Jagannātha means "Lord of the Universe." He is worshipped throughout the world, but His most famous home is the ancient city of Jagannātha Purī in Odisha, India.
Śrī Jagannātha is Krishna in His unique and extraordinarily merciful form. Together with His elder brother Śrī Baladeva and His sister Śrīmatī Subhadrā Devī, He accepts the loving service of devotees and welcomes everyone to come before Him.
Jagannātha's large, beautiful eyes seem to look upon everyone equally. His form reminds us that the Supreme Lord is not distant or inaccessible. He lovingly reveals Himself to those who approach Him with sincerity and devotion.
The Story of Lord Jagannātha
The appearance of Lord Jagannātha is described in the ancient traditions surrounding the worship of Nīlamādhava and King Indradyumna.
The king was deeply eager to find the Lord and establish His worship. After a remarkable series of events, the Lord eventually manifested Himself in the distinctive wooden forms of Jagannātha, Baladeva and Subhadrā.
The forms of the three Deities are unlike conventional representations of the human form. Their large eyes, broad faces and distinctive features have become one of the most beloved expressions of Krishna worship.
The Jagannātha tradition teaches us a profound lesson: the Supreme Lord may reveal Himself in ways that are beyond our ordinary expectations.
The Mercy of Jagannātha
Lord Jagannātha is renowned for His extraordinary mercy. He comes out of His temple during the annual Ratha-yātrā, travelling through the streets so that people who may never enter a temple can have His darśana.
In this way, Jagannātha demonstrates the inclusive nature of divine mercy. He does not wait for everyone to become spiritually perfect before approaching them. He comes out to meet them.
Mahāprasāda
The food offered to Lord Jagannātha becomes mahāprasāda, the Lord's mercy.
In the tradition of Jagannātha Purī, mahāprasāda is honoured with great reverence. Sharing prasādam is also an important expression of Vaishnava culture because it brings people together in an atmosphere of gratitude, service and spiritual fellowship.
At New Jagannath Puri Temple, we are honoured to share this tradition of devotional service and prasādam with the community.
