Why King Vibhishana Visiting Daily Puri Jagannath ?

King Vibhisana is one of asta Chiranjeevi. It is believed that to this date, every night, Vibhisana visits the temple at Puri, and offers his daily worship.

According to culture of Lanka he is regarded as a God due to his adherence to path of dharma. There is a temple near Colombo, where he is worshipped.

After the killing of Ravan and the coronation of Vibhishan as King of Lanka, when Sri Rama was preparing to leave Lanka, tears came to eyes of Vibhishan.

He said to Ramachandra "Oh, Lord when I surrendered to you, you promised me all protection and assured me freedom from the bondage and sufferings of this material world by seeing to your lotus feet daily.

Now it will not at all be possible for me to have darshan of your lotus feet everyday".

शासितस्त्वं सखित्वेन कार्यं ते मम शासनम् ।

प्रजाः संरक्ष धर्मेण नोत्तरं वक्तुमर्हसि ॥

किञ्चान्यद् वक्तुमिच्छामि राक्षसेन्द्र महाबल ।

आराधय जगन्नाथं इक्ष्वाकुकुलदैवतम् ॥

आराधनीयमनिशं देवैरपि सवासवैः ।

तथेति प्रतिजग्राह रामवाक्यं विभीषणः ॥

According to Valmiki Ramayana Uttarakhand 18:29-31) Smilingly Sri Rama replied

"Vibhishan, just worship and pray Lord Jagannath daily who resides very close to Mahodadhi (the great ocean) and you will see my presence in Him."

To this day, Vibhishan comes everyday to have darshan of Lord Jagannath.

One day after completion of worship to Sri Jagannath, Vibhishan requested the Lord to pay a visit to Lanka so that he would feel himself fortunate. Lord Jagannath assured Vibhishan that He would definitely do so.

One day Lord decided to go to Lanka and on the way he met another dear devotee of His, Balaram Das (one of panch sakha, 500 years before).

As soon as Balaram Das heard that the Lord was going to Lanka he prayed to the Lord to allow him to accompany Him.

Accepting his request, the Lord ordered Balaram to carry a narrow-necked golden water jug and asked him to follow Him.

In Lanka Garh, Vibhishan welcomed Lord Jagannath with great joy and devotion alongwith Balaram Das and offered a beautiful garland of a rare species of black jasmine flowers and a pearl necklace and worshipped the Lord to his heart’s content.

After blessing Vibhishan, Lord returned to Srikshetra after leaving Balaram Das at his Matha. Balaram Das was overwhelmed with his unexpected adventure and in the excitement, totally forgot to return the golden water jug to Lord Jagannath.

The next morning, when the golden jug was not found in the temple during retual, it was reported to the king Prataprudra Dev and Balaram Das heard this news.

He immediately went to the temple and returned the golden jug to the Panda who was on duty. The king sternly reprimanded the blameless saint Balaram Das for this act of stealing.

But Balaram Das narrated the incident of the previous night. Hearing the story the King rushed to the temple and could not believe his eyes when he saw the garland of rare black jasmine flowers and the pearl necklace offered by Vibhishan Maharaj.

Tears came to his eyes and embracing Balaram Das the King begged his forgiveness for blaming him. The devotion of Balaram Das and Vibhishan is alive even today.

On the day of Rath Yatra, at the time of Pahandibije Lord Jagannath pauses near the Garudastambha at Natamandir of the temple facing towards the south to accept the worship of Vibhishan Maharaj which is offered at this time.

It is believed that even now, every night Vibhishana and Hanuman visit the temple of Lord Jagannath to see and enjoy the last ritual at midnight, known as Pahuda Arati.

It was in the year 1810, when there was no electricity and the town was dark at night. When returning home through the horse gate (south entrance) of the temple, head priest Pattajoshi Mahapatra felt somebody walking beside him.

The person was not visible owing to the darkness, but he was so huge, it seemed his head was touching the sky.

Pattajoshi Mahapatra was totally overwhelmed. Out of fear, he questioned, "Who are you?"

The answer was, "I am Vibhisana from outer space. I come here daily to see the last ritual of Lord Jagannath."

Still the head priest doubted him. He asked again, "Please give me some proof that you are from the outer space!"

So Vibhisana gave him the huge golden armlet he was wearing and vanished. Even now, almost 200 years later, this ornament given by Vibhisana of Devaloka is worshipped in the residence of Pattajoshi Mahapatra's family.

It may be seen and verified. The ornament is the size of a wheel of a bullock cart. It could never have been used by a human being.

पवन: पवतामस्मि राम: शस्त्रभृतामहम् |

झषाणां मकरश्चास्मि स्रोतसामस्मि जाह्नवी || (Gita 10:31)

Shri Krishna mentioned himself; Amongst purifiers, I am the wind, and amongst wielders of weapons, I am Lord Ram. Of water creatures, I am the crocodile, and of flowing rivers, I am the Ganges.

तस्य लोकप्रधानस्य जगन्नाथस्य भूपते ।

विष्णोर्नाम सहस्रं मे शृणु पाप भयापहम् ॥ (Mahabharat)

In this verse Pitamaha Bhisma praises Lord Vishnu as the primeval source of all creations, will be in form of Jagannath in Kali Yuga.

Ganapati Bhatt of Karnataka was a staunch devotee of Lord Ganesh. He read the Brahma Puran and realised that the Supreme Parabrahm in real form was residing at Nilgiri Sri Kshetra Puri.

He decided to travel to Puri and to have darshan of Brahm. He reached Puri on the day of Snana Purnima (Jyeshth full moon day).

Joining the great crowds at the snana bedi, Ganapati Bhatta saw Daaru Brahm Jagannath on the Snana Mandap. But he could not understand where his beloved Lord Ganesh was. He looked keenly at Jagannath but he could not see his Ishta Ganesh.

Disappointed he left the temple to go back to his native place. Lord Jagannath could know the feelings of his devotee.

Disguising Himself as a Panda he met Ganapati Bhatt and implored him to go and see Lord once again on the Snana Mandap before leaving Puri, saying that this time his wish would surely be fulfilled.

It was evening and on the persuasion of Panda, he went to the Snana Mandap outside the temple again.

To his surprise, he saw Lord Jagannath with the head of elephant. He danced on the road saying that God had fulfilled his desire.

From that day the three deities are dressed in Gajanan Vesha after taking bath on Snana Mandap.

जाकी रही भावना जैसी । प्रभु मूरत देखी तिन तैसी ॥ (Ramacharitmanas)

In whatever way my devotees worship me so do I approach them (Gita, Taitereeya Upanishad and Mudgal Upnishad)

Article by

Anadi Sahoo