On Jyeshta Shukla Paksha Ekadashi (Rukmini Haran Ekadashi), the divine wedding of Shri Jagannath and Shri Mahalakshmi Rukmini is celebrated every year inside the Shrimandir (Jagannath Mandir), Puri Dham.

The festival revolves around Rukmini Haran Leela where Shri Jagannath defeats Shishupal and kidnaps Ma Rukmini from the Bimala mandir, followed by their wedding.

"O Fountainhead of mercy! Save me, who long since, has lost her heart to Thee, and who is about to be taken away by Sisupala", so she prayed to Thee, O Sole Lord of the Universe. (78.7) Thou didst then tell him (the messenger) that, being even more afflicted by pangs of love for Rukmini, Thou would go there and bring her away from the midst of the assembled Kings. (78.9) Then, Rukmi, who came in pursuit, was taken captive by Thee, who, however, spared his life, and wert content to disfigure him, so as to humble his pride, and then set him free, on Balarama's urging. Thou didst, thereafter, leave for Dwaraka with Thy beloved Rukmini, who was Goddess Lakshmi herself. (79.9) ~Narayaneeyam

@sundaralekhan Day 5: AU

This time around, I'm posing a secondary theme for my Sundaralekhan works — Arts. In the coming week, I'll be posting art for Sundaralekhan prompts in the form of studies of various art forms that revolve around Hindu mythology.

Taking this chance to highlight the Jagannath Mythology. Whether you call it an offshoot of Krishna lore, Vaishnavite subculture, or both Krishna and Vishnu lores getting influenced by stories and mythology of the Puri area, Jagannath mythology has it's own flavour to it and it's own little stories you won't find anywhere else and make only sense for the coastal town of Puri.

Featured are illustrations inspired by Anasara Paintings, which take the place of the triad in the temple when the three are away on Rath Yatra.

My favourite story from the Jagannath mythology is the tale of Mausi Maa. She gave shelter to Jagannath and Balabhadra when they were very poor. You may think when did that happen to Krishna and Balaram and when did they ever travel that far south to this little shrine in Puri? But that's the point of an AU! Vrindavan may be a model for Jagannath/Krishna lore, but Jagannath squarely belongs in Puri and the mythology worldbuilds itself around Odia locales and traditions. You can read more about Jagannath's unique family here.

I studied one of the Anasara Paintings from the book In the Absence of Jagannatha by Eberhard Fischer and Dinanath Pathy. Reference painting and details under the cut.

The Fascinating Story of Lord Jagannath You Must Know

Jagannath temple has so many fascinating stories but there are some stories that question the science. Let's know what it is-

A Wish That Changed Destiny

This is not just a story. It begins with a powerful desire. 

There was a king named Indradyumna who made a wish to build a huge temple to worship. He wanted to see him in a form the world had never witnessed before.

His devotion was deep and restless, as if something extraordinary was waiting to happen.

And then, one day a mysterious stranger arrived. He was none other than Lord Vishwakarma.

The Carpenter No One Could Understand

There was an unknown carpenter who appeared suddenly. He was calm and mysterious. He agreed to carve the idol, but with one condition. 

 “No one opens the door until I am done.”

The king agreed.

The doors were shut. The carving began. And then, silence.

When Silence Created Doubt

Days passed. There was no sound of any tool or carving from inside. There was no sign of life. That silence was awkward and turned into worry.

Now the king’s patience broke and he opened the door. What he saw next was beyond imagination.

An Incomplete Form… or a Divine Choice?

The room was totally empty. The carpenter had disappeared. 

And in the room stood the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.

They were incomplete but unlike anything anyone had seen before.

These sculptures have no fully formed hands. No perfect structure. Just large, round eyes that seemed to hold a silent mystery. 

A Form Beyond Human Understanding

This was God’s wish to be in that form. Lord Jagannath chose to appear in this unique form to remind the world of a deeper truth. Divinity is not about physical perfection.

It is beyond shape, beyond beauty, beyond human expectations. And that is what makes this form so powerful.

A Temple Where the Mystery Still Lives

After 800 years, even today every person who visits the Jagannath Puri temple can feel something divine. They just dont come to pray but to feel something they or science cannot explain.

A Mystery That Still Has No Answers

Every few years the idols are changed in a secret ritual called Nabakalebara. But the “life” inside them? It is transferred in complete darkness.

No one fully knows how. No one questions it.

Because some things are not meant to be explained but only felt.

And Maybe That’s Why You Can’t Ignore This Story