Sri Ratha Yatra: Day Two

Sri Puri Dham, Odisha, India
15 July 2015

Shortly after the mangal arati, the devotees set out on a day-long parikrama to several holy places near Puri. With the excited chants of "Jay Sachinandan! Gaura Hari! Nitai Gauranga!" the devotees walk down the seaside to the bus station. Eight buses packed full take everyone first to Alwarnath. When Mahaprabhu was not able to see Lord Jagannath (during the Lord's "sickness" Pastime) Mahaprabhu ran to Alwarnath to have the darshan of the Lord there. As soon as He reached it, He fell on the ground and the stone underneath His body melted. The imprints of the Lord's body are still kept at the temple. The second stop is at the temple of Saksi Gopal ("Gopal the Witness"). Western devotees are not allowed to enter, but can give obeisance from outside and receive prasadam of the Lord. Then was the temple of Ananta Vasudev (Lord Siva) opposite Bindu Sarovar where the devotees honoured prasadam that is nondifferent from Jagannath prasadam and has a very peculiar sweet taste. The last place visited is the temple of Lord Siva near Ananta Vasudev's temple, where the devotees were instructed: "Go inside, pay obeisance to Lord Siva, ask for Krishna-bhakti, and come out." (Unfortunately, the Western devotees are not allowed there too.) Somewhat tired but so very happy the devotees return to the shelter of Sri Sri Nitai Chaitanya after 6 p.m.

DAY ONE | DAY TWO | DAY THREE | DAY FOUR | RATHA YATRA