The Miracle of Kalia (Lord Jagannath)

Lord Purushottama is the King of all holy lands.
Lord Purushottama is the King of all Deities.

Among all the pilgrimage sites, Purushottama Dhama (Puri) is the greatest. Among all the gods, Shri Jagannath is the supreme. Since time immemorial, the Lord of the Universe, Shri Jagannath, has existed in Shrikhetra in various forms as the living Brahman (the Supreme Reality). He is the soul of the universe and yet transcends it. No one truly knows the beginning or the end of this world’s creation, existence, expansion, or the flow of time. To understand this eternal cycle created by the Almighty, many visionaries, sages, seekers, and scientists have conducted endless research. However, no one has been able to fathom His infinite Maya (illusion) and glory. This quest remains unfinished and will continue through the ages. Yet, all philosophical and intellectual conclusions agree on one thing: Shri Jagannath is the living embodiment of both spiritual knowledge and science.

A Heartwarming True Story

Dr. Sushant Kumar Tripathy is a son of the Odia soil. Being part of a highly educated family, he moved abroad and works as a doctor in New York, USA. Despite his deep desire, he had been unable to visit Lord Jagannath for many years due to his busy professional life. One day, Sushant firmly decided, “I will go to Puri tomorrow, come what may.” He booked an emergency flight, reached Delhi, and then flew straight to Puri. He arrived at the Singhadwara (The Lion’s Gate) of the temple in one breath, his heart filled with only one hope: a glimpse of his “Kalia.”

Upon reaching the Lion’s Gate, he saw a huge crowd. Amidst the crowd, a dark-complexioned priest (Panda) wearing yellow silk clothes came running toward him. Drawn by an unknown divine force, Sushant walked toward the priest. The priest asked, “Sir, do you want to have Darshan (holy sight)?” Without any hesitation, Sushant eagerly replied, “Yes, please! 🙏”

The priest held Sushant’s hand and led him straight into the Jagamohana (the assembly hall of the temple). Seeing the Lord, Sushant was lost in divine bliss, mesmerized by those two large, round eyes. After the Darshan, he bought some dry Mahaprasad from Ananda Bazar and prepared to leave. As a token of gratitude, he bowed to the priest and offered him four 2,000-rupee notes as Dakshina (donation). But the priest smiled and said, “What will I do with money, my son?” He blessed Sushant and walked back into the temple. Sushant was surprised, wondering why the priest, who had helped him so much, refused the money. “Whatever the reason may be,” he thought, “I must head back now,” and he began his return journey.

On the way, he stopped at a friend’s hotel near Konark for lunch. While they were sitting at the table, the hotel owner (his friend) asked, “Hey friend! What brings you here so suddenly after all these years?” Sushant smiled and replied, “Kalia’s ‘tug’ pulled me back to Odisha after almost 12 years. On my way back, I thought I’d meet you and have lunch at your hotel.”

Sushant then offered some Mahaprasad to his friend. The friend accepted it with great reverence. Then, the friend asked, “But friend, why did you come during this Corona time? Why did you take so much trouble during the lockdown? You wouldn’t have been able to see the Lord, would you? Don’t you know the temple is closed to devotees right now?”

Hearing this, the doctor’s heart skipped a beat. He was shocked. His friend’s words felt like a lie because he had just seen the Lord with his own eyes. He couldn’t believe it. Sushant said, “What are you saying? I went inside the temple myself, had a wonderful Darshan, and even bought this Prasad from Ananda Bazar.”

The friend looked at him in disbelief. “Are you in your right mind? Have you taken something? With such strict restrictions, who took you inside? Didn’t anyone stop you?”

Sushant replied, “No… there was no one inside the temple except for a few servitors. A dark-skinned priest came and took me straight to the Jagamohana. I have never experienced such divine peace in my life… what soul-satisfying Darshan it was! And that priest—his presence was so magnetic. What a glow on his face! His dark face, red lips (from chewing betel), and the sandalwood mark on his forehead… I cannot forget his gentle smile. And the most amazing thing—he refused to take any money. He said, ‘My son, what will I do with money? You were restless for Darshan, so I just helped you.'”

His friend and the other employees at the hotel stared at Sushant in stunned silence. As he spoke, Sushant’s voice trembled with emotion, and tears began to flow from his eyes. Everyone present there shouted in one voice: “Jai Jagannath! Jai Jagannath!”

“Sir, you are blessed! That priest wasn’t just a dark-skinned man… He was Lord Jagannath Himself! He is the ‘Stealer of Hearts’ and the ‘Master of Illusions.’ Moved by your firm determination and devotion, the Lord came Himself in the form of a priest to ensure you had your Darshan safely.”

Dr. Sushant folded his hands and said, “My Jagannath is great, and so is His love for His devotees. I am but a lowly servant whom the Lord has blessed today.”

This story might sound like a beautiful piece of fiction, but it is the story of the “Master of Illusions” (Mayadhara). To fulfill the wish of a devotee, He can appear as a priest, guide them by the hand, and then vanish into thin air. He is none other than my Mayadhara Jagannath, residing in the stone temple of this Kali Yuga. 🙏🙏🙏🙏