Who sometimes fervently
plays His flute on the banks of the Yamuna river in Sri Vrindavana, who is like
a bumblebee that blissfully tastes the lotus faces of the Vraja-gopis, and whose
feet are worshipped by great personalities such as Laksmi, Shiva, Brahma, Indra,
and Ganesha -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva be the object of my vision.
भुजे सव्ये वेणुं शिरसि शिखिपिच्छं कटितटे
दुकूलं नेत्रान्ते सहचर-कटाक्षं विदधते ।
सदा श्रीमद्-वृन्दावन-वसति-लीला-परिचयो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथ-गामी भवतु मे ॥२॥
bhuje savye veṇuṁ śirasi śikhi-picchaṁ kaṭitaṭe
dukūlaṁ netrānte sahacara-kaṭākṣaṁ ca vidadhat
sadā śrīmad-vṛndāvana-vasati-līlā-paricayo
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (2)
Who holds a flute in His
left hand, who wears a peacock feather on His head and a fine yellow silken cloth
around His hips, who from the corners of His eyes bestows loving sidelong glances
upon His companions, and who is forever known as the one who performs wondrous
pastimes in the divine abode of Sri Vrindavana -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva
be the object of my vision.
महाम्भोधेस्तीरे कनक रुचिरे नील शिखरे
वसन् प्रासादान्तः सहज बलभद्रेण बलिना ।
सुभद्रा मध्यस्थः सकलसुर सेवावसरदो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथ-गामी भवतु मे ॥३॥
Who on the shore of the
great ocean resides in a palace situated on the gold-like crest of Nilachala Hill
accompanied by His powerful brother Baladevaji and between Them, His sister Subhadra,
and who bestows the opportunity to serve Him upon all the demigods -- may that
Sri Jagannatha-deva be the object of my vision.
कृपा पारावारः सजल जलद श्रेणिरुचिरो
रमा वाणी रामः स्फुरद् अमल पङ्केरुहमुखः ।
सुरेन्द्रैर् आराध्यः श्रुतिगण शिखा गीत चरितो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥४॥
Who is an ocean of mercy,
whose bodily complexion is as beautiful as a row of blackish rainclouds, who sports
with Laksmi-devi and Sarasvati, whose face is like a spotless fully-blossomed
lotus, who is worshipped by the foremost demigods, and whose transcendental glories
have been sung in the topmost scriptures -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva be the
object of my vision.
rathārūḍho gacchan pathi milita-bhūdeva-paṭalaiḥ
stuti-prādurbhāvam prati-padam upākarṇya sadayaḥ
dayā-sindhur bandhuḥ sakala jagatāṁ sindhu-sutayā
jagannāthah svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (5)
When Jagannatha's Ratha-yatra
cart is moving along the road, at every step assemblies of brahmanas sing His
praises. Upon hearing them, Jagannatha, being an ocean of mercy and the true friend
of all the worlds, becomes favourably disposed towards them -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva
be the object of my vision.
परंब्रह्मापीड़ः कुवलय-दलोत्फुल्ल-नयनो
निवासी नीलाद्रौ निहित-चरणोऽनन्त-शिरसि ।
रसानन्दी राधा-सरस-वपुरालिङ्गन-सुखो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन-पथगामी भवतु मे ॥६॥
Who is the crown-jewel of
transcendence, whose eyes are like the petals of a fully-opened blue lotus, who
resides at Nilachala, whose feet are placed on the head of Sesa, who is blissfully
immersed in bhakti-rasa, and who derives happiness from embracing the rasa-laden
body of Srimati Radhika -- may that Sri Jagannatha-deva be the object of my vision.
न वै याचे राज्यं न च कनक माणिक्य विभवं
न याचेऽहं रम्यां सकल जन काम्यां वरवधूम् ।
सदा काले काले प्रमथ पतिना गीतचरितो
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥७॥
na vai yāce rājyaṁ na ca kanaka-māṇikya-vibhavaṁ
na yāce 'haṁ ramyāṁ sakala jana-kāmyāṁ vara-vadhūm
sadā kāle kāle pramatha-patinā gīta-carito
jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (7)
I do not pray to Jagannatha
for a kingdom, nor for gold, jewels, wealth, or even for a beautiful wife as desired
by all men. My only prayer is that Sri Jagannatha-deva, whose splendid glories
are always sung by Shiva, be the constant object of my vision.
हर त्वं संसारं द्रुततरम् असारं सुरपते
हर त्वं पापानां विततिम् अपरां यादवपते ।
अहो दीनेऽनाथे निहित चरणो निश्चितमिदं
जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन पथ गामी भवतु मे ॥८॥
O master of the demigods!
Quickly deliver me from this worthless worldly existence. O Lord of the Yadus!
Purge me of my limitless host of sins. Aho! You have promised to bestow Your feet
upon the fallen and shelterless -- O Jagannatha Swami, please be the object of
my vision.
"Sometimes in great
happiness Lord Jagannatha, with His flute, makes a loud concert in the groves
on the banks of the Yamuna. He is like a bumblebee who tastes the beautiful lotus-like
faces of the cowherd damsels of Vraja, and His lotus feet are worshiped by great
personalities such as Lakshmi, Shiva, Brahma, Indra and Ganesha. May that Jagannatha
Svami be the object of my vision." "In His left hand Lord
Jagannatha holds a flute. On His head He wears the feathers of peacocks and on
His hips He wears fine yellow silken cloth. Out of the corners of His eyes He
bestows sidelong glances upon His loving devotees and He always reveals Himself
through His pastimes in His divine abode of Vrindavana. May that Jagannatha Svami
be the object of my vision." "Residing on the shore
of the great ocean, within a large palace situated upon the crest of the brilliant,
golden Nilachala Hill, along with His powerful brother Balabhadra, and in the
middle of Them His sister Subhadra, Lord Jagannatha bestows the opportunity for
devotional service upon all godly souls. May that Jagannatha Svami be the object
of my vision." "Lord Jagannatha is
an ocean of mercy and He is beautiful like a row of blackish rain clouds. He is
the storehouse of bliss for Lakshmi and Sarasvati, and His face is like a spotless
full-blown lotus. He is worshiped by the best of demigods and sages, and His glories
are sung by the Upanishads. May that Jagannatha Svami be the object of my vision." "When Lord Jagannatha
is on His Ratha-yatra cart and is moving along the road, at every step there is
a loud presentation of prayers and songs chanted by large assemblies of brahmanas.
Hearing their hymns Lord Jagannatha is very favorably disposed towards them. He
is the ocean of mercy and the true friend of all the worlds. May that Jagannatha
Svami, along with His consort Lakshmi, who was born from the ocean of nectar,
be the object of my vision." "He is the ornament
of the head of Lord Brahma and His eyes are like the full-blown petals of the
lotus. He resides on the Nilachala Hill, and His lotus feet are placed on the
heads of Anantadeva. Lord Jagannatha is overwhelmed by the mellows of love and
He becomes joyful in the embracing of the body of Srimati Radharani, which is
like a cool pond. May that Jagannatha Svami be the object of my vision." "I do not pray for
a kingdom, nor for gold, rubies and wealth. I do not ask for an excellent and
beautiful wife as desired by all men. I simply pray that Jagannatha Svami, whose
glories are always sung by Lord Shiva, be the constant object of my vision."
"O Lord of the demigods,
please quickly remove this useless material existence I am undergoing. O Lord
of the Yadus, please destroy this vast ocean of sins which has no shore. Alas,
this is certain that Lord Jagannatha's lotus feet are bestowed upon those who
feel themselves fallen and have no shelter in this world but Him. May that Jagannatha
Svami be the object of my vision."
History and story of Lord Jagannath as told in the Skanda Purana
Shri Jagannath, lord of the Universe, is the supreme
solace and saviour of countless devotees around the world. Since time
immemorial, His monumental and magnificent Shrine located in Puri
(Orissa), one of the four major Dhamas of India (Jagannath Puri Dham),
has been a most sacred centre of pilgrimage and worship.
In Satya-yuga there was a pious king in the solar
dynasty named Indradyumna. One day after performing Vishnu puja the King
came to his court and requested the enlightened audience to inform him
about a sacred place where he can see, with his naked eyes, the Divine
Lord Vishnu. Hearing this a pilgrim saint, who visited all the sacred
places of Bharatvarsa told the King that there is a sacred place on the
East coast known as "Purushottama Kshetra", where exists the beautiful
and sacred mountain Nilagiri or Neeladri by name, surrounded by various
kinds of trees.
In the centre of the mountain there is a big banyan
tree called Kalpa Vriksha or desire tree near a pond named Rohini Kunda.
That holy pond lies to its Western end. One gets immediate salvation by
touching or seeing the sacred water of the kunda. On the eastern bank
of the kunda is Deity of Lord Krishna called Neelmadhav made up of
pecious neel mani. His Darsan makes one immediately immortal and he can
realise the transcendental reality. The nearby village named Sabar
Deepaka is inhabited by Sabars or Adivasies. It is situated on the
western bank of the Kunda. O Maharaja, I stayed there for one year as an
ascetic, to please the Vishnu Murti, Neelamadhav. I used to see the
flowers falling from the "Kalpataru" and heard melodious prayers of
Vishnu. There I heard a very old story that a crow, which drank the
water of Rohini kunda attained salvation or "Sarupya Mokshya". Suddenly
that matted hair saint disappeared from the view.
King Indradymna order the younger brother of his preist
name Vidyapati to find this holy place as soon as possible. Vidyapati
drove out his chariot towards Utkal Desha. On the way he was considering
himself as a most fortunate soul to see "Neela Madhav" with his own
naked eyes, whom yogis and jnanis visualise in their minds. Nearing
Neelachala the thick mountain, Vidyapati could not find the way to
proceed further and so he got down from the chariot and sat under a tree
praying for the darsan of Neela Madhav. After a while he saw some
people sitting little away, discussing about "Bhagavan Vishnu“. When
Vidyapati went nearer to them, a Sabara named Viswavasu welcomed him and
offered him cold water, fruits and sweets to eat. The hungry Vidyapati
was pleased to accept his offerings. Afterwards Vidyapati told him that
he was a priest of Indradyumna Maharaja of Avanti, who hearing the
glories of Neela Madhava from a pilgrim devotee sent him to find out the
sacred place of Neela Madhava, anxiously awaiting His Darsan with
fasting.
Upon hearing this Vishwabasu become worried, thinking
Neelamadhav, whose presence has been kept a secret, is the sustainer of
our lives. It will be our misfortune if He becomes known to all people
because the intimacy of our relationship would be lost. He was put into
the dilemma. He began to think the matter seriously. He remembered the
ordnance given by Lord Neelamadhav to him personally. King Indradyumna
will come here and perform one hundred horse sacrifices after the
disappearance of Neelamadhav into the earth. After that he will install
deities made of wood.
Then he replied to Vidyapati that I had the news that
King Indradyumna will come here, but you are more fortunate as you could
be able to see Lord Neelamadhav, who will disappear before Indradyumna
Maharaj’s arrival. Vishwabasu took Vidyapati by the hand and led him
along a forest path. They had to climb up to a very high place along the
rocky path which is wide enough for one man to pass at a time. After
about two hours they reached the pond called Rohini. Vishwabasu told him
by bathing in this holy pond one is assured to go back godhead.
Vidyapati bathed in the kunda and offered nice prayer to the holy kunda.
He then went to see the deity of Lord Nilamadhav situated nearby.
Vidyapati spend the whole day before coming back. Finally they reached
home. Vishwabasu fed him a royal feast and foods are very tasteful,
which he never tested before. He become wondered how this shabar bring
these food items which are not found anywhere in this earth, this place
is very difficult and inconvenient to collect anything.
Vishwabasu said to vidaypati, “You are the royal
priest; you would have very nice food in the King’s palace. I hope that
you are satisfied.” Vidyapati replied he is very much satisfied and
curious to know how he accomplished such wonderful things which he had
never seen in the kings palace. Vishwabasu said, “My mind is not very
enthusiastic to reveal this to you, but because you are my guest I must
speak.” Every day, the hosts of demigods, headed by Indra come here to
worship Lord Neelamadhav. They perform Sankirtan and dance in ecstasy
before returning to heaven. Whatever I have given to you are the
remnants left by the demigods after their worship to the Lord. It is
because we subsist on the Prasad of lord that we are free from disease
and old age. While hearing this, the brahmana felt a thrill of
transcendental ecstasy course through his body as his eyes filled with
tears. He considered himself to be most fortunate one.
Vidyapati wanted to inform the location of Neela
Madhava to the anxiously awaiting Indradyumna Maharaja. On the next day
after taking bath in the sea and again having the "attractive darsan" of
Neela Madhava he returned. At the time of Vidyapati's departure from
that place Viswavasu gave him the prasadi garlands being offered by
Indra to Neela Madhava Murti, so that Vidyapati might give them to
Indradyumna Maharaja. Vidyapati reached Avanti after a month and offered
the ever fresh prasadi garland to the Maharaja. Indradyumna was very
much delighted to accept the prasadi garlands and Mahaprasad given to
him by Vidyapati. The garlands were sweet-smelling and fresh to look at
as they were offered by Indra with devotion and were borne by Neela
Madhava.
Vidyapati revealed the facts to the Maharaja that a man
after having the darsan of Neela Madhava with his physical eyes will
definitely attain salvation. The Vigraha was made out of Neel-mani and
since a long time Brahma, Indra and all other gods have been worshipping
Him with sacred scented beautiful flower garlands of which one was
brought to him. He again said, when I reached the top of Neeladri Hill, I
could smell the heavenly scent. The immortals while sprinkling sacred
water over the mountain, slowly the gods approached the Lord while
dancing and singing heavenly songs. The gods were invisible to human
eyes and offering their thousand varieties of articles and prayers to
Neela Madhava they slowly disappeared.
The Neela Mani Murti is 81 (eight one) inches high,
standing on the golden lotus flower. His eyes defeat the beauty of a
pair of smiling, blue lotuses. His forehead is more charming than the
crescent moon. is moon-like face dispels the three-fold miseries of
whoever casts his glance upon it. His lips display a captivating smile.
His cheeks are adorned with dimples because of His laughter. His
shoulders are broad and His four arms extend to His knees.”
“By bowing down to Lord Nila-madhava and seeing Him
with love and devotion, one is liberated from the bondage to the
material body. Lakshmi, holding a lotus in her hand standing left to the
Lord, being embraced by Him. Her eyes are fixed on the lotus face of
the Lord. I saw these two on that mountain. They were silent but with
their smiling eyes, They bless all who see Them. Indeed as I gazed at
the Deities, I thought that they were truly alive! Shesha with His one
thousand hoods, is stationed behind the deities forming an umbrella over
their heads. In front I saw the Sudarshan cakra in his embodied form.
Behind him was Gauda with his palms joined in reverence.”
King Indradyumna said “I am very satisfied that you
have accomplished your mission. After hearing your words and wearing the
garland you gave me, I only desire to go and see Lord Nila-Madhav
myself. I shall go there and built there a new kingdom with cities and
forts. Every day I will worship the Deity with hundreds of
presentations. If I do so Lord will certainly become merciful upon me”.
Hearing the truth from Vidyapati and adorning the
prasadi garland as the blessing of Lord Neela Madhava Indradyumna
purified himself clearing all his sins. He attained the eligibility to
have the darsan of Neela Madhava with his naked eyes. At last he decided
to proceed to Sri Kshetra with royal splendour, to perform Sahasra
Aswamedha Yagnas with severe austerities to please the Lord
Purushottama. He proceeded immediately to Odra desha (Orissa) on a
pilgrimage to see and worship the Deity.
But the deity had disappeared. The king was
disappointed. The Deity was hidden in sand. The king was determined not
to return without having a darshan of the deity and observed fast unto
death at Mount Neela. Then a celestial voice said 'you will see him '.
Afterwards the king performed a horse sacrifice.
At the conclusion of the sacrifices, as the king was
taking his ceremonial bath, some servants excitedly came to him and
said, “O lord, a great tree was seen by us on the shore of the ocean.
It’s top is sunk into the water but its roots are above the waves. It is
marked with symbols of a conch and chakra. It is exceedingly wonderful
to behold! It is a tree like one never seen before. It is effulgent,
like the sun, and it has rendered the atmosphere fragrant with its
scent. It must be a celestial tree or else some god in the form of a
tree.”
Then Narada Muni and King Indradyumna went to see the
tree. When the king looked at the tree, which had four branches, it
looked just like the four armed Lord that he had seen in his trance of
meditation. His lamentation due to the disappearance of Lord
Nila-madhava was now dispelled. The King bowed down again and again on
the shore. He then had the brahmanas bring the tree, which was being
tossed by the waves, onto the beach.
Conch shells were blown, drums were beaten, and
thousands of people shouted, “Jaya! Jaya!” The tree was fanned with
chamaras by courtesans of great beauty in the prime of their youth. It
was decorated with flags and fine cloth and it was glorified by great
sages. The tree was taken and placed on a great altar that had been
prepared and covered by a canopy. Being instructed by Narada, King
Indradyumna performed the arati. King ordered his carpenters to begin
the wood carving. However, the wood was so hard that whoever tried to
carve it simply broke his tools. The king was very perplexed and thus he
took rest for the night.
The next day, Vishvakarma, the architect of the
celestial world, came to see King Indradyumna. Vishvakarma informed the
king that the log which he had found at the seashore was daru-brahman or
divine wood. Vishvakarma said that it would not be possible for any
mortal to carve this wood, but that he himself would do it if the king
desired.
As Vishvakarma prepared to do his work, he informed
King Indradyumna that there was one stipulation: no one should be
allowed to observe the work of carving until everything was complete.
Vishvakarma said that if his meditation were disturbed, he would
immediately abandon the king and return to the celestial world. The king
agreed.
King Indradyumna was mortified at this turn of events
and his heart felt heavily burdened. In order to expiate for the
interruption and incomplete work, the king decided to fast until death.
While fasting he had a dream in which Lord Vishnu told him that the
incompleted forms of the deities were in fact perfectly worshipable
forms. The so-called incompleteness, he said, represented bodily
transformations resulting from intense love in separation, a particular
ecstatic mood known as vipralambha. In the case of Jagannath, it was the
purusha's longing for his female aspect prakriti in intimacy. Overjoyed
by these instructions, King Indradyumna arranged for the building of a
beautiful temple. Sri Narasimha Murti brought by Narada was also
installed in the temple.
https://youtu.be/IajM-tLxPFc
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