Jagannatha Ashtakam 3 – The difference in the sequences of designation and depiction of the Deities

Transcript

This is an AI-generated transcript and may contain some errors.
Hare Krishna. So, Mahambodhastire.
Ambodha is a reservoir of water. Ambu is water. So, Mahambodha is a giant reservoir of water.
That refers to ocean. Tire, on the bank, on the coast of that ocean. So, Mahambodhastire.
So, Jagannath Puri is situated at the coast. Neelashik, Mahambodhastire, Kanakaruchire, Neelashikare. So, in a golden palace.
Now, today, the Jagannath temple may not be exactly like a golden palace. But we understand that, Lord Jagannath has been worshipped at Jagannath Puri since time immemorial. And at the time of the composition of this verse, and within the meditation of the composer, this song is traditionally attributed to Shankaracharya.
So, Mahambodhastire, Kanakaruchire. A golden castle. Kanakaruchire.
Neelashikare. Neelashikare is the mountain where Lord Jagannath resides, within the traditional narrative. Neelamadhava.
One of the names of Lord Jagannath in his earlier manifestation was Neelamadhava. So, the abode where he resides is called as Neelachala. So, Neelashikare.
On that magnificent mountain. So, now, the vision here has shifted from Jagannath Puri to, from Vrindavan to Jagannath Puri. Now, the two Lords are one and the same.
And yet, they are different. So, let’s look at the specific attributes of this Lord. And then, of this manifestation of the Lord.
And then, we’ll look more in detail about the relationship. Here, the Lord resides and the Lord rules. Vasant is to reside.
Prasadanta is to keep everyone under control, to rule. The Lord resides and the Lord reigns over here. Balabhadra is Baladeva, Balinava.
It’s very powerful. That Subhadra is in between. So, Seva Avasar, the chance for service.
He’s providing for Sakalasura, for all godly living beings. Now, here, we know that Jagannath has a particular form. There we have Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra.
So, Subhadra, Madhyastha, Sakalasura, Seva Avasar. So, we call that Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra. Now, it’s interesting, the sequence is not necessarily the sequence in which the deities themselves are arranged on the altar.
So, now we see that, in terms of appearance, Balaram is older than Krishna. But, normally when we refer, we refer to Krishna Balaram, not to Balaram Krishna. Why is that? Because, although in terms of age, Balaram might be older, but in terms of the manifestation of divinity, Krishna is a supreme lord.
He is a supreme enjoyer. And, Balaramji is also extremely powerful. And, in the Gaudiya Vaishnav Tattva, even Balaramji has his gopis with whom he enjoys.
But, still, even his enjoyment is in assistance of Krishna. So, therefore, it is different. And, it is a form of enjoyment which is primarily through service.
So, we have Ram and Lakshman. That same Ram and Lakshman are manifested as Krishna and Balaram. And, now, because Krishna and Balaram are, in terms of appearance in this world, Balaram may have appeared earlier, but the relationship remains the same.
Now, because Balaramji is considered older, therefore, there is a deference. Krishna is often deferential, respectful to him. But, still, Krishna is also determined.
When he wants to do what he wants to do, he does it, and he very tactfully gets Balaramji to go along with his plans. So, Krishna is the original manifestation of the supreme lord, and that’s why Krishna’s name comes first. So, Krishna is Jagannath.
Now, in terms of appearance, we have Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra. So, it’s described in the Vaishya scriptures, in the Hari Vamsa Purana, it’s described that, actually, the girl who was born to Yashodamayi, she actually became Durga eventually, and she was actually non-different from Subhadra. So, she disappeared, and she later reappeared.
So, there is not much age difference, but she lived in Vindhya Hills, by her own mystic potency, under Krishna’s arrangement, and later on, when Krishna returned from Vrindavan to Mathura, and he delivered Kamsa, after that, Subhadra returned over there. So, now Subhadra, in terms of the arrangement of the deities, is in the center, and that is an indication that she is protected. So, we have Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra.
Subhadra, Madhyastha, Sakalasura, Seva, Sarvamadhyastha. So, her two brothers are by her side, protecting her. Now, in terms of designation, or in terms of call, so there is depiction, and there is designation.
Designation in terms of how we call. So, when we are calling out at that time, we call out in terms of Hare Krishna, the Supreme Lord, then there is Baladeva, and then there is Subhadra. So, that’s in terms of the primacy of the role that they play in their relationship, in the past times, and in the overall Leela.
So, Krishna is the central enjoyer, Balram is his primary assistant. We see Balram is present in Vrindavan, Balaram is present in Dwaraka, Balram is present in Mathura. So, he is the only associate of Krishna who is there in both places.
Apart from him, the only other person who is there is Rohini. But Rohini is not there when Krishna goes out for fighting wars and other things. And Rohini was not there when Krishna would go out even into the forest.
Balram would normally be there. So, in those terms, Balram is much more prominently present in Krishna’s pastimes everywhere. And then there is Subhadra also.
So, in terms of depiction for protection, because she is protected on both sides, so that she is on the center. But in terms of reference, when we call out Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra. So, now all these three are transcendental manifestations, and they reside at the transcendental level.
But now here they are manifested in these forms for the sake of giving an opportunity for service. So, there is a Sakalasura Seva Avasaradho. So, whenever the Lord manifests in any deity form, the primary purpose is to give an opportunity for service.
So, how is the opportunity for service given? Because that Lord who is transcendental has become manifest in this world. By becoming manifest in this world, He is giving us an opportunity to connect with Him. To learn to love Him.
To learn to serve Him and to thereby develop our love for Him. That’s how He is giving for all Godly. Now there are demoniac people who will defy and they will say this is just a stone.
But those who are Godly, they will understand this is the Supreme Lord. And then they will get the opportunity to serve Him. So, that is what is described over here.
पसंप्रसादान्तर सहजबलभद्रेन बलिनाद Balram is very powerful and we know that he does many heroic activities with his strength. That’s why his name is Bal. Now Balram refers to the Lord who delights in doing strong activities.
Balram. Baladeva is also the same Lord. But the word Deva often has many meanings.
One of the meanings of the word Deva is related with the conception of those who are givers. Those who are benedictors. So Baladeva refers to those who give benediction.
So Baladeva gives the benediction of strength. Transcendental strength he restores. So he represents the Guru Tattva and he gives us strength.
So such is the Lord who is being worshipped. And that is the Lord Jagannath whom we are all worshipping. He is manifested with his two very intimate integral associates over here.
Thank you. Hare Krishna.