Book Reviewed: The origin of Ratha-Yatra, a compilation of lectures by Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

The origin of Ratha-Yatra, a compilation of lectures by Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja

Commentary of Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja on Ratha-Yatra

In this book, Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja, a Vaishnava spiritual leader describes the origin of the festival of chariots (Ratha-Yatra) and its relevance in the practice of bhakti. The festival is celebrated for over five thousand years, when Lord Krishna with his elder brother Balarama and younger sister Subhadra came together in a chariot from Dvaraka to Kurukshetra. The gopis and Radha Maharani, the residents of Vrindavana visit the Lord at Kurukshetra and invite him to Vrindavana. This yearning to be together with the Supreme Lord is expressed in the celebration of the festival. The separation from the Lord is painful but togetherness with him is most wonderful experience of prema (love) and devotion. Pure bhakti is the theme of the Ratha-Yatra. During the festival the deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and sister Subhadra are worshiped in the sanctum of the temple at Puri. During the month of Asadha (June/July), they are brought out to the main street of Puri and travel to the Shri Gundicha Temple in three separate chariots. This is the festival of Ratha-Yatra. The meaning of the festival is reflected in the prayers of Gopis at Kurukshetra who pray the Lord to come and live in their hearts; a place similar to Vrindavana. Jagannath is identified with Purushottama, the primal Purusha of the RgVeda and the Supreme Brahman of the Bhagavadgita.

The appearance of Lord Jagannath given in Skanda Purana describes the sanctity of this festival as; “Gundicha mandapam namam yatrahamajanam pura Ashwamedha sahasrasya mahabedi tadadvabat.” Translation: Those who are fortunate to see the deities of the Srimandira in the Gundicha Temple, the final destination of the procession of the chariots, derive the benefits of a thousand horse sacrifices, an immensely pious deed. Various other interpretations include; the Lord comes out from his sanctum for participating in the Gundicha Yatra (Festival of Chariots) for redeeming the fallen devotees and pardoning the sins of participants of the festival. Sri Chaitanya, the great apostle of Vaishnavism in whom bhakti and unconditional devotion to the Lord saw its limits of rapturous expression, both physically and mentally provided strength and energy to the festivities. Chaitanya came to Puri in 1510 A.D. on a pilgrimage and eventually settled at Tota Gopinatha temple.