|Jagannath temple, Puri, Odisha. three chariots. mmts.mmtstraintimings.in|
The concept of the chariot festival is explained in the Kathopanishad in Sanskrit as follows:
'Atmanam rathinam viddhi sareeram rathamevatu
Buddhim tu saarathim viddhi marah pragrahameva cha'' - meaning the wisdom acts as the charioteer to control the mind and thoughts. So, in any act use your knowledge with discretion.
In the months of Asadha - June or July every year, the three deities of Jagannath temple - Jagannath, Balabhadra and their sister Subadra are taken out onto the Bada Danda (main street of Puri) and travel roughly three kilometers to the Shri Gundicha Temple, in huge wooden chariots (ratha). At Gundicha, the three raths will be there for nine days and after certain rituals and pujas are done as per age-old tradition, they will
|Puri Jagannath temple- three deities. organiser.org|
Not followed any where in India, is an unusual and a unique ritual associated with the RathaYatra called ''chhera pahara."
During the rath yatra , the Gajapati King, wearing the dress of a sweeper, sweeps the places all around the deities and chariots participating in the Chera Pahara (sweeping with water) as part of the ritual. The Gajapati King, with devotion and humility, cleanses the path of the Rath yatra by sprinkling sandalwood water and powder before the chariots with a gold-handled broom.
As per the custom, the King is the most exalted person in the Kalinga kingdom, but still he renders the menial service to Lord Jagannath, unmindful of his status, power and affluence. After all the king himself is the humble servant of Jagannath, the Lord of the universe and is always at his beck and call. This unique ritual, not followed elsewhere in India, subtly implies that before God all are equal - whether they are rich or poor. Particularly, in the domain of Lord Jagannath, there is no distinction between the powerful ruler and the humble – subjects. This implies '' affluence and poverty are transitory''.
The observance of the Rath Yatra of Jagannath dates back to the period of the Puranas. Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, and Skanda Purana. Kapila Samhita give the description in detail.
|chariot work under way. Puri Jagannath temple, Indiawww.ivy-baron.com|
The following are the amazing facts of rath yatra at Puri:
01. The Rathas have huge wooden wheels which are built anew every year. After Yatra, they are dismantled and from the wood, god images are made and sold to the devotees.
02. The chariot of Jagannath is about 45 feet high and 35 feet broad and takes about 2 months to construct it.The wheels are huge about two meters in diameter.
|Puri Jagannath temple, Giant wheel.www.rathyatra.net|
03. Pulling the huge rope connecting the rath-chariot is considered a holy act and thousands of people participate in pulling the chariots and it will be equal to doing several pious duties.
04. The festival takes place on the second (dwitiya) day of shukla pakshya (waxing cycle of moon) of Ashadh Maas (3rd month in Lunar Calendar).
05. A darshan of the Vamana, the dwarf (an - incarnation of Lord Jagannatha), means emancipation for humans, release from the human bondage and travails of birth and death cycles.
06. Quality wood from trees like phassi, dhausa, etc are used for chariot construction. No other wood is allowed.
07. Lord Jagannatha's chariot is called Nandighosa, and he is identified with Krishna, hence the chariot is marked by distinguishing yellow stripes on the canopy of this chariot which has sixteen wheels, each of seven-foot diameter.
08. The chariot of Lord Balarama, called the Taladhwaja is covered with red and blue cloth.
09. The chariot of Subhadra, known as Dwarpadalana is being traditionally associated with Shakti and the Mother Goddess; hence the chariot is covered with black stripes.This chariot has twelve wheels,
10. Like other temples only the representative deities called Utchava Murthis are taken out on the rath. The Moolava Murthis will always remain in the sanctum.
11. On the yatra day, devotees take bath and after doing pooja participate in the rope pulling.
Thus, Puri rath yatra is a colorful and devotional temple festival marked by gaiety and enjoyment and, of course,
devotion. Thousands of people, while pulling the giant raths, experience the religious ecstasy or euphoria that gives them mental strength to pass through drudgery in their lives and succeed whatever they do hereon.