Do You Know History Shree Jagannath Temple Idols Story

The idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra in the Puri Jagannath Temple have an intriguing and ancient story associated with their creation. According to Hindu mythology, the divine forms of these deities are said to be self-manifested, with no human involvement in their creation.

The Legend of Nila Madhava:

The story begins with an ancient king named Indradyumna. King Indradyumna, driven by a strong desire to witness the divine form of Lord Vishnu, embarked on a spiritual quest. Guided by sage Narada, he traveled to the sacred Nila Mountain (now known as Nilgiri) in present-day Odisha.

There, the king encountered a unique phenomenon. He witnessed a mystical blue-colored deity named Nila Madhava, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, being worshipped by the local tribal community. However, Nila Madhava disappeared before the king could reach the deity's location.

Undeterred, King Indradyumna was determined to install and worship Nila Madhava in a permanent temple. He underwent rigorous penance, seeking divine intervention. Eventually, Lord Vishnu appeared in a dream and instructed the king to commission a skilled divine architect named Vishwakarma to create three idols: Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.

The Creation of the Idols:

Following Lord Vishnu's instructions, King Indradyumna ordered the construction of the idols from a sacred neem tree. According to the legend, the tree was obtained from a divine celestial being called Brahma, who manifested in the form of a carpenter to carve the idols.

However, there was a unique condition: The construction of the idols had to be completed in secrecy, with no one witnessing the carving process until it was finished. The king accepted this condition and entrusted the task to Vishwakarma, who began carving the idols in a hidden location.

As per the myth, Vishwakarma began the process during the day but worked at night, ensuring that no one could observe his craftsmanship. He would cover the unfinished idols with a cloth every evening before leaving the site.

The Divine Deities:

When the idols were completed, they were revealed to King Indradyumna. However, the idols did not have any eyes yet. The king was disheartened and questioned the carpenter, who assured him that the idols were divine and would receive their eyes at the right time.

Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Lord Jagannath, took the form of a celestial artist and appeared before the king. She agreed to paint the eyes on the idols, but only if she was left undisturbed until the task was finished. However, the goddess had one condition: No one was to disturb her or enter the temple until she completed the work.

Unfortunately, due to impatience, King Indradyumna's queen could not resist the curiosity and entered the temple before the goddess finished her task. As a result, Goddess Lakshmi was unable to complete painting the eyes of the idols. Hence, to this day, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra have incomplete eyes.

The mystical and divine creation of the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra adds to their significance and reverence. Devotees believe that these idols embody the presence and blessings of Lord Vishnu, and their worship brings spiritual solace and divine grace.

Note: The story of the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra may vary in different versions of the myth, but the central theme of their divine manifestation remains consistent