{"id":5241,"date":"2022-07-19T12:44:32","date_gmt":"2022-07-19T07:14:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discoverursupersoul.com\/?p=5241"},"modified":"2022-07-19T12:44:32","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T07:14:32","slug":"story-behind-jagannath-rath-yatra-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/minivetsystem.com\/iskcon\/story-behind-jagannath-rath-yatra-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Story behind Jagannath Rath Yatra Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Story<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is the story behind Jagannath Rath Yatra which draws lakhs of devotees every year to Jagannath Puri?<\/strong> Why once in a year Lord Jagannath with his brother Baladeva and little sister Subhadra come out of the temple and ride on the massive chariots?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj has beautifully explained the story behind the world-famous Rath Yatra festival in one of his lectures. Below is what he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj tells Rath Yatra Story<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For hundred years, Krishna was away from Vrindavan.<\/strong> Krishna gave the assurance; I will come back quickly. Don\u2019t worry. The gopis were trying to stop him from leaving Vrindavan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were desperate to stop. Some gopis were holding the reins of the chariot\u2019s horses and some gopis were pulling the chariot, \u201cwe won\u2019t let you go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some gopis laid down in front of the wheels of the chariot<\/strong> and some gopis were beating up Akrura, \u201cYou want to take Krishna, we will never let you do that.\u201d So, the gopis were in desperate situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, Krishna assured them, \u201cDon\u2019t worry., I am just going there with a mission. The king has invited me, so I have do go. So, don\u2019t worry I will come back.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Krishna breaks his promise<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Krishna that way has many wonderful qualities. One of his qualities is he breaks his vows. His words sometimes don\u2019t have any values. That\u2019s why when Krishna wants to make some promise and reassure fully, he makes the commitment through his devotees because his words may fail but his devotees\u2019 words will never fail.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, he says, \u201ckaunteya pratij\u0101n\u012bhi na me bhakta\u1e25 pra\u1e47a\u015byati<\/em>, Bhagavad Gita 9.31<\/mark><\/a>. Arjuna you declare, I won\u2019t say it. If I say it, then people may think it\u2019s just another bluff. So, you say it that my devotees will never vanquish.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gopis & Krishna come to Kurukshetra<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So, for hundred years Krishna didn\u2019t go back. On the occasion of Solar eclipse, Surya Grahan, it\u2019s a custom that seekers of piety go to Samanta panchak in Kurukshetra to take bath. So, many people went to Kurukshetra on the occasion of solar eclipse to take bath and the gopis also went.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The residents of Vrindavan also went to take bath and Krishna also went. They took bath. Next day they were about to leave and then the residents of Vrindavan got the news that Krishna and Balarama were there. They immediately ran to meet Krishna and Balarama.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Radharani is unhappy to see Krishna<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By the time Krishna was already on his chariot. He was also about to leave. So, they arrived there. And everyone was naturally very excited, very happy. But Radharani was not. Radharani\u2019s mood was, this is not Nandalala.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nandalala, my Krishna, wears a peacock feather on his head, but this person is wearing a crown. My Krishna wears a yellow garment, and this person is wearing royal robes, royal dress.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Krishna wears flower garland made of forest flowers. And this personality is wearing necklaces made of most precious gems and jewels. My Krishna carries a flute and this one is carrying a bow and arrow and sword.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I meet him in the solitary place on the bank of Yamuna but this place is full of so many people, so much noise, so many horses, so many elephants.<\/strong> The elephants are trumpeting, horses are whining, people are clamoring, so much noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is not where I wanted to see him and this is not the way I wanted to see my Krishna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vrajbasis begin to pull Krishna\u2019s chariot<\/mark><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So, residence of Vrindavan, Radharani\u2019s devotees, could understand Radharani\u2019s mood. So, what did they do? They caught hold of Krishna\u2019s chariot. The horses were already harnessed, so along with the horses they started to pull Krishna\u2019s chariot.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balarama was also there; he was also their friend. Balarama\u2019s chariot was also being dragged and the sister cannot be left alone<\/strong>, so take her also. But where? To Vrindavan. So that is the Rath Yatra festival.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Kurukshetra, Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra are being dragged towards Vrindavan where he will meet Srimati Radharani. So Gundicha temple is actually Vrindavan. So that is the Rath Yatra festival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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