Pattita Pavana Jagannath

[Paramananda das]

Some devotees went to Jagannath Puri and said I never saw Lord Jagannath I feel so unfortunate,, I laugh did you not see Patita Pavana Jagannath at the entrance to the Temple ? So you have taken Darshan
Patita Pavana Jagannatha.
While entering the Jagannatha temple at Puri from Simha Dvara (lion gate) the Deity of Patita Pavana Jagannatha is at base of the inside temple wall on the right. How He appeared is an interesting story.
Around 1730 AD, there was a ruler in Orissa named Rama Candra Dev. During his reign, a Muslim ruler Suja Khan attacked Orissa and defeated him. Rama Candra Dev although defeated, fell in love with the daughter of Mursid Kuli Khan, the military commander of Suja Khan. Soon, Rama Candra Dev married her and in this way, regained his kingdom.
But with this marriage to a non-Hindu, Rama Candra Dev lost his caste and his right to enter Lord Jagannatha's temple. He could no longer have darsana of the Lord on Ratna simhasana (throne of Lord Jagannatha embedded with different jewels and pearls). Although he was the king, he didn't enforce his authority and break the laws of the temple. But he was also a devotee and he would lament everyday for losing the great fortune of taking darsana of the Lord. The king would come to Simha Dvara and stand in front of the gate for hours crying tears of separation for not being able to take darsana of his beloved Lord Jagannatha.
One day, Rama Candra Dev had a dream in which Lord Jagannatha appeared. Pleased with his sincere cries for mercy, He asked Rama Candra Dev to make an identical Deity which would look exactly like Lord Jagannatha. The Lord said, "Establish this Deity to the right side of the entrance of the temple. There I will be worshipped by My sevayatas (servants). All those who take darsana of this Patita Pavana Vigraha, or the Patita Pavana flag on top of the temple will get liberation from the troublesome material world." After revealing these instructions to the king, the Lord disappeared.
Rama Candra Dev awoke from his dream. It was midnight. He was so overwhelmed with joy that he immediately rush ed ro Lord Jagannatha's temple alone on horseback, without even waiting for his soldiers. Reaching near Simha Dvara (Lion gate) , he paid his full prostrated obeisances to Lord Jagannatha and cried tears of love for Him. Then he chanted again and again at the peak of his voice "All glories to Patita Pavana Jagannatha, all glories to Patita Pavana Jagannatha." Around the same time, the head priest of the Lord was emerging a few other priests and was describing to them a similar dream that he had. Patita Pavana Jagannatha had appeared to him and had instructed him to fulfil the intense desire of king Rama Candra Dev. In due course of time, the Deity was carved and established.
Even today, one can find the Patita Pavana Jagannatha Vigraha established at the entrance of the Jagannatha temple at Puri. It is said that whoever takes darsana of Patita Pavana Jagannatha will never take birth again in this material world.