2014 Bhakti Magazine

Jai Jagannatha Swami ::: Nayana Patha Gaami ::: Bhavatu Me BHAKTI Irvine Temple, 1732 Reynolds Ave., Irvine June 29th 2014 by Jagannath Society of California Web link: http://jagasocal.org/ Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/jagasocal.org His Will, His Way By Abhijit Manushree As devotees in Southern California find peace and prosperity in the presence of almighty Jagannath’s at Irvine Mandir, they prepare for the Ratha Yatra every year with enthusiasm and devotion. While this yearly event is a great way to meet and greet Jagga, the devotees present offerings and seek blessing throughout the year in the form of monthly pujas. The journey of Jaga to Southern California was a miracle in 2012 and celebration of his presence is a divine blessing to his devotees. Jagannath – Lord of Universe is a Sanskrit name and is a supreme form of god. The unfinished wooden form of lord is his desire to show his devotees that he can accept offering without hand and move around without feet. Jagannath is also known to be the ecstatic form of Krishna. apani-pado javano grahita pashyaty acakshuh sa shrinoty akarnah sa vetti vedyam na ca tasyasti vetta tam ahur agryam purusham mahantam “Without legs and hands, He moves and accepts. Without eyes He sees, and without ears He hears. He knows all that is knowable, but no one knows Him. They call Him the original Supreme Person.” To protect this assertion of the Vedas, Lord Jagannath takes His form without hands and legs. Still, Lord Jagannath is able to accept fifty- six different types of food, offered eight times daily, and He tours the world in His splendid chariots. Members of Jagannath Society of California and other devotees of Lord are thrilled by participation of southern California residents during Ratha Yatra and contribution to this magazine. We are thankful to our kids, the growing numbers of contributors to this magazine for authoring some great pieces. We are thankful to our volunteers, pandit ji and other members of temple who are contributing towards organizing yearly Ratha Yatra and making this land heavenly. mahāmbhodhes tīre kanaka-rucire nīla-śikhare vasan prāsādāntaḥ sahaja-balabhadreṇa balinā subhadrā-madhya-sthaḥ sakala-sura-sevāvasara-do jagannāthaḥ svāmī nayana-patha-gāmī bhavatu me (3) “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.” Lord’s presence in this land away from land of origin reminds us of “Vasudeva Kutumbakam”, indicating Universal brotherhood and goodwill. As our final words we pray, “ Om Sarvey Shaam Svastir bhavatu; Sarvey Shaam Shaantir bhavatu; Sarvey Shaam Poornam bhavatu; Sarvey Shaam Mangalam bhavatu” “Om. May all become auspicious and healthy; May all attain Peace; May all achieve perfection and fullness; May all be blessed”. Jai Jagannath!! Jai Jagannath A message from Kirtan Behera By the good grace of Lord Jagannath we, the Oriya Community and our non-Oriya friends are proud to enter into the Third year of Ratha Yatra with the total dedication and support of each one of us. The Irvine Temple (Mandir) has become the Center for the Oriya Community Events and more importantly a nucleus for Cultural development of the multi-generation Oriyas and our friends. Only by continued full participation and contributions by all can we build a strong and everlasting community culture for generations to come – which will continue to be a part of our lives for mutual help and fellowship. Let us welcome not only Oriyas but all non-Oriya communities of Southern California for their full participation and to become part of the Jagannath Culture. After all Lord Jagannath is one of the four primary Lords of all Hindus. While enjoying the Ratha Yatra Festival let us spread the message of Love, Universal Brotherhood and Peace – the fundamental tenets of the ancient Jagnnath Cultural Heritage. Know your Jagannath By Nirode Mohanty Skanda-Purana, the most voluminous of the puranas (ancient Hindu texts eulogizing various deities), describes the importance and the sanctity of Purusottama-kshetra (Puri) and the manifestation of Lord Jagannath as Chaturdha- vigraha daru murtis in the Purusottama (Jagannath) Kshetra-mahatmyam, which is the second section of the second part, known as Vaisnava Khanda.. According to Skanda-Purana, the Lord originally manifested in Purusottama- kshetra as nilamani (sapphire gem-stone) vigraha, Neelamadhava in the beginning of creation. Neelamadhava disappeared in the second half of the creation, and the Lord manifested in His present Chaturdha-vigraha-daru (Balabhadea, Subhadra, Jagannath and Sudarshan) form. The significance of the Lord’s manifestation in wooden form is revealed by Lord Brahma to King Indradyumna during the consecration ceremony (slokas 39-41, Adhyaya 28) and is as follows: “Thinking it is a wooden image, O Great King, let there not be the idea in you that this is a mere image: this is verily the form of Parambrahma (Supreme Brahman). As Parambrahma, (the Supreme Lord )He takes away all sorrows and confers eternal bliss. He is known as Daru. According four Vedas, therefore, the Lord is manifest in the form of daru (sacred wood). He is the creator of the entire Universe. He has also created Himself”. The existing temple of Lord Jagannath in Puri was started by Ganga king Anantavarman Chodagangadev and was completed by his son Anangabhimadev II in 1197 A.D. The deities, Balabhadra, Subhadra, Jagannath and Sudarshan, made from sacred Neem wood (Daru) , are seated on the bejewelled platform, "Ratna Vedi" in the sanctum- sanctorum of the main temple. Three additional deities are also seated on the "Ratna Vedi": Madhava (made from Neem wood, representing Neelamadhava), Bhudevi (Vishwadhatri) and Sridevi (Laxmi), (made from "Asthadhatu", 8 metals consisting of gold, silver, copper etc). Figure 1:Deities on Ratna Vedi: Balabhadra (left), Subhadra (center), and Jagannath (right). Smaller images of Madhava (extreme right), Bhudevi (right) and Sridevi (left) of Jagannath. Lord Jagannath is a highly humanized Deity. He brushes His teeth, takes bath, changes His clothes, wears robes and gold ornaments, studded with diamond, sapphires to suit festive occasions and seasons, enjoys 56 varieties of food (Mahaprasad) . Daily offerings are made to the Lord six times a day: 1.His breakfast, the Gopala Vallabha Bhoga, at 7:00-8:00 AM, is a seven items treat -Khua, Lahuni, sweetened coconut grating, coconut water, and popped-rice sweetened with sugar known as Khai and curd and ripe bananas. 2.The Sakala( morning) Dhupa forms his next offering at about 10 O’ clock in the morning. This generally consists of 13 items including the Enduri cake & Mantha puli. 3.Bada Sankhudi Bhoga , at 11:00AM, forms the next repast & the offering consists of Pakhala with Dahi( yogurt) and Kanji payas( porridge of brown rice, ghee, milk, and sugar). The offerings are made in the bhoga mandapa, about 200 feet from the Ratna Vedi. This is called Chatra Bhog and was introduced by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century to help pilgrims share the temple food. 4.The Madhyanha( afternoon) Dhupa forms the next offering at the noon. 5.The next offering to the Lord is made in the evening at around 8 o’clock it is Sandhya( evening) Dhupa. 6.The last offering to the Lord is called the Bada Simhara Bhoga at 11:00 PM. Several festivals are observed for Him: Chandan Yatra, Niladri Mahodaya, Nrusingh Janma, Sital Sasthi, Rajendravisek, Rukmaniharan, Snana Yatra, Netrotsab, Ratha Yatra, Bahuda Yatra, Sayan Ekadasi, Garudasayan Dwadashi, Kartik Sankrati or Dakhinayan Yatra, Chitalagi Amabasya, Jhulan Yatra, Gamha Purnima or Balabhadra Janma, Rahu Rekha Lagi, Krishna Janma, Krishna Lila, Satapuri Amabasya, Ganesh Chaturthi, Rekha Panchami, Radhastami, Parswa Paribartan, Baman Janma, Anant Chaturdasi, Indra Govind Puja, Sahashra Kumbha Abhisekh, Dwitia Osha, Dasahara, Kumar Purnima, Hari Utthapan, and many others. Snanaaamand : Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra are the two very significant festivals when the Deities leave the Ratnabedi and go out of the sanctum-sanctorum. Snana Yatra is observed on the Jyestha Shukla Poornima (full moon day in the month of Jyestha/June) which is the "Abirbhava" (birthday) day of Sri Jagannath.( The deities are bathed by 108 pitchers of water of the well situated near the Sitala temple in the confines of the Jagannatha temple.) The Deities are taken to "Snana Mandap" where They are given a Grand Bath, and then adorned with Gaja Besha( Elephant mask). The Deities return to the temple at night and remain in seclusion for 2 weeks. The Ratha Yatra takes place on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya( June-July) when the presiding deities Sri Jagannath, Sri Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sri Sudarshan are taken out of the temple in an elaborate ritual procession to huge colorfully decorated Rathas (chariots). The Rathas are then drawn by hundreds of thousands of devotees on the Bada Danda (Grand avenue) to Gundicha temple, which is 2 miles away and considered to be the birthplace of the Deities. The Deities return to the main temple on the 9th day, called Bahuda Jatra. Millions of pilgrims from all over India gather in Puri to witness and pull the rathas. There are a number of Vidhis or practices in connection with the pulling of the rathas and the journey of Lord Jagannath to the Gundicha Mandir. One of the Vidhis is called Chhera pahnara- the sweeping of the floor of the rathas after sprinkling water with sandalwood paste. On this occasion, when the deities are brought from the main temple and placed on the special seats designed for them on the rathas, when the Raja of Puri, who is recognized as the scion of the earlier sovereign emperors of Orissa, is required to sweep the floor of the rathas in front of the deities with a golden broom-stick.

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