Gundicha Temple, Puri –
Legends
Gundicha,
Queen of Indradyumna:
A legend links the temple
to Gundicha, the queen
of Indradyumna (the
legendary builder of first Jagannatha Temple) after whom the Gundicha Temple is
named. Indradyumna was a Malava king, who according to the Mahabharata was the
son of Bharat and Sunanda. Legend has it that as the celestial architect
Vishwakarma was building the Jagannath temple, the queen Gundicha came upon the
magnificent site and was so awed by it that she requested her husband
Indradyumna to build another similar temple in honour of the deity. She also
desired for her husband to undertake the Ratha yatra, causing him to set a
precedent for the custom of a husband going on a Ratha yatra on his wife’s
wishes.
Lord Jagannath visit to Gundicha house:
Another variant suggests that
Jagannath was pleased with deep devotion of the queen Gundicha and Lord
Jagannath promised to pay a visit to her house for nine days during Car
Festival.
Lord Jagannath reunion with Lakshmi:
As per another legend, when
Jagannath (identified with the god Krishna)
goes to stay for seven days in the Gundicha Temple, he intentionally leaves
behind his consort Lakshmi locked up in a store room in the
main Jagannath temple. While in the Gundicha temple, he is exclusively taken
care by his Gopis (cow-herding
girls) led by his Gopi-lover Radha like Krishna in Vrindavan.
The Gopis are symbolized by the temple devadasis on
this occasion. When Jagannatha returns to his main temple after his amorous
dalliance, Lakshmi meets him at the main temple gate and sprinkles some magical
powder on him, which makes him forget about his escapade in the Gundicha
Temple, and she is immediately reunited with her husband in blissful love.
Gundicha, local Goddess:
One more legend relates the
temple's name Gundicha to a local goddess Gundicha, similar to Durga,
worshipped to cure smallpox. Gundi in Oriya
means smallpox, which may be derived from the Bengali Guti,
which is associated with the smallpox-goddess of neighbouring Bengal
- Gutika Thakurani.
Gundicha, Jagannath’s Aunt:
Gundicha is considered
Krishna-Jagannath's aunt, which he visits with his siblings annually. It is
believed that their aunt gives a welcome to the three siblings with a special
delicacy made of rice called ‘padoapitha’. This rice cake is also known as
‘Podapitha’ or ‘Porapitha’.
Disappearance of Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu:
Another legend is about the mysterious
disappearance of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (an incarnation
of Krishna according
to the Bhavishya Purana). He established Gaudiya Vaishnavism and also known to
have composed the Jagannath Astakam. He lived in Puri for many years and
sang bhajans
(devotional songs) and led Sankirthana processions in front of
Jagannath during his Chandan Yatra and Ratha Yatra, along
with many devotees. It is also said that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to go into a
rapturous mood watching the god's love play and dance with joy and also fainted
many times due to emotion. Daily, he prayed to Jagannath, standing behind the Garuda
Stambha (Pillar of Garuda) with tears flowing down his eyes.
With permission of the king,
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu once undertook the task of cleaning the Gundicha temple
premises a day before the Ratha yatra (this tradition is followed even to this
day by the followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism). It is mentioned that once
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, unnoticed by his attendants, walked towards the Gundicha
Temple and was last seen entering the Manikotha, thereafter he was never
seen again. This disappearance has remained an unexplained mystery as none of
the books written on him have recorded this event. It is believed that he merged
with Jagannath at the temple.
Darshan of Lord Jagannatha at Gundicha Temple:
It is said in scripture that
darshan of the Lord Jagannatha at Gundicha temple is equal to ten darshan at
Nilachala Temple (main temple).
Equivalent to Vrindavan & Dwaraka:
The Place where Gundicha temple
is situated is known as Sundarachala. Sundarachala is compared to Vrindavan,
and Nilachala, where Jagannatha resides, is compared to Dwaraka. During Ratha
Yatra, Lord Jagannatha comes to Vrindavan, as the devotees are in the mood of
residents of Vrindavan, begging the Lord to return with them.
No comments:
Post a Comment