Does Lord Krishna’s heart still beat? The mysteries of Lord Jagannath will amaze you…
Friends, today we are going to provide you with information about a temple in India that is not only famous in India but also globally renowned. We are talking about the enigmatic Jagannath Temple. Every year, on the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Ashadha, the Rath Yatra (chariot procession) of Lord Jagannath commences from the Jagannath Temple in Puri, located in Odisha, India. Millions of devotees from all over the world gather to seek blessings during this grand procession. This year, the Yatra will begin on June 20th. As in every year, Lord Jagannath, along with his sister Subhadra and elder brother Balabhadra, will be seated on three magnificent chariots for the Rath Yatra. Following the traditional custom, the King of Odisha, or perhaps the Chief Minister or Governor, will sweep the path of Lord Jagannath’s chariot with a golden broom.
Every 8 years, 11 years, or 19 years, the idols of Lord Jagannath, his sister Subhadra, and elder brother Balabhadra are changed.
The tradition of changing the idols is called “Nabakalebara” in the Jagannath Temple. “Nabakalebara” means the act of changing the old bodies of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshan and acquiring new bodies.
Nabakalebara takes place every 8, 11, or 19 years. It always occurs in the month of Ashadha or Adhikamasa (leap month) according to the Hindu calendar. The idols of the deities are made from a special type of neem wood, known as “daru brahma.” The search for the trees marks the beginning of this festival. According to the priests and pundits, for Lord Jagannath, four branches are sought, for Balabhadra seven branches, for Subhadra five branches, and for Sudarshan three branches. The last Nabakalebara took place in 2015, after a gap of approximately 19 years.
The idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra are changed every few years. During the idol changing process, the entire city experiences a blackout, and complete darkness is created around the Jagannath Puri temple. The temple is handed over to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for security. No one is allowed to enter the temple during this time, and only one priest is permitted to enter the temple to perform the rituals of changing the idols. Before entering, the priest is blindfolded and wears gloves to ensure that he does not see the idols in any way, despite the darkness
Secret of “Brahma Padartha” in Jagannath Temple
Friends, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra are indeed changed. But there is one thing that remains the same, and that is the “Brahma Padartha.” This “Brahma Padartha” is taken out from the old idol and placed in the new idol by the priest. So let’s discuss the secret of this “Brahma Padartha.” In many places, it is believed that if anyone sees it, they will immediately die. People associate this “Brahma Padartha” with Lord Sri Krishna and believe that it is the heart of Lord Sri Krishna. However, this is a subject of research. Through research and various articles, we have come to know that when the idols are changed, and the “Brahma Padartha” is transferred from the old idol to the new idol, it appears to be jumping in the hands of the priest, like a rabbit jumping in someone’s hand. And it feels as if this object has life because the priest is wearing gloves, so he doesn’t feel the object too much. In other words, there are many stories about the “Brahma Padartha” being a living substance, but its true nature is still unknown and unexplored.
(Jagannath Temple Simhadwara)
(Jagannath Temple Simhadwara): There is a mystery associated with the pathway leading to this temple, which is known as the Lion’s Gate or Simhadwara. People say that when they exit through this Lion’s Gate, they hear the sound of ocean waves very loudly and intensely. However, as soon as they enter inside the gate, the sound of the waves stops abruptly. Near the Jagannath Temple, many funeral pyres are often burning, and it is believed that before entering the gate, everyone can smell the scent of the pyres. But as soon as they enter inside the gate, the smell disappears.
Regarding the claim about the smell of the pyres, we cannot verify its truthfulness, and for that, one would have to experience it personally.
Birds cannot land on the top of the temple.
The first mystery related to the Jagannath Temple is that birds cannot perch on top of it. It is said that no person has ever witnessed a bird sitting on the temple, and flying an aircraft over the temple is also prohibited.
The temple doesn’t cast a shadow.
The second mystery is that no shadow is formed on the temple. People connected to the temple claim that even in bright sunlight, no shadow is ever cast on the temple.
Jagannath Temple Kitchen Mystery
(Jagannath Temple Kitchen): The kitchen of the Jagannath Temple is one of the largest temple kitchens in the world. Approximately 500 people, along with their 300 assistants, work here. It is said that no matter how many devotees come to the temple, the prasadam (sacred food) never falls short. However, as soon as the temple closing time approaches, the prasadam starts to diminish on its own. The prasadam is prepared in seven pots, cooked on a single wooden stove. An interesting feature of this kitchen is that only the food placed in the topmost pot on the wooden stove can be cooked, not the one placed at the bottom.
Jagannath Temple Flag Mystery
(Jagannath Temple Flag): The mystery of the flag at the Jagannath Puri Temple is that it must be changed every evening. Many people associate a belief with it that if the flag of this temple is not changed even for a single day, the temple will remain closed for 18 years. Another interesting fact about the flag is that it always waves in the opposite direction of the wind.