New Delhi: Every year in Puri, Odisha, the famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is held in the month of Ashadha. This year, the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra will take place on Thursday, July 16. During the Rath Yatra, procession, the idols of Lord Jagannath, along with his brother Balabhadra (Balarama) and sister Subhadra, is beautifully decked up and seated on magnificent chariots before being taken through the city of Puri.
The Jagannath Temple in Puri is surrounded by many beliefs, legends and mysteries that continue to fascinate people. This is one of the reasons why the annual Rath Yatra attracts huge crowds from across the country and beyond. If one sees the idol of Lord Jagannath, it can be noticed that it is incomplete. But there are two intriguing stories behind it.
The Story Behind Lord Jagannath’s Incomplete Idol
According to mythological legend, Lord Krishna once began calling out Radha’s name in his sleep. His wives were surprised and curious that why wasn’t he able to forget Radha. They asked Rohini, mother of Lord Krishna and Balarama, about the relationship between Krishna and Radha.
Rohini agreed to tell them the story, but didn’t want to overwhelm Krishna. She asked Subhadra to stand guard at the entrance and ensure that no one entered the room.
After some time, Krishna and Balarama arrived. Subhadra stopped them at the door and refused to let them enter. Even so, the story of Krishna and Radha could be heard from outside, and Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra stood at the entrance listening intently.
Narada Was Astonished by Their Divine State
As they started listening to the story, their bodies began to transform in an extraordinary way. Their hands and feet seemed to merge into their forms and eyes became large. At that very moment, the sage Narada arrived and was astonished by what he saw.
Narada then requested Krishna to remain on Earth in this divine form so that ordinary people could have his darshan. Lord Krishna accepted the request.
Vishwakarma’s Condition for Creating the Idols
In another lore according to Skanda Purana, King Indradyumna of Malwa wished to fulfil this divine vision and sought a craftsman to create the idols. Lord Vishwakarma, the celestial architect, appeared before the king disguised as an elderly artisan. He told the king that he could carve the idols of Lord Neelamadhava, Subhadra and Balabhadra, but only on one condition.
He said that he would complete the work within 21 days, but he must be left alone in a closed room while carving the idols. During that period, no one would be allowed to open the door. The work of making the idols began, after the king agreed to it. The sounds of idols being carved could be heard from the outside. However, one day, the sounds stopped suddenly. There was no sound to prove that the work was still in progress.
The king feared that something might have happened to the elderly craftsman. Unable to contain his concern, he forgot the condition he had agreed to and ordered the door to be opened.
The moment the door was opened, Vishwakarma disappeared. That’s when he discovered three idols that had not been finished. The limbs were missing from the idols.
The incomplete idols of Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra were installed in the temple and worshipped. Since then, devotees at the Jagannath Temple in Puri have continued to worship these unfinished forms with great reverence.
The Nabakalebara Festival
Every 12 years, during Adhika Masa or Mala Masa, the Jagannath Temple celebrates the Nabakalebara festival. During this sacred event, the old idols of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra are ceremonially replaced with new ones carved from neem wood. This ritual also symbolises Lord Jagannath relinquishing his old body and taking on a new one. It also shows the cycle of death and rebirth, and the impermanence of physical body.
