18. The Deliverance of Pundarik and Ambarish in Jagannath Puri dham

The Deliverance of Pundarik and Ambarish in Jagannath Puri dham:

Once upon a time there was a brahmana named Pundarik and a kshatriya named Ambarish who lived in Kurukshetra. They were good friends. Though they had taken birth in good families, they had given up all of their good qualities and always engaged in sinful activities. They never performed their daily duties according to their varna. They drank wine and enjoyed the association of prostitutes. They were not worried about their destination at death.

Both Pundarik and Ambarish decided to go to other countries to earn money. While moving here and there, they reached a place where many saintly people were performing yajna. From a far distance they could hear the recitation of scriptures. By seeing these spiritual activities, their minds changed. They became attracted to religious life. "We have committed so many sinful activities," the friends lamented. "How can we overcome the reaction of these sins? The sins we have performed are rare to find in scriptures. How can sastra tell us how to be free from the reactions of our sinful activities? Let us ask these great saintly persons who have gathered here for yajna. Surely they can tell us some process on how to be delivered."

Approaching the sadhus with great humility, Pundarik and Ambarish detailed their sinful activities and asked how they could be saved from the punishment of Yamaraj. When the saintly persons heard about their sinful life, the descriptions were so severe that they closed their eyes. No one could prescribe any atonement for such sins.

There was one great Vaishnava who was head among all the saints. The saint's words gave hope to the distressed men. "Oh son of a brahmana! Oh son of a kshatriya! If you seek deliverance from the reactions of these abominable sinful activities, you must immediately go to Purusottama Kshetra. This place is the best among all tirthas. Here Lord Purusottama has appeared in a most merciful form, being pleased by the devotion of His devotee, King Indradyumna. By worshiping Lord Jagannath not only will you be free from sin, but you will get liberation. Just by having His darshan you will be free from the reactions of all sinful activities. Take shelter of Jagannath, Who resides in Utkala Pradesh, on top of the Nilachala mountain. That most merciful Lord will definitely fulfill your desires."

After hearing this good instruction from the Vaishnava, both Pundarik and Ambarish happily started their journey to Purusottama Kshetra. Hearing and repeating the glories of Lord Jagannath, they became renounced. They gave up bad association and started to practice devotional service. 

After some days they reached Puri Dham. They took their holy bath in the ocean and proceeded to the temple. At the entrance they offered prostrated obeisances. But at that time they were not able to see the deities of the Lord. Their hearts thumped with worry, Pundarik and Ambarish decided to fast until they could have darshan of the Lord. They engaged in continuous chanting of the holy names. On the third night they saw some effulgence coming from inside the temple. The devotees continued their fasting and engaged in intense chanting of the holy names of the Lord. On the seventh night, they finally had the darshan of Lord Jagannath. Free from contamination and full of transcendental knowledge and bliss, Pundarik and Ambarish spent the rest of their lives serving Lord Jagannath in His dham.