Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Fascinating Legend Behind Unfinished Idols At Puri Temple

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Rath yatra is organised every year in India and it is one of the most auspicious and revered festivals in the eastern part of the country. The chariot festival is held at the famous Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha and is observed on Dwitiya Tithi during the Shukla Paksha of the Ashada month according to the Hindu Lunar Calendar.

As per the Gregorian Calendar, it usually falls in the month of June or July. Lakhs of devotees from across the globe come here to visit the Lord. According to the Gregorian Calendar, it usually falls in the month of June or July. This year, it will be observed on Tuesday, 20 June 2023.

The Dwitiya Tithi begins at 11:25 am on 19 June 2023 and Dwitiya Tithi ends at 01:07 pm on 20 June 2023. Lord Jagannath will be taken out for the Ratha yatra on Tuesday, 20 June 2023 and this procession will start at 10.04 pm on this day. It will end on Saturday, 01 July 2023.

It is on this day, Lord Jagannatha, which means 'Lord of the Universe' will be worshipped in the city of Puri. Devotees believe him to be a famous form of Lord Vishnu.

Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Fascinating Legend Behind Unfinished Idols At Puri Temple

When it comes to the idols of the famous Puri temple- Lord Jagannath, brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, there are numerous legends, and beliefs associated with them. However, like other idols, they are not made with metal, straw and mud or stone. Only need wood is used to carve these idols.

The idols of gods are not changed every year but can be replaced only after the 8th, 12th and 19th year of the last replacement ceremony. This is because anything that is made of wood or spiritually speaking, anything that is made on the earth decays after some time and therefore, it needs a change. A neem tree is chosen to make idols of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra and this is because dark colour is associated with the deity.
The idols embody a large, square-shaped head, big eyes and unfinished limbs and there is a popular legend behind it.

The Story Of King Indradyumna And Unfinished Idols

Legend has it that King Indradyumna wanted to build a temple dedicated to Lord Vishu, however, he was uncertain about the shape of the idol that will represent the Lord perfectly. Therefore, he asked Lord Brahma to meditate and pray to Lord Vishnu himself and ask him what form he would like to embody.

As a result of King's deep meditation, God appeared in his dream and spoke about a particular floating wood log near Bankamuhana in Puri and that his idol will be made out of that log. When Indradyumna went in search of that log, he found it in that same place, but no matter what he did, no one agreed to make the idols out of it.

Every time the artisans tried to cut that log, it broke. This was the point when carpenter Bishwakarma/Vishwakarma (Ananta Maharana) appeared and offered to help to solve the crisis. However, he had one condition, that he should not be disturbed while carving out the idol until it is finished.

Therefore, for two weeks, he employed himself to execute the divine task in a podium that was locked, so that no one could disturb or interrupt him. But after two weeks, suddenly the sound of work stopped coming from inside the podium and this made the wife of Indradyumna - Gundicha curious. Therefore, she asked the King to go in and check if Bishwakarma was fine.

Although the king didn't want to, but he was left with no option and therefore, he decided to enter inside. However, when he entered, he found that there was no carpenter and only unfinished idols. This made him repent his act. At this point, Indradyumna heard a divine voice of Lord Vishnu, who told him to not regret but install the unfinished idol as it is and that it was Lord Vishu's wish to make himself visible to the devotees in this form.

Since then, the idols of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are worshipped in an unfinished form and are brought out onto the Bada Danda, travel all the way to the Shri Gundicha Temple in huge chariots and a procession is organised to celebrate this day In the month of Asadha (June or July).