Amazing facts about Jagannath Rath Yatra! Puri Rath Yatra is beginning from today. Read here to know the importance of this festival and history associated with it.
| Jagannath Rath Yatra Shubh Muhurat as per Hindu Calendar | |
July 14, 2018
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Dwitiya Tithi starts from 04:34:14 AM
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July 15, 2018
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Dwitiya Tithi ends at 00:56:51 AM
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Note: Above mentioned shubh muhurat is valid for New Delhi only. To know muhurat timings in your city, click on Rath Yatra Muhurat
Jagannath Rath Yatra of Puri, famous in India and worldwide, will commence from today. Every year, Lord Jagannath is taken out from his temple for this journey. It is believed that the God comes out of his sanctuary to see the sorrow and happiness of his people. Badrinath, Dwarka, Jagannath Puri and Rameshwaram are the four pilgrim places that are highly significant in Hinduism. According to Vedic Puranas, Jagannath Puri is known as the Baikuntha of the Earth among these sacred places, as Lord Vishnu reincarnated here as Purushottam Neelmadhava. In this form, he became the worshipped deity of Sabar tribe. And this is the reason why, his appearance in Puri looks like that of the tribal Gods.
Just like the festivals of Holi, Diwali, Dussehra and Raksha Bandhan, Jagannath Rath Yatra is also a very important festival, which is celebrated with lots of zeal and enthusiasm. Apart from Puri, this Rath Yatra is also organized in other cities of India. People who are not able to join the Rath Yatra of Puri can join this auspicious festival in their city to get the blessings of the God.
When Jagannath Rath Yatra Commemorates?
Every year Jagannath Rath Yatra commences in Puri district of Odisha from Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Ashadha. This year, it is beginning from today, i.e. July 14. Three different chariots are constructed every year for Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra. During the journey, chariot of Balrama is on the front, behind him is the chariot of Sister Subhadra and at the back is the chariot of Lord Jagannath. Among them, chariot of Lord Jagannath is the highest.
As per beliefs, those people who help in pulling the chariots attain salvation in afterlife. This nine days journey is concluded when the chariots reach Gundicha Temple, which is considered the home of Lord Jagannath’s Aunt. Other than the God’s aunt’s home, this temple is also the place where Deva Vishwakarma built the statues of the Trinity Gods (Tridev or Trimurti). Here, the God and his siblings stays for 9 days and on the next day of Ashadha Shukla Dashami, they return to the main temple. This return journey of the Rath Yatra is called as Bahuda Yatra.
How the Chariot of Lord Jagannath is Constructed?
The scene of Puri’s Jagannath Rath Yatra is incredibly fascinating, which commemorates in the presence of millions of devotees. Lord Jagannath, brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra rides in three grandly decorated chariots, among which, the chariot of God Jagannath is the grandest. Construction of these chariots is quite complicated, as iron tools are not used in creating them. Instead 1072 pieces of Coconut, Sal or Sakhua and Neem wood are brought from the forest for making these chariots.
The construction process of the three chariots begins 5 months before from the day of Saraswati Puja. For this auspicious journey, the chariot of Lord Jagannath is created 65 feet long and 45 feet high and there are total of 16 wheels of 7 feet diameter each. Various types of statues and symbols are engraved on these chariots. Under the close supervision of a special committee, and handiwork of experienced and traditional artisans, the construction is concluded. Other labors also help in accomplishing the task of building the Rathas of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra and Subhadra.
Things to Remember about Jagannath Rath Yatra
- Chariots of Lord Jagannath, brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra are made from Coconut wood as they are light.
- The chariot of the God (Lord Jagannath) is of red color and larger than other two chariots.
- The God’s chariot is behind or the last among the chariots of the three siblings during the Puri Rath Yatra.
- Rath of Lord Jagannath is also known by the name of Garuda Dhwaja, Kapi Dhwaja or Nandighosha, etc.
- Name of Lord Jagannath’s chariot horses are Shankha, Balahak, Shweta and Haridashwa, who are white in color. The chariot is protected by the King of birds, Garuda.
- According to religious beliefs, a person attains salvation just by attending the festival of Puri Rath Yatra.
- As the saying goes in Skanda Purana, a person who takes a bath in the pilgrim city of Puri during the month of Ashadha attains the virtue for the rest three pilgrim sites (Badrinath, Dwarka and Rameswaram).
“Mahaprasad” of Jagannath Temple
Jagannath temple of Puri is the only temple where the offered Prasad is called Mahaprasad, otherwise the Prasad (offerings) of all other Hindu temples are only Prasad. This Mahaprasad is highly blessed by the God and is equally distributed among the devotees without any discrimination. It is also said that the Kitchen of the Jagannath temple is the largest kitchen in the world.
Amazing Facts about Jagannath Temple
- Flag located on the top of the temple always flows in the opposite direction of the wind.
- There are 752 stoves (Chulhe) in the premises of the temple for preparing Mahaprasad and their flames never extinguishes.
- No bird sits at the peak of the Jagannath Temple. Additionally, no airplane flies off over the temple.
- The shadow of the temple’s peak never gets reflected at any time in the noon.
- Supply of Mahaprasad prepared in the temple never falls short, but as soon as the main doors of the temple closes, it gets finished.
Apart from these astonishing facts, the Puri Rath Yatra is famous in India and all over the world for its history and religious significance. It is a very gigantic festival of Puri, Odisha which is celebrated with extreme energy and devotion. Millions of people from across the country and the world come to be a part of this sacred journey.
We, at AstroSage, wishes our readers a blissful and enthusiastic Jagannath Rath Yatra!
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