90. How should the non-Hindu devotees take it, when they are allowed no entry into Jagannath Temple

How should the non-Hindu devotees take it, when they are allowed no entry into Jagannath Temple:

One may think - "The tradition around Him seems very cruel and abusive! It smacks of racism. How is He merciful if He won't allow His devotees entrance? How can He be called Patita pavana?"

If one contemplates on Lord Jagannath's purpose and activities, though, they will find that He is not so easy to understand. When a devotee from another country stands outside of the Puri temple feeling sad that they are denied entry, they should look over their shoulder to see who is standing next to them. They may find themselves to be in quite good company.

Good company:

So the next time foreign devotees are standing outside of the temple in Puri feeling dejected and abused from being barred entry, they should look around. They may find themselves standing next to great devotees like Haridas Thakur, Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis, Maharaja Ramachandra dev, Salabeg, Dasia Bauri, the demigoddess Charchika, Lakshmi devi, the goddess of fortune, or the merciful Lord of the universe Sri Jagannath Himself...🙂🙂🙂❤️❤️❤️

Still, one may ask what is the Lord's purpose in barring temple entry to some of His devotees! To understand this we can contemplate on the differences in Krishna's dealings with His devotees in Vraja and in Dwaraka. While it is widely accepted that Krishna showed more mercy to His Vrindavan devotees, one may protest, "It's not true! Krishna left them and went to Dwaraka. Unable to see Krishna, the residents of Vrindavan suffered and cried. Yet every day He gave His darsana to the residents of Dwaraka. So it seems obvious that He was more merciful to the Dwaraka-väsis." But was He?

In truth, Krishna showed more mercy to the residents of Vrindavan. 

In Srila Sanatana Goswami's Brhad-bhagavatāmṛta (1.7.1-6-107) Krishna describes what happens to the gopis of Vrindavan while enduring His separation:

prag yadyapi prema-krtät priyänäm viccheda-davanala-vegato 'ntah santapa-jatena duranta-soka- vešena gadham bhavativa duhkham

tathapi sambhoga-sukhad api stutah

sa ko pi nirvacyatamo manoramah premoda-rasih parinamato dhruvam tatra sphuret tad rasikaika-vedyah

Although in the forest fire of separation My gopi-beloveds are filled with pain, that pain is more glorious than the happiness of directly meeting Me. It is indescribable and enchanting. It is an ocean of ecstatic love. Only those who are learned in tasting the mellows of divine love can understand it.

By leaving them and denying them His darsana, Krishna actually showed more mercy to the devotees of Vrindavan. Denying His devotees His direct association is a kind of abuse inflicted by the Lord. But this kind of abuse has a wonderful effect. It softens the hearts of the devotees. It makes them humble and causes them to cry for Krishna. In this way Krishna powerfully increases their attachment for Him.

Jagannathastakam says, 

aho dine 'nathe nihita-carano niscitam idam

"Aho! It is certain that Lord Jagannath bestows His lotus feet upon those who feel themselves humbled and helpless."

In the concluding verse of His instructions known as Siksastaka, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has taught the proper attitude towards seeing the Lord: 

adarsanan marma-hatam karotu va mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah

"Even if He makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me, He is always my worshipable Lord, unconditionally."

Although apparently it seems that Jagannath is being cruel, from the absolute perspective, Jagannath's policy is always one of mercy and kindness. He is truly patita-pavana the deliverer of the fallen. Being locked out of the temple is simply another intrinsic aspect of the amazing place called Jagannath Puri dham. This sacred land is known as vipralambha-kshetra, the abode of separation, the place where the devotees cry, jagannatha svami nayana-patha- gami bhavatu me - "May that Jagannatha Swami, the Lord of the universe kindly, become visible to me."