Some of you may have wondered where Cafe Atma's logo comes from....... well as we are having our Festival of Chariots (Ratha Yatra) soon, the story of how the original Jagannatha deity from Puri appeared may shed a little light on the logo's origin.
recognise the one on the right??Lord Jagannatha truly embodies an irresistible force, because he is none other than Krishna, the all-attractive Lord of the Universe. The annual procession of the Deity of Krishna in the form of Jagannatha carried on the Ratha and is one of the world’s oldest and largest festivals. Rathayatra is a celebration dating back thousands of years in India, which has spread to cities throughout the world since the late 1960′s.
The history of Lord Jagannatha is a story of devotion, the eternal love between human being and God. It tells how the prayers of a devotee caused the Lord to make his appearance in a wondrous way. Also it shows how Krishna came as the Deity Jagannath, so that he could accept loving service from all classes of human beings.
The ancient Vedic literature describes the world ruled by king Indradyumna as a tranquil place. From his capital in Avantipura, the emperor surveyed a land filled with peace and prosperity unknown in modern times. Abundance was everywhere during the enlightened age of Satya-yuga, except in the heart of the King. Indradyumna felt all vacant in the world he ruled, because he hankered for a pleasure beyond material bounds. He has a desire to see the Lord face to face.
This is a difficult feat, even for the greatest monarch in the world. The Gita states that mystics who devote their entire lives to God realization rarely achieve such a boon. Usually, the more one is involved in material pursuits, the less likely one is to make spiritual advancement. So how is it possible for a king absorbed in worldly affairs to obtain the Lord’s special mercy?
Krishna is not partial to displays of material wealth or power. They are insignificant compared to his glories. What is significant though is the love each soul may direct to the Lord. Sometimes Krishna can be conquered by a very pure love. The search begins.
One day as Indradyumna lamented that he was not able to serve God directly, a pilgrim suddenly appeared. This man revealed how he had actually seen the Lord accepting direct loving service in his deity form of Nila Madhava. God incarnates in many ways throughout the ages, and sometimes He manifests in the form of stone or wood just to please his devotees and accept their loving services.
More in a few days :)
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment