The Jagannath Rath Yatra of 1972 An Experience from the Jagannath Rath Yatra of 1972: His Majesty Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, the First Servitor of Lord Sri Jagannath At that time, the present Gajapati Maharaja, His Majesty Dibyasingha Deb, had only recently ascended the throne (in 1970). On that day, the Pahandi (ceremonial procession) of the deities to […]
Puri Rath Yatra: Kalia’s Dream Journey The Puri Rath Yatra comes alive in this dream. The chariot moves, its wheels rolling. Devotees are pulling the ropes—Basuki, Swarna Chuda, Shankha Chuda—dragging them along the Bada Danda (the Grand Road). A fountain of joy overflows in all directions. Srikhetra (the holy city of Puri) resounds with the […]
This article records the Sandhya Darshan arrangement announced for Friday, July 4, 2025, ahead of the Bahuda Yatra. For Jagannath Mahaprabhu devotees, the key point was that public entry through the Simhadwara (Lion’s Gate) of Shree Gundicha Temple would close from 6:00 PM. The closure was connected to preliminary preparations and the sequence of rituals […]
👉 Nabajouban Darshan is observed today, on the sacred Pratipada tithi (the first day of the waxing moon) of the holy month of Ashadha, after a long interval of 15 days, the Shribigrahas (the holy deities) grant their first darshan (sacred viewing) to the devotees in their Nabajouban besha (attire of renewed youth). 👉 The form or attire in which the Chaturdha […]
This article records the Anasara Trayodashi rituals of June 23, 2025, when the Ghanalagi Niti formed part of Mahaprabhu’s recovery in the Anavasara chamber. The servitors had conveyed the news of His recovery to the Gajapati Maharaja and requested preparations for the Ratha Jatra. Ghanalagi Niti at Srimandir on Anasara Trayodashi On Anasara Trayodashi, the Ghanalagi […]
In the ‘Sri Jagannathashtakam’ composed by Sri Shankaracharya, the Ratha Jatra (Chariot Festival) is described as follows: Ratharudho gachhan pathimilita bhudevapatalaihStuti pradurbhavam pratipadamupakarnya sadayahDayasindhurbandhuh sakalajagatam sindhu sutayaJagannathah swami nayana patha gami bhavatu me {5} Ratha Jatra in Sri Jagannathashtakam Meaning: He who, while proceeding on His chariot, becomes filled with compassion upon hearing the hymns of […]
“Salutations to Narayana, and to Nara, the best of men,to the Goddess Saraswati, and to Vyasa.Thereafter, one should recite the ‘Jaya’ (the epic of victory).” Based on texts like the Padma Purana, Vishnudharmottara Purana, and Rupamandana, the twenty-four forms of Sri Vishnu are depicted according to the arrangement of the Shankha (conch), Chakra (discus), Gada […]
👉 Today, on the auspicious occasion of Anasara Dwadashi, the traditional ritual of Srimandir Rajaprasad Bije (a procession to the Royal Palace) is being observed. 👉 On the sacred Snana Purnima, the Deities (Shrijiu) were bathed with 108 pots of water. Through this divine play (lila), they fell ill with a fever and were moved from the […]
The story of Sri Chaitanya and the Garuda Pillar begins as Sri Chaitanya was bowing to Sri Gopinath, the deity’s flower-crest fell onto his head, which sent him into a state of spiritual ecstasy. Overwhelmed with emotion, he and his disciples began to dance in joy. His eagerness to see Lord Jagannath grew intense. He […]
Maharaja Indradyumna wondered, “Where will I find a witness?” As he was contemplating this, his eyes fell upon the immortal crow, Bhushanda Kaka, who was sitting on the nearby Kalpabata (the eternal banyan tree). Immediately, he told Brahma, “This crow is my witness.” “Indradyumna said, ‘I have a witness.It is the crow sitting on the […]
