Jagannath Rathayatra ( History of Jagannatha Puri ) Part - 2 - Blog - ISKCON Desire Tree

Jagannatha Puri, located on the eastern coast of Bharatam (India) in the state of Orissa (originally called Utkala or Udradesh), is a prime pilgrim centre in South Asia. The four famous param-tirthas (primary pilgrim centres known as Chardham) in Bharatam are Bhadrinath established in sattyayuga, Ramesvaram in tretayuga, Dvaraka in dvaparayuga, and Jagannath Puri in kaliyuga. The Puranas mention that the ancient Puri temple extends up to 10 yojanas (approximately 80 miles in diameter) and it was manifested from the ocean and covered by sand and at the middle of the sandy beach is the blue mountain. Although Jagannath Puri, originally called Purushottama Kshetra, was founded in sattyayuga by King Indradyumna as the Narada Purana (uttara-bhaga chapters 52 and 57) mentions, it became famous only in this age with the installation of the kaliyuga Deities of the Supreme Lord Krsna along with Balarama and Subhadra in its sanctum sanctorum. The Scriptures say that only pious people are eligible to visit Puri and meeting Jagannatha will wash off their sins in the past lives and lead them to liberation from the fetters of endless miserable life in this karma-bhumi.

Lord Jagannatha (Lord of the universe) represents Lord Krsna residing at the middle of the mammoth temple complex of Puri. According to the Mahapuranas, the coronation of the deity carved out from wood by Visvakarma was performed by Lord Brahma in sattyayuga. Lord Jagannatha told Indradyumna that He originally appeared in the first manvantra of Svayambhuva Manu approximately 1700 million years ago based on Vedic calculations. In memory of the installation of the holy Deity, the snana-yatra (pubic bathing) ceremonies carrying Jagannatha on a huge ratha (chariot) are held annually at Puri and the first of its kind was celebrated in the second manvantra of Svarochisha Manu. From then, the festival became famous as rathayatra. An episode in the uttara kanda (108.30) of Valmiki Ramayana reveals that just before Lord Rama’s departure, He advised King Vibhishana of Lanka to worship Lord Jagannatha, the Lord of the Iksvaku (a son of Vaivasvata, the current Manu) dynasty in which Lord Ramachandra appeared. The rathayatra festivities are held annually in the month of Ashadha (May-June) on the day of the Pushyami star as the Skanda Purana tells. The story of the Purushottama Kshetra is also told in the Padma Purana as Sanatana Goswami mentions it in the Dig Darshini Tika of his Brhad Bhagavatamrta (2.1.159). The Deity of Jagannatha is said to be perfectly spiritual, though originally made of wood, in which Lord Caitanya (an incarnation of Lord Krsna) merged and disappeared from this world around 500 years ago after enacting His pristine pastimes and enlightening this mortal world as the Caitanya Caritamrta reveals.

About 500 years ago, Caitanya Mahaprabhu (an incarnation of Lord Krsna) remained at Jagannatha Puri and danced always in the rathayatra festival. Nityananda Prabhu (an incarnation of Lord Balarama) always joined Lord Caitanya in the procession together with several of their associates. Lord Caitanya was present at Jagannath Puri for 18 years and finally He was said to have entered in the Jagannatha temple and merged with the Deity of Jagannath.

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