1 minute read
Do Not Call Him ‘Bābā’
A lwAys E mbr A c E d by K åñë A
Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Jagannätha manifested on this day. Jagannätha, Baladeva and Subhadra appeared in Their forms today, as three logs of wood. This is mentioned in the Skanda Puräëa. Therefore, on this day They are given a public bath. After the bathing festival, Lord Jagannätha retires from public darçana and is repainted. Fifteen days later, He gives darçana in His freshly painted and young appearance, known as nava-yauvana veça, during the cart festival [Rathayäträ].1
Advertisement
Why are They in this Form?
Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Jagannätha is Kåñëa. Why have Jagannätha, Balaräma and Their sister Subhadrä assumed these forms with big, big dilated eyes, and Their hands and legs shrunken? Why is that? Does anyone know why They are in this mahä-bhäva form? What is it? Why is it mahä-bhäva?
Devotee: Jagannätha is Kåñëa feeling separation from Rädhäräëé. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Kåñëa feels separation. What about Balaräma and Subhadrä? Why have They also assumed that form?
Devotees: We were hearing a story. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: What story?
Devotee: A story that is told in Våndävana. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Why is Jagannätha carved like that? That is what you should understand, why this form of Jagannätha manifested.
Devotee: It is an unfinished form of the Lord. Çréla Gour Govinda Swami: Why is it unfinished? Why did He appear in that form?
