Lord Jagannatha is none other than Lord
Krishna Himself. A close look at the several mythological stories associated
with the origination of Rath Yatra helps us to understand the sentiment that
is related with the celebration of Rath Yatra. There is one story. Kamsa, Lord
Krishna’s maternal uncle, invited Krishna and Balarama to Mathura with
the wicked intention of killing them.
The evil Kamsa sent Akrur with a chariot
to Gokul. Taking leave from ‘Gopis’, Lord Krishna and Balarama climbed
onto the chariot with Akrur and proceeded towards Mathura. It is said that all
the pious devotees celebrated this day of departure as Rath Yatra.
Jubilant devotees worldwide feted Rath
Yatra as a day when Lord Krishna, having defeating the evil Kamsa, gave them
‘darshan’ in Mathura in a chariot with his brother, Balaram. According
to devotees, Rath Yatra is the day when Lord Krishna, accompanied by Balaram,
took his sister Subhadra , for a ride on a chariot to depict the beauty of the
city.
Once in Dwarka, 8 queens of Lord Krishna
requested mother Rohini to narrate the divine episodes of Lord Krishna with
the Gopis while he resided in Vraj. For a while, Rohini hesitated. Finally,
after a lot of insistence she conceded.
However, considering it to be unusual
for Subhadra to hear such episodes (Leela), she sent her to guard the palace
doorway. Yet the Vrajkatha soon absorbed Subhadra. Soon, Lord Shri Krishna and
Balaram arrived at the doorway. With arms wide apart, she stood between the
two, in order to prevent them from entering. However, from where they stood,
Rohini's katha soon engrossed all of them. Just then sage Narad arrived.
Seeing the siblings standing together
like murtis, he humbly prayed, "May the three of you grant darshan
in this manner forever." The Lord soon granted his wish. . Afterwards three
of them eternally reside in the Jagannath Mandir (Jagannatha Temple) in Puri.
