Sidha Vakula
In the same road leading to Swetaganga, proceeding a little more ahead, here comes a Vakula tree, known as Sidha Vakula. The story behind it goes that Hari Das, a Devotee of Lord Jagannath came to Puri. He had lost his caste by coming in personal contact with Muslims. It was the time when Sri Chaitanya was staying at Puri. Hari Das approached door to door to find a place to stay, but failed to get it as he has become impure with his association with Muslims. He met Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and wanted to stay with him in Radhakanta Matha. Chaitanya when knew that his man was a staunch Vaisnava, he very soon planted at a distance, a small branch of Vakula tree which he was holding at that time to clean the teeth as tooth brush. Then he advised him to stay there. Gradually the plant grew and Hari Das used to live there. In course of time, once a tree was urgently needed for the construction of some part of the chariot of Lord Jagannath. Some body referred to this tree and the people started to cut it, ignoring its sanctity. Before it was detached from its root, the tree lay down and it was found that the tree was useless for the use of the use of the chariot as it was hollow. Then the tree was abandoned half cut and is still lying there. A number of pilgrims, from Bengal come here to see this half cut tree as a link with Sri Chaitanya.
