36 - Juggernaut
Summary
TLDRThe podcast 'Stories from India' narrates the mythical tale of Lord Krishna's heart, which, after his death, turned into a divine blue stone. The stone, bound to a log, drifted from the Arabian Sea to Odisha's shores, where it brought miracles to a group of unfortunate tourists. The local village began to worship it, but a king's curiosity led to its disappearance. The story continues with the king building a temple around the log and an old carpenter's attempt to carve divine idols from it, which remain unfinished to this day, reflecting the tale's themes of curiosity, reverence, and the divine.
Takeaways
- 🎵 The podcast 'Stories from India' explores myths, legends, and folk tales from India, hosted by Narad Monei, a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge of the past, present, and future.
- 🌊 In a previous episode, Narad Monei corrected a mistake about Mount Kailasa's location, clarifying it is in the Kash range, not the Himalayas.
- 🐀 The episode discusses the story behind the Rath Yatra, a festival that usually takes place on a Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and the consequences of meddling with divine matters.
- 🌊 The story begins with Lord Krishna's death and his instructions to his brother Balaram, who bound Krishna's heart to a log of wood and set it adrift in the Arabian Sea.
- 🌊 The log, with Krishna's heart, eventually becomes a brilliant blue stone after drifting across the ocean for millennia, landing on a beach in Odisha, near Puri.
- 🌦️ A group of tourists from a nearby village, who had a terrible day due to a thunderstorm and other mishaps, discovered the log and the blue stone on the beach.
- 🌈 The moment the village chief picked up the stone, miraculous changes occurred: the rain stopped, the sun came out, and nature seemed to celebrate.
- 🏺 The villagers decided to worship the stone, keeping it in a secret location to avoid it being taken away by anyone who knew of its power.
- 👑 The king eventually learned about the stone and sent a spy to find it. The spy married the village chief's daughter and tricked the chief into revealing the stone's location.
- 🌳 The king built a temple around the log when he couldn't possess the stone, which is known today as the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
- 🛠️ A carpenter was hired to carve the log into idols, but he vanished after the king's curiosity led him to interrupt the carpenter's work, leaving unfinished idols that are now worshipped.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the podcast 'Stories from India'?
-The podcast 'Stories from India' focuses on discussing myths, legends, and folk tales from India.
Who is the host of the podcast 'Stories from India'?
-The host of the podcast is Narad Mone, a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and knowledge of the past, present, and future.
What is the significance of Mount Kyash in the context of the podcast episode?
-Mount Kyash is mentioned as a correction in the podcast; it is not in the Himalayas but in the Kash range, which lies beyond the Himalayas.
What is the story behind the Rat Yatra explored in the episode?
-The story behind the Rat Yatra involves Lord Krishna's heart, which was bound to a log of wood and set adrift in the Arabian Sea, eventually becoming a divine blue stone after many years.
Why did Lord Krishna instruct his brother Balram to bind his heart to a log of wood?
-Lord Krishna left specific instructions for Balram to bind his heart to a log of wood and set it adrift in the Arabian Sea as part of his funeral rites.
How did the divine heart of Lord Krishna transform over time?
-The divine heart of Lord Krishna transformed into a brilliant blue-colored stone after being bound to a log and exposed to the ocean for thousands of years.
What miraculous event occurred when the village chief picked up the blue stone from the log?
-When the village chief picked up the blue stone, the rain stopped, the sun came out, a rainbow appeared, birds sang, dolphins jumped, and coconuts fell from the trees, indicating the divine nature of the stone.
Why did the villagers decide to worship the blue stone?
-The villagers decided to worship the blue stone because of the miraculous change in weather and the stone's divine nature when it was discovered.
What is the significance of the mustard seeds in the story of the spy and the village chief's daughter?
-The mustard seeds were used by the spy to mark the path to the stone, allowing him to lead the king and his army to its location later.
What did the king do with the log of wood after the divine stone vanished?
-The king built a big temple around the log of wood, known today as the Jagat Temple in Puri, after the divine stone vanished.
Why do the idols at the Jagat Temple appear unfinished?
-The idols at the Jagat Temple appear unfinished because the carpenter, who was carving them from the log, vanished before completing the work, leaving behind four idols of Krishna, Balram, and Subhadra.
What is the connection between the English word 'juggernaut' and the Rat Yatra festival?
-The English word 'juggernaut' originated from the Rat Yatra festival, which begins at the Jagat Temple, reflecting the immense size and impact of the festival.
Why is the Rat Yatra festival unique in terms of its tradition?
-The Rat Yatra festival is unique because it involves a king sweeping the path of the Chariot with a golden broom, symbolizing the gap between being a God and a mere King, and the idols of the deities temporarily leave the temple during the procession.
Outlines
🎵 Introduction and Clarifications
The host, Narad Monei, introduces 'Stories from India,' a podcast about myths, legends, and folk tales. Narad, a mythological character with eternal life and omniscience, corrects an error from a previous episode about Mount Kyash's location. He previews the episode's content, which includes the story behind the Rath Yatra, a cautionary tale about curiosity, and a miraculous drifting log.
🌧️ Tourists Discover a Miracle
A group of tourists from Gujarat, plagued by a series of unfortunate events, discover a miraculous blue stone attached to a log on a beach in Odisha. The moment the village chief picks up the stone, the weather clears, and miraculous events occur, such as dolphins leaping and coconuts rolling to their feet. A man with ice cream also appears, reinforcing the stone's divine nature. The villagers decide to worship the stone secretly, fearing the king would want it for himself.
👑 The King's Dream and the Vanishing Stone
The king learns about the divine stone and sends a spy to locate it. The spy uses mustard seeds to mark the path to the stone. When the king tries to take the stone, it vanishes. Krishna appears to the king in a dream, explaining the stone's significance and directing him to the log it was bound to. The king builds a temple around the log, leading to the creation of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. A mysterious carpenter appears to carve the log into idols but vanishes before completing his work, leaving the idols unfinished.
🛕 The Rath Yatra Festival
The Rath Yatra festival in Puri involves a grand chariot procession of the deities, including Krishna, Balarama, Subhadra, and the Sudarshana Chakra. Despite logistical challenges due to the pandemic, the festival's history and significance are highlighted. The idols' unique appearances and the festival's traditions, such as the king sweeping the chariot's path with a golden broom, are detailed. The episode concludes with a preview of next week's character, a cousin of Krishna from the Mahabharata, and a call for listener feedback.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Narad Muni
💡Rat Yatra
💡Krishna
💡Balam
💡Mustard Seeds
💡Jagannath Temple
💡Carpenter
💡Idols
💡Sasan Chakra
💡Jaggernaut
Highlights
Introduction to 'Stories from India' podcast, hosted by Narad Moneii, a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge of past, present, and future.
Correction of a previous episode's mistake regarding the location of Mount Kyash, clarifying it is in the Kash range beyond the Himalayas.
Exploration of the story behind the Rath Yatra, a significant event that took place on a Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of curiosity and the consequences of interfering with an artist's work.
The tale of Lord Krishna's death and the specific instructions he left for his elder brother Balram, including the unique method of his heart's disposal.
The miraculous journey of Krishna's heart, bound to a log, across the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal, highlighting the divine nature of the heart.
The transformation of Krishna's heart into a brilliant blue stone after millennia, symbolizing its divine and preserved state.
The discovery of the blue stone by a group of tourists having a terrible day, leading to a sudden and miraculous change in their fortunes.
The villagers' decision to worship the divine stone and their efforts to keep its location secret from potential thieves and the king.
The king's discovery of the stone through a spy who marries the village chief's daughter and uses mustard seeds to mark the stone's location.
The king's failed attempt to seize the stone, which vanishes in a puff of smoke, leaving him disappointed and without the divine artifact.
The king's dream, orchestrated by Krishna, revealing the true nature of the stone and instructing him to visit the beach where the log was found.
The construction of the Jagannath Temple in Puri around the log, as a means for the king to honor the divine presence even without the stone.
The arrival of an old carpenter who volunteers to carve the log into idols of Krishna, Balram, and Subhadra, requesting solitude for 21 days.
The king's curiosity leading to the disruption of the carpenter's work, resulting in the disappearance of the carpenter and the unfinished idols.
The significance of the Rath Yatra festival, its annual occurrence, and its status as the world's largest chariot procession, with the exception of the current year due to COVID-19.
The tradition of the king sweeping the path of the chariot with a golden broom, symbolizing the divine status of the idols over the king.
The unique feature of the Rath Yatra where the idols leave the temple temporarily, and the significance of the four idols, including Krishna's special weapon, the Sudarshana Chakra.
The origin of the English word 'juggernaut' from the Rath Yatra, and its connection to the Jagannath Temple.
The podcast's closing remarks, including a preview of the next episode's character and an invitation for listener engagement and support.
Transcripts
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
hello and welcome to stories from India
a podcast where we talk about myths
Legends and folk tales from
India I'm your host narad monei and I'm
a mythological character
myself I have the gift of eternal life
and knowledge of the past the present
and the
future by profession I'm a traveling
musician and a Storyteller so the way
I'm doing my job is by
podcast though I have perfect knowledge
I sometimes have an imperfect recall
mechanism on the N the mini episode I
incorrectly said that mount kyash is in
the Himalayas
actually it's in a mountain range called
the Kash range that lies beyond the
Himalayas in this episode we'll explore
the story behind the rat
yatra which would have taken place this
Tuesday we'll learn why you should keep
your curiosity in check especially if
you've got an excellent artist working
for
you we'll also learn that it's possible
for a drifting log of wood to float all
the way from the Arabian Sea to the Bay
of
Bengal so let's Dive In Our Story begins
on a dark day very far from
Puri in
dwara in the state of
Gujarat Lord Krishna had passed
away he had accomplished a lot in his
life as we'll discover when we get to
the Mahabharat episodes
krishna's death though sad was one he
had himself
predicted he had left some very specific
instructions for balam his elder
brother and those
instructions included
surgery when Krishna was cremated balam
kept the
heart following his brother's wishes he
bound Krishna heart to a log of wood and
set it a drift in the Arabian
Sea it took a few tries to get this
right as you can
imagine instead of studying the
intricate details of ocean currents to
understand how a log could end up in the
sea on the other side of India let us
simply skip forward a few
Millennia the heart was still bound to
the
log balam had done a very effective job
but what state was it in did thousands
of years of saltwater exposure wear it
away did the Sharks and other fish try
to nibble at
it were there Barnacles on
it or was it perfectly preserved like
the Beating Heart of Davey Jones in the
Pirates of the Caribbean
movies the answer is none of the above
we are talking about a Divine heart here
not an ordinary
one The Heart had become a brilliant
blue colored
Stone after effectively following many
different ocean currents and sailing the
world the log and the Heart finally
landed on a beach in odisha near
Puri it was not a crowded beach in fact
there was no one else there
but soon a group of people
arrived they were tourists from a nearby
Village and they'd been having the most
awful
day they had left their Village excited
for a day of
fun they wanted to go sightseeing in
town eat some dinner watch a stage
show but this was not to
be they had expected sunny weather
and had picked an open top Bullock
card but the moment they began their
Journey there was a sudden
thunderstorm and it left them soaking
wet what's more a wheel came off the
cart and they had to work to get the
spare wheel fitted on in the Heavy
Rain the spare wheel was the wrong
size and that resulted in a very wobbly
ride they had forgotten to bring their
packed lunch so they hadn't even had a
bite to
eat a little girl in the group suggested
that they take a detour to their Beach
nearby they couldn't Shelter From the
rain but maybe there were coconut trees
at least they might be able to eat and
drink the village Chief who was in the
group liked the idea
and there were coconut
trees but the rain had made it all
slippery and they couldn't reach any of
the
Coconuts could the day get any
worse as it turned out no it was only
going to get
better someone in the group noticed a
huge log of wood on the beach and a
strange blue stone attached to it
they went closer and the chief picked up
the
stone yeah just like that all those
thousands of years the stone and the log
were bound tightly and yet the chief was
able to effortlessly pick the stone off
of the
log the moment he did there was a
miraculous
change the rain stopped and the sun was
out there was a beautiful rainbow birds
were singing Dolphins were jumping out
of the water as if celebrating
something the coconut trees bent and
swayed and a few of the ripest Coconuts
broke off and gently rolled to a stop
near the tourist
feet a man appeared out of nowhere
pulling an ice
cooler and explained that the cooler had
broken and rather than waste all the ice
cream inside
would they kindly help him by eating all
of it he didn't want it to go to
waste well that settled it this Stone
was divine and from this day their
Village would worship
it they would also keep it in a secret
location anyone who knew the power of
the stone was certainly going to try to
take it
away then their king would want it for
himself but despite their best
precautions the king did hear about it
through the C driver's
Network the king immediately sent down a
spy to find out where the stone
was this may remind you of episode 27
the rise of
shukra kacha was sent as a spy to learn
the secret of the the Sanji Mantra from
shukracharya much like kacha the Spy
romanced The Village Chief's
daughter but unlike Kut he married the
daughter the Spy persuaded his new
father-in-law to let him pay respects to
the stone that everyone in the village
except for himself knew
about the chief was hesitant because his
son-in-law was an outside
true he had had a background check and
those official looking government
documents looked
real but that didn't mean a thing if the
boy was a government
spy he finally agreed to take his
son-in-law to the
stone but on condition that he come
along
blindfolded
blindfolding is not a spy proof
solution in fact the first thing they
taught in the king's spy school was how
to work around
this even the little boy in the Hansel
and grle fairy tale knew how to deal
with
this the Spy grabbed a handful of
mustard seeds and on a journey to the
stone scattered them along the
Route mustard seeds are very tiny and
hardly
noticeable the chief did not suspect
anything
they paid respects to the stone and went
back
home all was well until about a month
later because that is the time it takes
for mustard seeds to sprout grow and
flour the Spy had no hesitation in
betraying his wife and her
father he let the king and the King's
Army along the trail of the bright new
yellow mustard flowers
luckily for him the path to the stone
did not pass through a mustard
field the King was amazed by the
Brilliance of the
stone however when he reached out his
hand to grab it there was a sudden puff
of smoke and the idol vanished and was
not seen
again the king had his soldiers secure a
perimeter and search the area
but there was no sign of the
stone and no person behind any curtain
who had pulled off such a
trick the King was
disappointed he had no choice but to go
back that night he had a
dream not his own dream but one that was
engineered by
Krishna Krishna explained to to him in
the dream what the stone
was he also asked the king to go to a
specific place on the
beach the same one where the stone had
been
found the next day armed with San lotion
and a beach umbrella the king went to
the
beach as he looked at the huge log of
wood he understood why Krishna had asked
him to visit this
place this was the very log that the
heart had sailed on all the way from
dwara if the king wasn't going to have
the stone he would have the
log he built a big Temple around the
log and this is known to us today as the
jagat temple in
Puri but a temple to worship just a log
of wood left the first few visitors a
little bit puzzled
they weren't sure whom they were praying
to the King was deep in thought trying
to decide the next steps here when a
carpenter showed up at his
doorstep the carpenter was a very old
looking
fellow he volunteered to carve the log
into
Idols he came with the best of
references and his website had great
testimonials the king picked him on the
spot the carpenter just had one minor
request a mere nothing you may
say all he wanted was to be left alone
with the log for 21
days the king agreed without thinking
too much about
it the carpenter worked in a locked
studio and the King had no way of
monitoring
progress strangely
the carpenter was also not receiving any
food or water in a
studio on the 15th day the king could
not hold back his curiosity any
longer he could barge in and say that he
was just worried about The Carpenter's
Health at his age not eating or drinking
for two weeks how was he
managing the king did
that but the moment he did the carpenter
vanished Into Thin
Air much like the stone had
done there were actually Four Idols in
progress that's why the idols even today
look
unfinished they have no arms or legs the
shape isn't symmetric
either there was enough progress on the
wooden Idols though to tell them that
they were meant to be be Krishna balam
and
subadra the idols that you would see
today at the jagat temple are replicas
of the original Idols that the carpenter
left
unfinished that's all for now some notes
on the show ocean currents show that
it's not easy for something to drift
from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of
Bengal it can take centuries of drift
across a very complicated path for this
to
happen this rat yatra or Chariot
procession happens annually in Puri in
the state of
odisha as well as in
Gujarat it said to be the largest
Chariot procession in the
world except for this
year because it's going to be
skipped the number of people who gather
for this yatra is enor
enormous and if you see some of the
pictures that I've linked on the site
you'll understand why it can be such a
logistical challenge to do this in the
age of
CO as part of tradition a king sweeps
the path of the Chariot with a golden
broom a largely symbolic move to
illustrate the gap between being a God
and being a mere
King this is also a unique Festival in
that the Idols leave the temple for a
little
while there are four Idols carved out of
the
log three of them are the siblings
Krishna balam and
subhadra but the fourth one is krishna's
special
weapon a slicing wheel called the sashan
chakra the colors of the log Idols are
different as well with the black one
representing Krishna
the white one bam and the yellow one
subhadra the English word
jaggernaut originated from this rat
yatra which begins at the jagat
temple we've previously met subadra as
the character of the week in episode 6
fish
Highwaymen that's all for this week the
character next week is a cousin of
Krishna from the
Mahabharat who was born with three eyes
and four
hands he also had a 100 get out of jail
free cards and yet he used up all of
them if you have comments or suggestions
please leave a comment or a review on
the site sfip podcast.com or tweet at
SFI podcast you can also find me on
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automatically of new
episodes and thanks to all you listeners
for your continued support the music is
from purple planet.com that's
purple-planet.com
I'll see you
[Music]
later
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