Jagannath Snan Yatra (Birth of Jagannathji)

We all are devotees of Jagannath, worshiper of Jagannath, only because of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, He worshipped Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra and He preferred to perform His final pastimes in Jagannath Puri and Jagannath was worshipable deity of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. When we take darsana, whole world of course take’s darsana, Gaudiya Vaishnavas take darsana, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu took darsana. So, what do they see, when we see Jagannath, we take darsana of Jagannath, what are we seeing actually? what are we understanding, when we take darsana of Jagannath or what the darsana is reminding us of when we take darshan of Jagannath?

Whole world is also taking darsana, but Jagannath is giving the darsana the ‘true darsana’ to Gaudiya Vaishnavas as we understand Jagannath through the eyes also through the vision of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Lord Jagannath loves His devotees so much. Lord says, He was saying that to Durvasa Muni.

sadhavo hrdayam mahyam
sadhunam hrdayam tv aham
mad-anyat te na jananti
naham tebhyo manag api

Translation
The pure devotee is always within the core of My heart, and I am always in the heart of the pure devotee. My devotees do not know anything else but Me, and I do not know anyone else but them.[SB 9.4.68]

My devotees are my heart. Devotees are in my heart, devotees are my heart likewise, they are also in my heart and I am their heart. These are expression of the feelings of Lord. This is what we understand, what is in mind of Lord Jagannath. Thinking of Jagannath, when we say like this, I love Lord. We all love Lord but when we take darsana, the Lord is showing us or expressing us or communicating with His vision. The Lord says l loves my devotee. This is like a two-way traffic.

It’s not that we love the Lord and Lord doesn’t care for us, no. This form of Jagannath Lord is making it very clear, letting the whole world now take His darsana. He declares I love my devotee, my dear devotees. So, this is darsana that we should be getting as we see Jagannath, I love you.

And also, when we take darsana of Jagannath, I mean, His feet they have entered His trunks and body, but hands the half of the hands are still out. When we see, from the elbow onwards they are out and rest is in. So, when we take darsana, Lord is standing, His hands are forward. So, again some devotees, this is their realization that, Lord is trying to pick up His devotee like a mother tries to pick up the child and lift the child and kiss the child or embrace the child or love the child.

So, Jagannath as we take darsana He has hands partially out and He is sending His hands, attempting to pick living entity, to pick us, love us, accept us, embrace us. Or those who are Gaudiya vaishnav who chant,
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare HareRam Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare

By chanting and chanting this Hare Krishna mahamantra. This revives our love for Lord and resulting in understanding Jagannath. Understanding the form of Jagannath, understanding the heart of Jagannath, understanding what is in the mind of Jagannath and having that two way traffic of reciprocation with Jagannath this is the result of chanting and hearing about Jagannath. Chanting Hare Krishna results in this understanding, results in this realisation that we are talking about.

Prem pumartho mahan attending love of Godhead is the goal of human form of life and that is achieved by chanting of Hare Krishna Hare Krishna and by taking darsana of Jagannath, serving Jagannath, performing snana yatra for Jagannath, rath yatra of Jagannath and worshiping Jagannath we achieve love of Jagannath, love of Krishna and love of Godhead.

So, you may be taking part in snana yatra forever you may be special or some of you may be in Jagannath Puri or some of devotees, ISKCON devotees may be in Jagannath Puri also participating in snana yatra. So, whatever may be in Jagannath Puri, Jagannath is also here at your home. Yet many of you have Jagannath deities to perform snana yatra.

Today we had I don’t know how we had gone 609 or 815 participants, today I had forgot to announce in beginning. 627 are on the track reporting today. Let’s give congratulations. Wish you happy snana yatra. Jagannath ratha Yatra. Every snan yatra, ratha yatra is incomplete without Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna without chanting. It is not one step forward. Chanting should be always there.
Jagannath snan yatra festival ki jai.