Jagannatha Panchakam on Lord Jagannatha (Nila Madhava)

Jagannatha Panchakam 

Lord Jagannatha (Nila Madhava)
on the occasion of Ratha Yatra (25th June 2017
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Puri Jagannath temple is a holy Hindu temple considered as part of Char Dham namely Rameshwaram, Badrinath, Puri and Dwaraka. This is temple has been visited and fostered  by leading and renowned Gurus such as Adi Sankara, Bhagawat Ramanuja, Madhvacharya, Guru Nanak, Kabir, Tulsidas, Nimbarkacharya, Srimad Vallabhacharya and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.


Gods Jagannath, Balabhadra and the Goddess Subhadra are seated in side the Puri Jagannath temple on Ratnabedi platform decorated by jewels, which also houses Sudarshan Chakra, deities Madanmohan, Sridevi and Vishwadhatri. The main deities are made from special and auspicious Neem logs

It is said that King Indradyumna took the help of Brahmma to build this temple and offered Viswakarma as chief architect. Brahmaa consecrated the temple.

It is said that the deities of this temple represent the four forms Of Lord Srimannarayana namely Para, Vyuha, Vibhava and Archa. 

Puri Jagannath Temple has four gates Lion(East gate Main entrance), Elephant(North gate), Tiger(south gate) and Horse(West Gate). 

It is an amazing sight to witness the Puri Jagannath Rath yatra, three deities Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and the Goddess Subhadra being pulled by devotees in three separate Chariotts named as Nandighosa, Taladhwaja and Padmadhwaja. They are 45, 44 and 43 feet in height. They have 16,14 and 12 wheels of 7 feet in diameter respectively. These Chariotts are decorated with clothes in red and yellow, red and blue, red and black color combination. Every year new charioots are made and it starts on Akshaya Trithi day.

This Ratha Yatra Festival happens on the second (dwitiya) day of shukla pakshya (waxing cycle of moon) of Ashadh Maas (3rd month in Lunar Calendar).

To demonstrate that every devotee is same for Lord Jagannatha, The King Gajapathi sweeps all around the deities and chariots and cleanses the road with a gold-handled broom. He also sprinkles sandalwood water and powder on two days before start and end of Rath Yatra. This event is known as Chhera pahara.

The Yatra starts from Shri Mandhir  and ends at Gudicha Mandhir in onward journey. Lord Jagannatha along with Bhalabadra and Shubadra visits Gudicha temple and stays there for nine days. Lord Jagannath leaves behind Mahalakshmi (Sri) and uses those nine days to remember his colorful days in Vrindavan with Gopis. Gita Govindam and Gopika Geetham are performed by musicians at Gudicha temple. Upon return to Shri Mandhir at the end of nine days, Lord Jagannatha apologizes and makes up with his consort for leaving her behind and finally she let him in.

Let us celebrate  Puri Jagananath Yatra by seeking his blessings chanting Jagannatha Panchkam