Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2023: Amazing facts about Jagannath temple will leave you astonished
By Lokmat English Desk | Published: June 20, 2023 02:18 PM2023-06-20T14:18:51+5:302023-06-20T14:18:51+5:30
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Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra 2023: Ashadha month of Marathi year has started. Ashadha month is considered important in many ways. Chartuma starts from Ashadhi Ekadashi. This year Chaturmas will be five months. Because more mass has come after three years.
Lord Krishna, brother Balaram and sister Subhadra ride in a chariot and go around the city to Gundicha temple. The temple of Jagannath Puri which is the center of faith of the devotees is famous all over the world. It is a center of attraction not only in India but also for foreign devotees.
There is a magnificent temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri in the state of Odisha. The height of this temple is 214 feet. It is said that if you look at the Sudarshan Chakra at the top of the temple from any place in Puri, it is always right in front of you.
It is said that this temple of Lord Jagannath was built in the 10th century. This temple is also placed in Chardham. It is said that the flag hoisted on the Jagannath temple always flies against the wind.
Not only this, the flag on this temple is changed daily. Each day a priest changes the flag on the dome. According to a consensus, even if there is a gap of one day in changing the flag, the temple may be closed for the next 18 years.
Another special feature of this temple is that you cannot hear the sound of the sea waves as soon as you take your first step through the lion gate of the temple. However, once you step outside the temple, you can hear the sound of the ocean waves. In the evening this sound can be clearly heard and felt.
Every 12 years, Lord Jagannath's idols are replaced. The temple priest blindfolds him after the initial operation. Nobody has access to Navelpana's replying procedure. He is dead if someone unintentionally witnesses the process.
Priests narrate the experience of hearing the deity's heartbeat as the Navel pana process continues. According to one belief, Krishna was invited to Mathura by Kansa Mama. Then Shri Krishna went to Mathura city along with Balarama and Subhadra. This Rath Yatra came to commemorate him.
The magnificence of Lord Jagannath's chariots is mesmerizing. All these chariots are completely made of wood. It is said that no metal is used in the construction of these chariots. In this Rath Yatra, Balaram being the elder brother, his chariot is at the forefront.
At the end of all is the chariot of Lord Krishna. It is called Nandi Ghosh or Garuda Dhawa. It is believed that Subhadra, the beloved sister of both the brothers, travels under the protection of the two brothers. Among these chariots, Jagannath's 16-wheeled wooden chariot is 45 feet high, 35 feet long.
Annachhatra is held in Jagannath temple throughout the year. However, the prasad made here is never wasted. Every day lakhs of devotees are benefiting from Prasad. 7 pots are placed on top of each other to cook food in the kitchen. In this process, the food from above pot is cooked first.
Jagannath has a large number of devotees not only in India but also abroad. Hence, though the main Yatra of Jagannath takes place in Puri, this Yatra is organized in many states across the country. This yatra is organized not only in India but also abroad.
The history of foreign invasions of India is well known. Due to this one attack, the Jagannath temple was closed for about 144 years. The daily worship was also closed. However, Adya Shankaracharya opened this temple and started daily worship.
Once between the years 1733 and 1735, the tradition of Jagannath Yatra was broken. Taki Khan attacked the Jagannath temple. To save the idols from this attack, they were moved elsewhere. Therefore Jagannath Yatra could not be held that year.
As many as 32 times between 1568 and 1735, the Jagannath Rath Yatra did not take place due to Mughal invasions. After this, however, there was no break in the planning of the yatra. In 1876 there was a severe drought in this area. It is said that the yatra was organized even in those unfavorable conditions.
