EVEN though the International Society for Krishna Consciousness celebrates the “Festival of the Chariots”, annually, in every major city of the world (including Moscow), yet most people are not aware why Lord Jagannatha (who is actually Krishna), His brother, Baladeva, and sister, Subhadra, appear in such strange primitive forms. The festival will be celebrated tomorrowall over the world.

The history is fascinating. In the Satya ‘yuga’, there was a great saintly King named Maharaja Indradyumna, who ruled the entire planet for many thousands of years, from his capital of Avantipur. He had an intense yearning to see the Lord face to face; but, being unable to get a glimpse of his beloved Lord, he became extremely disheartened and was plagued by loneliness. One day, the auspicious news was brought to him that a most beautifuldeity, called Nila Madhava,(a transcendental form of Krishna) expressed His strong desire to be worshipped in greatopulence by the King, himself. Indradyumna’s heart was aflame with fervour. His zeal knew no bounds. But, he knew not where to find Nila Madhava. In desperation, he sent a very learned and intelligent ‘brahmana’, named Vidyapati, to search in all the remote corners of the planet.

After searching far and wide, Vidyapati finally found the supremely exquisite deity of Nila Madhava who was being served and cared for by Shabaras (tribal woodsmen), deep in the jungles of Purushottama ‘kshetra’. He lived within that most fortunate community for some time, feeling the strong urge to renounce everything of this world and dedicate his life, exclusively, to Nila Madhava. But then, he could not give up his allegiance to Maharaja Indradyumna. Somehow, Vidyapati managed to part from the secretive Shabaras, who were most reluctant to let him go. Upon returning to the King, with the auspicious tidings of Nila Madhava, Maharaja Indradyumna was overwhelmed with intense affection. He immediately summoned his commanders and set forth with armies and citizens with the sole intention of settling down in that distant land where the deity of Nila Madhava resided.

After traveling for days and weeks, Maharaja Indradyumna reached that secluded spot; but, to his horror he found that the deity of Nila Madhava was missing. The whole place was deserted and covered with sand. Unable to bear the shock, he decided to give up his life. But a voice was heard, in the skies, instructing him to build a temple at the summit of the Nila hill because the Lord was soon going to manifest in an extraordinary wooden form.The King not only built a magnificent temple, but he also developed a huge town, named Ramakrishnapur, around it. Indradyumna was keen to have Brahma consecrate the temple. So, he departed for Satyaloka. Even though he was gone for a short while, many centuries had elapsed on this earth, so much so, that one of his successors, Maharaja Galamadhava, was ruling. It was difficult to recognize Maharaja Indradyumna – every one had forgotten him. He was treated as a complete stranger in his own kingdom. No one was prepared to believe that he was the former King who had built that incredible temple. However, a crow (named Bhusandi) lived in an ancient banyan tree, just near the temple. He was centuries old and had personally witnessed Maharaja Indradyumna build the temple. After Bhusandi’s testimony, everyone accepted Maharaja Indradyumna as the King.

Meanwhile, Maharaja Indradyumna began to plead with Brahma to come down, to the earth, to consecrate the magnificent temple. Brahma refused, “The Supreme Lord resides eternally in Nilacala – He manifests His beautiful form as and when He desires. Who am I, a fragile mortal, to ever dare imagine that the Lord is subservient to my command?”

The King’s heart sank with disappointment. Nevertheless, he decided to wait patiently for the Lord to appear. Days and years went by; yet there were no auspicious signs that the Lord would appear. He felt hopeless and despondent. Finally, he decided to fast unto death. That night, Lord Jagannatha appeared to Indradyumna in a dream and reassured him, “My dear King, do not despair! Tomorrow, I shall appear, floating in the ocean, as an enormous log of wood (‘Daru brahman’), at a place called Bankimuhan. Take me ashore and carve my most exquisite form out of that sacred wood.”

The next morning, Maharaja Indradyumna rushed to Bankimuhan. Sure enough, he saw that mighty log of wood floating toward the shore. Employing elephants and soldiers, he was able to mount it on a golden chariot and bring it back to his palace. The best of sculptors were summoned to carve the deity of Krishna; but, their chisels broke into pieces each time they touched the wooden log.

One day, a very mysterious person appeared and expressed his willingness to carve the Deity. His name was Ananta Maharana. Legend has it, that the sculptor, Ananta, was the Lord, Himself; others claim that he was Vishvakarma, the architect of the heavenly planets. He demanded complete seclusion for 21 days. Maharaja Indradyumna kept him locked within the precincts of the temple. As time went by, the King could not suppress his curiosity. He would pace up and down outside the temple doors. Finally, on the fourteenth day, he could not hear any tapping of tools. He decided to break into the temple. The ministers tried their best to dissuade the King, but he could not be restrained.

Upon forcing open the locked doors, he was shocked to find that the sculptor had vanished. Still worse, the three wooden forms of Jagannatha, Subhadra and Baladeva were still in a primitive state, with hands, legs and faces unfinished. King Indradyumna fell to the floor, his head in his hands, repenting and lamenting, “What a vile offender I am! Oh, how can the Lord ever forgive my impudence! The sculptor has vanished . . . who will finish these deities?” In utter dejection, he decided to fast unto death.

That night, the Lord spoke to the King in a dream, “Your breaking your promise is part of my inconceivable plan to manifest in this extraordinary form of Jagannatha. Even though I appear to have incomplete hands and legs, yet I can easily accept all your offerings and move freely everywhere, because I have spiritual senses. When your eyes are anointed with pure love, only then can you see me – not as a primitive wooden form, but playing my flute and standing in my exquisite threefold bending form of Shyamasundara Krishna of Vrindavan. Now you may install this transcendental form of Jagannatha, along with my brother and sister, Baladeva and Subhadra, in this magnificent temple at Shri Purushottama Kshetra, and serve me in all opulence and grandeur, to your heart’s content.”
Maharaja Indradyumna did as he was instructed. . . . the rest is history!

By Damodara Pandita Dasa