Chapter 46 - Celebration of Yātrā by Dakṣa (on Akṣayatṛtīyā)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: Akṣaya Tṛtīyā is the third day in the bright half of Vaiśākha. It is supposed to be the first day of Kalpa (Kalpādi) as well as that of Yuga and, Jagannātha-Viṣṇu being an embodiment of Kāla (Time), the day has a special significance, From the point of Saguṇa Bhakti Jagannātha must be protected from the coming Summer which is so hot. It is by application of cool sandal-paste that Jagannātha is worshipped on this day.

Jaimini said:

1. Henceforth I shall describe a Yātrā that will yield everlasting salvation without strain to (even) the dull-witted whose mind is tied to the imprints of previous Karmas.

2. (The holy rite is to be performed) at midnight on the second day in the bright half of the month of Vaiśākha. The pavilion should be square-shaped. It should be plastered and provided with an altar.

3-4. There should be made a screen all round with a well-washed cloth. The pavilion must have a splendid flight of stairs. It must have a beautiful awning.

In the middle of the pavilion the devotee should place an extremely excellent seat. It should be covered with a cloth. A gold vessel should be placed upon it.

5-8. To the west of the gold vessel a Brāhmaṇa should be comfortably seated. He must be pure and clean. He should take the following articles in anoṃer vessel: twenty-five paìas of sandal-paste, black aloe-wood more than a pala, saffron half the quantity of aloe-wood, incense half the quantify of saffron, musk and camphor together equal to the incense. All these should be ground into paste with the juice of trumpet flowers. Two palas of excellent black aloe-wood oil should be mixed with them. All these should be stirred together and poured into the first vessel.

9. He should cover it up with the leaves of Ketaka plant and wrap it with a silk cloth. Repeating the Mantra “gandhas te somam” etc. he should protect it with Garuḍamudrā.

10. Thus all these things should be consecrated and placed in the pavilion. At the time of dawn it should be taken to the presence of Kṛṣṇa.

11. With chowries, umbrellas and (the blowing of) conch-shell etc. the shrine should be circumambulated. The replica is then placed in front of the Lord. He should then worship Puruṣottama.

12. Then the covering cloth should be taken away and (the materials) should be looked at with the divine (?) vision. He should then sprinkle it with water while reciting the Mantrarāja and stir it by beating etc.

13. The Lord should be worshipped with fragrant flowers and raw rice-grains. Repeating Śrī Sūkta he should smear the idol (with the paste). The entire body of the Lord of Śrī should be so smeared with gentle touches.

14. Devotees of Viṣṇu shout the slogan of “Be victorious” and praise Hari. Learned men eulogize him with different hymns and passages from the Upaniṣads.

15-20. He should propitiate the Lord of the universe with flutes, lutes etc., various dances, songs and (playing of) musical instruments, fans, chowries, umbrellas and other kinds of offerings and services.

On the third day also the Lord should be smeared (with the paste) at the outset. Merely by thinking about the Lord the embodied ones get all their distresses destroyed. The same Lord, O Brāhmaṇas, destroys (all distresses) on being seen. The greatness of Viṣṇu cannot be comprehended (perfectly) by saying that it is like this or that.

Robes of fine texture, wreaths, different kinds of foodstuffs and beverages, tasty milk-products and other materials should be repeatedly offered. Then the devotee should worship the Lord with well-prepared betel-leaves.

Those men who devoutly see Kṛṣṇa at that time will never return to earthly existence even after hundreds and crores of Kalpas. They will attain the form of Viṣṇu and dwell in the region of Viṣṇu.

21-23. In a former Kaliyuga, O Brāhmaṇas, the Prajāpati (Patriarch) named Dakṣa was moved with pity on seeing men suffering from distresses coming from bodies and other sources. He went there and celebrated the great festival in the manner described by me. He was the first person to do so. On the third day in the bright half of the month of Vaiśākha he applied sandal-paste on the body of the Lord and joyously repeated this prayer:

Dakṣa prayed:

24-31. O Supreme God, O Lord of Devas endowed with natural bliss, O Lord of the universe free from impurities, save us. We have become immersed in the ocean of worldly existence. These men are suffering from different kinds of distresses. O Kṛṣṇa resembling cloud, they are like dry grass. Nourish them with nectar and your splendid glance with a feeling of compassion for me too. Obeisance to you.

O Lord of the worlds, it is to redeem those who are confounded with the sins of Kali that you have taken this incarnation within the cave of this Nīla mountain.

O Lord, merciful to the wretched and the helpless ones, you alone are competent to burn down the mass of great sins that has taken root over a long time and cannot be easily got rid of.

Seeing you is a great Yoga (but it is) devoid of the usual eight limbs such as Yama (Restraint) etc. It is the means for accomplishing the fourfold aim of life. Those who are inclined towards it do not become grief-stricken in the forest of worldly existence that is very difficult to cross and that causes great terror.

O Lord of Devas, self-knowledge is not the liberator without the assistance of (good) Karmas. But this, your sight, O Lord, shall liberate (devotees) without (performance of) Karmas.

O Kṛṣṇa, be victorious. O Lord, be victorious. O Imperishable One, be victorious. O Immutable One, be victorious. Be pleased. Bless these wretched, confounded and foolish people.

32. After praying thus and repeatedly saying “Be pleased, O Lord; be pleased, O Lord; be pleased, O Lord”, he fell at the lotus-feet (of the Lord) like a rod.

33-36. Thereupon the Lord spoke to the Prajāpati (Dakṣa) in clear, well-modulated tone:

“O dear one, get up. The boon that is desired by you is very difficult to get. Yet it is granted to you. It shall undoubtedly take place by my favour. It is known to you that my blessing is very difficult to get by persons deficient in merit. You are born of my own limbs. You have prayed to me (pleasing me) through my festival. Hence I shall grant you a favour as a token of my pleasure.

Those who devoutly and joyously witness this celebration of everlasting benefit, shall obtain whatever they mentally wish for at that time.

37. Just as the application of sandal-paste removes bodily heat, so also this festival of mine, O Dakṣa, is destructive of the three types of distress.

38. With your mind urged and directed by me, you have celebrated this festival This has certainly been thought of by me for the sake of the uplift of the distressed ones.

39-40. O Prajāpati, I shall definitely grant you everything that has been desired by you. These twelve great processions and festivals beginning with Guṇḍicā are very sanctifying. Each of them yields salvation. All of them are conducive to the increase of virtue, wealth and love.

41. If a person devoutly witnesses even one of these, he shall cross the ocean of the worldly existence by means of that one alone and shall go to the region of Viṣṇu.”

Jaimini said:

42-44. After saying this to the Prajāpati the Lord vanished.

Believing everything faithfully, Dakṣa, the Prajāpati, stayed on that mountain for a year and witnessed all the great festivals at his behest. He was born as an omniscient Brāhmaṇa in the excellent family of Kauśika. He made people celebrate all the great festivals.

45. These festivals have been recounted for the sake of convincing people of deficient intellect. This Sire of the universe is that Supreme Brahman itself. He has been propitiated by the Lord of Suras for the sake of blessing all the worlds.

46-49. Whatever may be the form in which he comes into our view, he is certainly the bestower of salvation. Even to women he grants all the desired objects. There is no doubt about it.

The Lord is true to his promise. The Slayer of Madhu dwells there. On seeing him one surmounts all difficulties and griefs originating from the ocean of worldly existence.

Of what avail are holy rites, penances, gifts, Kṛcchras (varieties of expiatory rites) and sacrifices? Of what avail is Yoga with its eight limbs? Of what avail are Sāṃkhya and other (systems of philosophy)?

One should take bath in the waters of the ocean in the holy spot of Śrī Puruṣottama and witness with his physical eyes the Brahman in wooden form dwelling at the root of the banyan tree. Thereby one is liberated from the bondage of physical bodies.