King Indradyumna’s Devotion and the Creation of the Jagannath Temple

Introduction

King Indradyumna of Avanti traveled to Purusottama Kshetra, driven by the desire to have a vision of Lord Purusottama (Vishnu). Upon experiencing the sacredness of the place, he resolved to reside there and worship the Lord for the rest of his life. Furthermore, he decided to build a magnificent temple dedicated to the Lord.

Preparation for the Temple

Once the decision was made, King Indradyumna summoned expert astrologers to perform ‘the land treatment’ to ensure the site was ritually pure and suitable for temple construction. Alongside these astrologers, people well-versed in the Vedas, ministers, wise Brahmins, and Vastu experts joined the effort. Following the completion of religious rituals, the king requested the kings of Utkal, Koshal, and Kalinga to collect beautiful stones from the Vindhya Mountain, accompanied by skilled stonecutters.

Next, King Indradyumna ordered his men to send messages to all the kings of the world, urging them to come to Purusottama Kshetra with their armies, courtiers, and priests. Kings from various regions, including hilly areas, plains, islands, and plateaus, flocked to the place, bringing wealth and resources.

Gathering Resources and Performing the Yagna

King Indradyumna welcomed the gathered kings and explained his plan to perform an Ashwamedha Yagna and construct a temple. The kings readily offered their assistance, donating money, gold, precious stones, pearls, blankets, deer skin, beautiful mattresses, diamonds, elephants, horses, and various kinds of eatables.

Satisfied with the support and resources, the king tasked his priest with finding a suitable spot for the Yagna. The priest, along with Brahmins and architects, located a village of fishermen and built a Yagna Shala there, surrounded by hundreds of palatial rooms. The platform for the Yagna was decorated with precious stones, and the accommodations for the invited royalties were meticulously arranged, ensuring their comfort with various cuisines, sugarcane juice, and milk. The dignified and wise Brahmins received a warm welcome.

The Grand Yagna

The construction of the Yagna platform was soon completed, and the king began offering meals to Brahmins. Each day, around 100,000 Brahmins were served, marked by the thunderous blare of trumpets. People from different parts of India gathered, and rivers of ghee, milk, and curd were distributed. The king also donated millions of bulls and cows with gold-capped horns and brass milk cans to Brahmins well-versed in the Vedas, along with precious stones, deer fur mattresses, expensive clothes, and diamonds. No one starved or left dissatisfied, and even the gods were surprised by the Yagna’s success.

King Indradyumna then instructed his sons to find a suitable horse for the Yagna and take it around the country, announcing that the Yagna would continue until God appeared.

The Vision of the Lord and Temple Construction

Finally, the king’s relentless efforts bore fruit. After the successful completion of the Yagna, he was blessed with a vision of the Lord. Following this divine encounter, King Indradyumna focused on constructing a magnificent temple for the Lord, leading to the creation of the renowned Jagannath Temple.

Lessons to Be Learned

1. Devotion and Determination: King Indradyumna’s unwavering devotion and determination to see the Lord and build a temple highlight the importance of dedication in spiritual pursuits.
2. Unity and Cooperation: The collective effort of various kings and their subjects in providing resources and support for the Yagna and temple construction demonstrates the power of unity and cooperation in achieving noble goals.
3. Generosity and Service: The king’s generosity in distributing wealth, food, and resources to the Brahmins and attendees underscores the virtue of selfless service and charity in spiritual endeavors.

Teaching from Srimad Bhagavatam

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.22.35:

sāṅkhya-yogau prathag yāyau
pūrvāparāv anekadhā
yuñjan namo ’bhisandhāya
deva-devam upāsate

“This knowledge, with its separate branches, will be presented in various ways, for the satisfaction of those who desire knowledge and those who seek the ultimate goal of life.”

This verse emphasizes the importance of presenting spiritual knowledge in various ways to satisfy different seekers.

Teaching from Caitanya Caritamrita

Caitanya Caritamrita, Madhya-lila 22.62:

‘kṛṣṇera saṁsāra kara, chāḍi’ anācāra
jīve dayā, kṛṣṇa-nāma—sarva-dharma-sāra

“Practicing the religion of surrendering to Krishna means giving up all bad habits, showing compassion to all living entities, and chanting the holy name, for this is the essence of all religious principles.”

This verse highlights the core principles of surrendering to Krishna, including compassion, chanting, and renunciation of bad habits.

Teaching of Srila Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada said: “The process of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra is so powerful that by this chanting, one can be delivered from all sinful reactions. Therefore, chanting is the most important aspect of devotional service.” (Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.13, Hyderabad, November 21, 1972)

This teaching underscores the transformative power of chanting the holy name in devotional service.

Prayer

O Lord Jagannath,
Please grant us the determination and devotion like King Indradyumna to seek Your divine presence and serve You selflessly.
Help us to unite and cooperate with others in our spiritual endeavors, showing generosity and compassion to all beings.
May we always chant Your holy name with sincerity and faith, and may Your divine grace guide us towards spiritual enlightenment and eternal bliss.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

May Your blessings be upon us always,
Guiding us towards the ultimate goal of life and eternal service at Your lotus feet.

I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share these moral and instructive stories so that everyone can benefit by hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees