This time the famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath has started from 16th July. There are many interesting facts related to this Rath Yatra about which very few people are aware.
Jagannath Temple Facts: The form of Lord Jagannath is completely different from the idols of Lord Vishnu or Shri Krishna present in any other temples of the country. In the Jagannath temple of Puri, the big round eyes, incomplete hands and legs and absolutely amazing appearance of Lord Jagannath attracts everyone’s attention. Especially after seeing his huge eyes, a question often comes to mind that why are Lord Jagannath’s eyes so big? Let us know what is the secret behind this…
1. God keeps an eye on his devotees all the time….
The belief is that Lord Jagannath keeps an eye on the entire world and his devotees simultaneously with his big eyes. For them there is no big or small, rich or poor or high or low. He has the same eyes on everyone. For this reason their eyes always appear open without blinking. Its message is that God protects and takes care of his devotees at all times.
2. It is also considered a symbol of love of Shri Krishna
According to Vaishnava tradition, when Shri Krishna remembered the Rasleela of Vrindavan and Radha’s love, he became lost in love and bliss. During that time his body structure changed. It is said that at that very stage his eyes became big and round.
3. Big eyes give the message of equality
Lord Jagannath is also called the Lord of the world. Meaning he is the God of the whole world. His huge eyes symbolize that God does not discriminate against anyone. They look at every living being, every society and people of every religion with equal eyes. This is the reason why Jagannath Dham is also considered a symbol of social equality and harmony.
4. The philosophical meaning is also very deep
From a philosophical point of view, the eyes of Lord Jagannath give us the message that we should always be alert in life. Open eyes without blinking indicate that God is always watching everything. Therefore a person should do good deeds. One should follow the right path.
5. What is written in the Puranas and traditions?
The worship of Lord Jagannath is also mentioned in many ancient texts. The Utkal section of Skanda Purana mentions the establishment of Neelamadhav and Lord Jagannath. It is also written about the grand form of God. Brahma Purana, Padma Purana and Narad Purana also mention the glory of Lord Jagannath, Puri Dham and his worship. In the Gaudiya Vaishnav tradition, his big eyes are described as the love, compassion and vast vision of Shri Krishna seeing everyone.
6. Why don’t God’s eyes blink?
Lord Jagannath has no eyelids. This means God never sleeps. He protects his devotees all the time. Take care of the whole world. Because of this his eyes are always open.
Content Sources: Skanda Purana (Utkala Khanda), Brahma Purana, Padma Purana, Narada Purana, Shri Jagannath Temple Administration, based on Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition.