32. The Extraordinary Features of Lord Jagannath

The Extraordinary Features of Lord Jagannath:

Large Eyes:

Balarama Dasa, a medieval Oriyan Vaisnava saint, gives a most interesting explanation about the deities of Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra. He says these three deities rest in the different parts of a man's eye. The black center (pupil) represents Lord Jagannath, the colored portion (iris) represents Subhadra and the white outer portion represents Lord Balabhadra. Therefore, one can realize God (Jagannatha Swami) by concentrating on one's eyes...! 

Furthermore, he says the four-fold murtis represent the four bodily organs that a sadhaka can use to realize God: 

Eyes-Jagannatha

Ears-Balabhadra

Lips-Subhadra

Nose-Sudarsana

Some Puri scholars claim the 4 deities represent the 4 major groups of humans inhabitating the world: 

Jagannath-black men (India, Africa)

Baladev-white men (Europeons) Subhadra-yellow (Chinese) Sudarsana-red (Red Indians)

As the old adage goes, many men-many minds produce many extraordinary ideas about this extraordinary, but highly lovable, transcendental form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. 

On the practical side, the Jagannath temple chronicles say the height of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Sudarsana is 84 inches or 7 feet tall (same height as Sri Caitanyadeva), and Subhadra-devi is 51 inches or 4 feet 3 inches tall.

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