, king Indradyumna assigned the job to Viswakarma with a condition to dazzle the God by his own creation but Viswakarma requested the kind of be absolutely alone till the completion of work and orders accordingly accorded. Months passed and getting impatient, the king was forced by his beloved queen to open the doors. And since from that day the deities are found an incomplete shape. According to legend, tribal king Bniswabasu in the form of Nalamadhava was worshiping the Lord. But subsequently king Indradymna constructed a temple in the honour of lord. This temple was destroyed in course of time. After some centuries king Jajati created another temple and worshipped the deities Balabhadra, Jagannath and Subhadra. The present gigantic temple that dominate the landscape for kilometers around were build only in the 12th century AD by king Chodaganga Dev.
Shun the mortal barriers of cast, creed and distinciton, Lord Jagannath the embodiment of universalism rightly claims to the Lord of Universe. He is not only a god enshrined in the highest alters of divinity but come down to the people and even takes the guise of soliders in order to help their devout king and to save the country which are fabricated in the legend of Kanchvijaya and events of Ratha Yatra.
If any festival is considered as a grant event, Rath yatra may be occupying a prominent place in the world event list. This festival falls tow days after new moon day in the month of Ashadha. Pandas carry Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadara and sister Subhadra being dressed elegantly on their shoulders up to the newly built chariots with a great pom & ceremony. This particular moment turns the atmosphere into a holly patch of the rhythmic clang of mental gongs, blowing of conches and trumpet and chanting of holy men. The ecstatic cries of “Jai Jagannath” rock the entire environment when the overwhelmed jubliant crowds perceive and witness the first appearance of their judictious God amidst them. The large hypnotic eyes of their believed lords as if mesmerize them to work themselves in to a state of devotional frenzy.
The all waited patiently magic moment comes to an end when the most beautifully decorated palanquin following procession or elephant and horses of Gajapati - the traditional king of Puri arrives. As per tradition the king of the king become CHNDALA (Sweeper) and performs the duty of “CHHERA PAHARA” (sweeping activities) of the charitors. The mythology about this traditional sweeping evolves the king as living incarnation of God also accomplish work like a servant on this special occasion which is considered as best example of none valuation and indiscrimination in big and small job. According to one out of lot of stories and traditions, the deities embark on chariots to visit their aunt’s house, which is known, as MAUSIMA TEMPLE is 3 kms away from singhadwar.
NABAKALEBAR is earmarked as a special occasion with newly constructed deities, placed on the chariots after lot of rituals including change of Brahma from the old deities to the New Delhi deities prior to car festival. This Rathyatra is observed as the festival of “Nabakalebar” which falls when tow months of ashada fall in one year. This double ashada occurs at intervals of 8 to 19 years. Around 1072 pieces of wood neither more of less are brought from the earmarked forest for construction of these massive chariots. Assigning the job to the 3 head capenters one for each chariot, the king of Puri instructs to maintain sanctity. The car of Balabhadara called “Taladwhaja” clads in green and red cloths are 13.2 meters high and are supported by 14 massive wheels. 763 pieces of wood are used for its construciton. The four wooden horses attached to the car are named as Rig, Yaju, Sam and Atharva, which symbolize the four Vedas. The car of Subhadra otherwise known as “Padmadwhaja” or “Darpadalana” clads with black and red cloth is 12.90 meters high and is supported by 12 wheels. 593 pieces of wood are used in this car. The four wooden horses attached to this car are named as Prajana, Anupa, Ghose and Agrachi. This largest among the three is “Nandighosa”, the car of Lord Jagannath. The height of this legendry can is 13.71 meters and is supported by 16 wheels each of 2.13 meter diameter and adorned with stripes of dazzling yellow and red clothes. The four wooden horses attached to the car are Sankhika, Rochik, Moohika and Twalini.
The deities stay in the Gundicha temple for 9 days. On the 9th day they return to the temple on the chariot & this festivity is called “Bahuda Yatra” (the return for car). On way back to home the deities remain at some places among them one a Mausima temple (his aunt’s mandir). The deities as per custom are offered “Baked cake” known as “PODAPITHA”. After reaching at the main gate of temple the deities wear gold ornaments. Devotees throughout the night celebrate this special day as “SUNABESA”. “Adharapana” like sabant (Lasi) is the last offer to God & on the next day of Sunabesa, the deities are taken into the temple to Ratnavedi. This ends the most spectacular RATHA YATRA FOR YEAR.
According to tradition, this festival of Lord is celebrated because of restriction for non-Hindus to see the Lord inside the Sanctum of the Temple. Hence God steps outside so people of all religions and caste can pay their obeisance. This special darshan of God to common and all castes is envisaged “PATITAPABANA DARSANA”. It means the entire communities shall get a chance to communicate their all odds and miseries for quick settlement by the God.
