Sri Jagannath: The Ocean of Divine Bliss

In our lives, we all search for happiness. We look for it in our relationships, our work, and our worldly achievements. But this happiness often feels temporary, like a fleeting wave. The scriptures ask a profound question: where can we find true, lasting, and unconditional joy?

The answer lies in the very nature of the Supreme Brahman, who is described as Sat-Chit-Ananda—Existence, Consciousness, and Bliss. And in Srikshetra, this Supreme Brahman, the embodiment of bliss itself, is none other than our beloved Sri Jagannath.

 

Worldly Happiness vs. Divine Bliss

 

The Upanishads make a beautiful distinction between the joy we experience daily and the bliss of the Divine.

• Worldly Happiness (Manusha Ananda): This is the pleasure we get from external objects and experiences. It is dependent, temporary, and limited. The scriptures say this happiness is just a single, tiny drop from a vast ocean.
• Divine Bliss (Brahmananda): This is the inherent nature of God. It is independent, eternal, and infinite. Sri Jagannath is this bliss. He doesn’t get bliss from anywhere; He is the ocean of bliss (Ananda Sagara).

The ancient sages realized, “Raso Vai Sah” – “He is indeed the very essence of joy.” Just as coolness is the nature of water, bliss is the very nature of Sri Jagannath.

 

Why Do We Suffer?

 

If we are all sparks of the divine, why don’t we feel this constant bliss? The scriptures explain that the individual soul (Jiva) forgets its true nature. We start to believe that we are only our physical bodies and get caught in the cycle of our own actions (karma), chasing fleeting pleasures and experiencing sorrow when they fade. We look for the ocean in a single drop, forgetting that the entire ocean of bliss is already our true nature.

(Image Recommendation: An artistic image of a single drop of water falling into a vast, calm ocean, symbolizing the connection between the Jiva and Brahman.)

 

The Path to the Ocean of Bliss

 

How, then, do we return to that ocean? The path is not to seek more from the outside world, but to turn inward and connect with the source. Sri Jagannath, in His wooden form (Daru Brahma), is the accessible, loving form of this Supreme Bliss.

The Puranas and saints assure us that the easiest way to experience this bliss is through Him:

• By His Darshan: Simply seeing Mahaprabhu with a heart full of devotion can remove deep-seated sorrows and fears.
• By Surrender: Letting go of our ego and surrendering to Him, the “sea of compassion,” prepares our hearts to experience His blissful nature.
• By Meditation: Contemplating His form allows our minds to become still and immerse themselves in the ocean of His peace.

To bring this focus into our daily lives, many devotees find that having a simple, sacred space at home helps. Worshipping a small Neem wood idol of Jagannath, the very form of the “Ocean of Bliss,” can serve as a constant reminder of our true, blissful nature.

By His grace, the journey from the fleeting drop of worldly happiness to the infinite ocean of divine bliss becomes possible for everyone. He is the boat that carries us across the ocean of worldly suffering to the shore of eternal peace and joy.

Jai Jagannath!