33. The Extraordinary Tolerance of Lord Jagannath

The Extraordinary Tolerance of Lord Jagannath:

Bhagavan Sri Krsna possesses 64 exceptional transcendental qualities, and each one is unlimited in quantity. Having the quality of tolerance, Sri Krsna can bear and forgive all kinds of offenses committed by foolish antagonists like Sisupala. 

In 1968, during the early days of ISKCON, a disciple once asked Srila Prabhupada, "Gurudeva, you said that Jagannath deities are more tolerant than Krsna deities. Can you please explain this point?"

Srila Prabhupada replied, "Jagannath is another feature of Krsna, and He is especially favorable to the people who are not strictly advanced to the brahminical culture of Vedic rituals. Lord Jagannath is situated in India, at Puri; one of the towns of Orissa province. And 90% of the people of Orissa and Bengal are fish-eaters. But Jagannath Swami in Puri accepts service from these people although they are sometimes fish-eaters."

"In the Kali-yuga, the people are supposed to be not so clean, and therefore, service to Jagannath Swami is preferred. So far as service to Laksmi-Narayana and Radha-Krsna, it requires a highly elevated position, transcendental to brahmins. But still, either we serve Jagannath or Radha-Krsna, the effect is the same. But to facilitate the worship of the Lord, the form of Jagannath is more congenial than others. But when anything is offered to Jagannath, it does not mean that it is not taken by Krsna. In the temple, although we offer to Jagannath, it is also accepted by Krsna." (SPLetter 680824)