MAHAPRABHU SHREE JAGANNATH- DARU LEELA

MAHAPRAVU- DARU LEELA .

MAHAPRABHU SHREE JAGANNATH (BAPA) IS ABSOLUTE TRUE,
OTHER THAN HIM ARE RELATIVELY TRUE….

Materials that can be used to construct deities have been described in Varahamihir’s ‘Vrihat Samhita’. In Kashyap’s ‘Shilpashatra’, ‘Daru’ or wood has been described as the best material to construct deities. In ‘Bhavishya Purana’ use of wood has been stressed for constructing idols of Pravu Suryanarayana or Sun god. It has been mentioned that logs of peepul, mahua, deodar, sandal, bel, khadir, anchan, neem, sriparna, jackfruit tree, arjun and raktachandan (red sandal) are most suitable to construct idols.

But choice of neem tree for construction of deities of Mahapravu Shree Jagannath temple has a deeper meaning. In ‘Bhavishya Purana’ it is mentioned

‘Nimbadyah Sarvavarnanam Vrikshyah Sadharanah Smrutah’. It means an idol prepared from neem ‘Daru’ is suitable for worshippers of all sections of society. This is supported by data provided by another manuscript named ‘Pratima Lakshana Soudhagama’. This manuscript says

‘Nimba pradhanmetasham pratima chabinirmitou’ proclaiming that among all ‘Daru’ neem is the prime one. In Mahapravu Shree Jagannath Temple persons of every social class including descendants of Brahmin Vidyapati, Kshatriya king Gajapati Maharaja and inheritors of tribal Biswabashu play key role in the rituals of the deities. So, idols are constructed from Neem ‘Daru’ to make Them suitable for servitors and worshippers of every caste and class of society.

The Eternal Mystery Of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath by Srikanta…..

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