Few brief and occasional histories

1) Secret of Lord Jagannath’s Mahaprasadam

Once a low caste woman worshipped Lakshmi Devi in the temple of Jagannath and pleased Her very much. Being merciful on this low caste woman, Lakshmi Devi went to visit Her in her house. Finding this Lord Jagannath and Baladev discussed each other as why Lakshmi Devi had gone to low caste house. To punish Lakshmi Devi, for this deed, Jagannath forbade Her from entering into the temple and so Lakshmi Devi went back and stayed in the house of that low caste woman. When Lakshmi was absent from the temple, Lord Jagannath and Baladev could not eat because Lakshmi Devi is the provider of food and Parvati is the cook. Although there is a big kitchen, there was no rice to cook. Lord Jagannath Himself went to the kitchen and found some rice, which He found and went to cook. When He tried to cook He could not light the fire because Lakshmi was upset. Due to hunger, Lord Jagannath and Baladev become physically very weak and went out begging. Lord Jagannath changed Himself into a brahamana form and went begging but people would not give any alms or even pay attention. Then Lord Jagannath went to the house of that low caste woman where He found Lakshmi Devi and apologized Her for His mistake.

Finally Lakshmi Devi returned to the temple and requested Lord Jagannath that there should be no discrimination in pradam distribution as who is low class person and who is high class brahmana. The Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath, even touched by a low class person can be taken and accepted as mahaprasad by a high-class brahmana. For example when you go to Ananda Bazaar to buy mahaprasad, the people who sell the mahaprasad will take little rice mixed with curry and put directly in the mouth of the purchasers and ask, “Did you like it? How much do you want?” This is due to Lakshmi Devi’s request to the Lord about mahaprasadam is remaining uncontaminated. Even though touched with unwashed hands and low class people’s mouths, mahaprasad remains completely uncontaminated by Lord’s benediction. This only applies to Lord Jagannath’s mahaprasad. Wherever His mahaprasad is kept, no evil sprits, ghosts or hobgoblins can affect or stay there. If one criticizes Jagannath’s mahaprasad, he immediately gets some sort of disease called elephant foot (foot swells up that of an elephant’s foot). Such disease cannot be cured by any medicine. That is why many people who live in Jagannath Puri have elephant foot disease. Even if Lord Jagannath’s prasadam is stale, one should not criticize. The secret of Jagannath Prasad is that even if you continue to eat for whole day you like to eat more and more because Lord Jagannath’s mahaprasad is purifying your sins and sending you back to Godhead. Therefore naturally you want to eat more and more.

2) Lord could not be lifted at Ratha-Yatra

In 1973, during the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath an amazing incident took place. When the deities of Subhadra and Balaram were already placed upon the chariots and Lord Jagannath was brought from the temple to be placed upon His chariot, an amazing incident took place. The deity came through the help of 12 priests all the way from the temple to near the cart but they could not lift Him to place Him upon His chariot. Usually only 12 priests would do this but this time 32 priests were trying to lift Jagannath but could not lift Him to bring Him to the chariot.

The Chief Minister of Orissa, many other visiting ministers with millions of people and media were watching and waiting for Lord Jagannath to climb upon His chariot. But in spite of all their mighty efforts no one could lift Him. This incident was announced in the radio and the newspapers published stating how Lord Jagannath could not be lifted to His chariot. Seeing the futile efforts made by priests to lift Jagannath, the district magistrate accused the priests for playing and removed them and used the police instead to lift the deity because chariot festival was being delayed. The police people could not lift the Lord although they were in 3 dozen in total even though it usually took only 12 priests to lift Him.

Finally the message reached to the fortunate king who was sick at the time and could not attend the Ratha Yatra festival. Usually at this time he would sweep the road before Jagannath chariot. Hearing Lord Jagannath not being lifted, the king thought because of this offenses only Jagannath does not want to ride on His chariot. Crying and pleading, he swiftly reached from his palace and fell flat like a stick in front of Lord Jagannath, praying to forgiven him for his offenses and mercifully ride on His chariot so he could sweep the road. Lord Jagannath mercifully accepted the prayers of the king and He immediately ascended upon His chariot so he could sweep the road. Lord Jagannath mercifully accepted the prayers of the king and He immediately ascended upon His chariot lifted only by 12 priests. The chariot then started rolling. We witnessed this incident personally.

Bhoga Madapa

Lord Jagannath never uses plates or cups to eat. He directly eats from cooking pots. The cooks carry the filled cooking pots directly from the kitchen to Lord Jagannath’s dining hall, which is 30 feet wide and 60 feet long and this hall is considered to be Lord Jagannath’s plate. This rectangular plate is called Bhoga Mandapa. From the beginning at early morning till 10 o’clock at night, Lord Jagannath carries on eating. Lord Jagannath does not eat in any other kind of pot other than the clay pots. The potters who make the clay pots are making them for generations. By making these clay pots for Lord Jagannath, the potter family goes back to Godhead. This is their business to make pots and go back to Godhead. The vegetable cutters cut vegetables for generations, and by cutting vegetables they go back to Godhead. Every servant has his duty to do and by doing so he goes back to Godhead. Therefore, everyone who is connected to Lord Jagannath Temple has two businesses: perform his specific service and go back to Godhead.

There are many places to live and there are many vegetarian restaurants. Usually buses, auto rickshaws and bicycle rickshaws are used for local conveyances. Before one leaves Puri, it is advised to carry some mahaprasad (dry rice from the temple) and some wooden deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Devi Subhadra to their homes to bring auspiciousness.