Page 8 - Story of Lord Jagannath’s Appearance

To carve the Deity of Lord Jagannatha from the Daru‐ brahman, King
Indradyumna called many expert sculptors. None of them, however,
was able to touch Daru‐brahman, for as soon as they started, their chis‐
els broke and fell to pieces. Finally the Supreme Lord Himself came in
the disguise of an old ar st who introduced himself as Ananta Mahara‐
na.* [According to the Narada Purana (Utkala Khanda 54.22‐65), the
ar st Vishvakarma, the architect of the demigods, carved the Dei es in
pursuance of the desire of Lord Vishnu, who had assumed the form of
an old brahmana.] He promised that if he were allowed to work behind
closed doors for twenty‐one days, the Deity would be carved. Immedi‐
ately prepara ons were made. According to the old sculptor’s direc‐
ons, all the other ar sts were engaged in making three chariots. The
old sculptor then took Daru‐brahman into the temple and closed the
doors, a er making the King promise that the sculptor would reside
alone and the King would not open the doors of the temple even slight‐
ly before the twenty‐ one days were up. A er fourteen days had
passed, however, the King was unable to hear the sounds of the ar st’s
tools, and so he became full of anxiety. Although his minister again and
again forbade him, the King, on the advice of his queen, by force
opened the door of the temple with his own hand.

Inside, the King did not find the old sculptor, but instead he saw that
Daru‐brahman was manifested in three forms, as Lord Jagannatha, Sub‐
hadra and Balarama. Going forward in front of these three Dei es, he
saw that Their fingers and toes were unfinished. The King’s wise minis‐
ter then informed him that the architect was none other than Lord Jag‐
annatha Himself and that because the King had broken his promise by
opening the doors seven days too soon, Lord Jagannatha had manifest‐
ed Himself in that way.

Then the King, thinking himself a great offender, decided to end his life.
Thus again he lay down on a bed of kusha grass and began fas ng.
When half the night had passed, Lord Jagannatha appeared to the King
in his dreams. The Lord said, “I am eternally situated here in Nilacala in
the form of Lord Jagannatha as Daru‐brahman. In this material world, I
descend in twenty‐four Deity incarna ons with My abode. I have no
material hands and feet, but with My transcendental senses I accept all
the items offered in service by My devotees, and for the benefit of the