It was the time of the Car Festival. The rituals began, with the king sweeping that part of the chariot where the deity was to be placed. This signified that even the king was a humble servant of the Lord. (The custom continues-the descendants of the former kings of Puri still performing the rite.)
But the Kanchi minister thought such sweeping was an act unworthy of a king. "We cannot make a sweeper-king our son-in- law!" he said to his master, whereupon the king of Kanchi withdrew his consent to the proposal.
The infuriated Purushottam Dev marched upon Kanchi, but was defeated. On returning to Puri, he prostrated himself before Sri Jagannath, praying for victory or death! The Lord assured him in a dream that he would win on a second expedition.
A further assurance of victory was provided soon. As he rode behind his army near Lake Chilika, a milkmaid signaled to him to stop. " A little before the army passed, two riders, one dark, the other fair, ate my curds and gave me this ring, assuring me that a rider would soon follow who would pay me my dues and recover the ring. They were in a hurry to reach Kanchi, to fight on behalf of our king!" she said.
The king recognised the diamond ring-it was the one he had recently offered to Jagannath.
He was sure that the riders were none other than Jagannath and Balabhadra! The king won the battle, took princess Padmavati prisoner and returned to Puri. But that was not compensation enough for his earlier humiliation. He ordered his minister to give the princess in marriage to a sweeper!
The minister was a wise man. He let a few months pass. It was once more time for the Car Festival.
As the king climbed the chariot and stooped to sweep its platform, two tender hands put a garland round his neck. Behind the young girl stood the minister.
"My Lord," he said, "where could I find a more eligible sweeper to win the hand of princess Padmavati?" Thus the princess of Kanchi became the queen of Kalinga.
=====================================
Puri Rath Yatra - A Long Waiting Event to Celebrate
Since time immemorial, Puri the city on the eastern cost of India has been claiming as a major attraction for saints and servants of different faiths who usually visit for Salvation. Puri is known to the world over for its great temple of Lord Jagannath, which is one among the four holiest places of pilgrimate (Chaturdham) in India. Lord Jagnnath, the presiding deity and center of assimilation of various religious and faiths and believes has been worshipped by the savara tribals from 240 B.C. The cult of Jagannath which accepts the philosophical aspects of all religious and faith and which has survived and sustained throughout the course of history is the quistessence of Orissan life and culture. He is really the synthesis of the essence of Jainism, Buddhism, Tantricism and Vaishnavism, the ritualistic aspects of which are manifested in his daily worship. Hence all claim Jagannath to be their symbolical deity for all times to come. Jagannath is neither a seculpture nor a painting worshipped n an uniconic form without hands, legs and other human features unlike the deities of Hind Pantheon. Many stories and legends around this God made him highly controversial and yet most acceptable and adorable. But the all accepted appropriate tale clarifies, king Indradyumna assigned the job to Viswakarma with a condition to dazzle the God by his own creation but Viswakarma requested the kind of be absolutely alone till the completion of work and orders accordingly accorded. Months passed and getting impatient, the king was forced by his beloved queen to open the doors. And since from that day the deities are found an incomplete shape. According to legend, tribal king Bniswabasu in the form of Nalamadhava was worshiping the Lord. But subsequently king Indradymna constructed a temple in the honour of lord. This temple was destroyed in course of time. After some centuries king Jajati created another temple and worshipped the deities Balabhadra, Jagannath and Subhadra. The present gigantic temple that dominate the landscape for kilometers around were build only in the 12th century AD by king Chodaganga Dev. Shun the mortal barriers of cast, creed and distinciton, Lord Jagannath the embodiment of universalism rightly claims to the Lord of Universe. He is not only a god enshrined in the highest alters of divinity but come down to the people and even takes the guise of soliders in order to help their devout king and to save the country which are fabricated in the legend of Kanchvijaya and events of Ratha Yatra.
If any festival is considered as a grant event, Rath yatra may be occupying a prominent place in the world event list. This festival falls tow days after new moon day in the month of Ashadha. Pandas carry Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadara and sister Subhadra being dressed elegantly on their shoulders up to the newly built chariots with a great pom & ceremony.
This particular moment turns the atmosphere into a holly patch of the rhythmic clang of mental gongs, blowing of conches and trumpet and chanting of holy men.
The ecstatic cries of ?Jai Jagannath? rock the entire environment when the overwhelmed jubliant crowds perceive and witness the first appearance of their judictious God amidst them. The large hypnotic eyes of their believed lords as if mesmerize them to work themselves in to a state of devotional frenzy. The all waited patiently magic moment comes to an end when the most beautifully decorated palanquin following procession or elephant and horses of Gajapati - the traditional king of Puri arrives.
As per tradition the king of the king become CHNDALA (Sweeper) and performs the duty of ?CHHERA PAHARA? (sweeping activities) of the charitors. The mythology about this traditional sweeping evolves the king as living incarnation of God also accomplish work like a servant on this special occasion which is considered as best example of none valuation and indiscrimination in big and small job. According to one out of lot of stories and t