The Sacred Siblings: Jagannath, Balarama, Subhadra

This month, we celebrate the vibrant art of Pattachitra, featuring Lord Jagannath and his siblings.

Pattachitra is a traditional cloth-based painting form that originated in 12th-century Odisha, closely linked to the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The name comes from the Sanskrit words patta (cloth) and chitra (picture). These intricate artworks, passed down through generations, depict scenes from Hindu mythology, especially featuring Lord Jagannath, Krishna, and other deities. Painted using natural colors on cloth treated with tamarind seed paste and chalk, Pattachitra is known for its bold lines, detailed motifs, and devotional themes. Bengal also has its own scroll-based version, blending storytelling with song.

Lord Jagannath, is also popularly known as Mahaprabhu. The word Jagannath is derived from confluence of two Sanskrit words, Jagat meaning “universe” and nātha meaning “Master” or “Lord”. Thus, Jagannath means “lord of the universe”. The trio of deities consisting of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are worshipped at the temple. These deities are carved from sacred neem wood; round-eyed, armless, legless – yet spiritually complete. Their abstract form is not a flaw, but a profound symbol of universality and inclusiveness: a god for everyone.

The Myth of the Incomplete Gods

As the legend goes, King Indradyumna, in search of the perfect form of Vishnu, found a sacred log washed ashore. A mysterious carpenter—believed to be Vishwakarma—agreed to carve the idols in secrecy, on one condition:
“Do not disturb me until the work is done.”

But the king, overcome with anxiety, opened the door early. The carpenter vanished. The idols remained incomplete—without hands or feet. Yet, a divine voice echoed:
“These are my eternal forms. Worship me as I am.”

Thus was born a tradition that honours not perfection, but faith, essence, and mystery.

Rath Yatra – The Gods on the Move

Every year in Ashadha (June–July), the deities leave their sanctum and ride majestic chariots in the grand Rath Yatra. The journey from the main temple to the Gundicha Temple is not just a ritual—it is a celebration of divine accessibility.

Pulled by thousands of devotees, the chariots roll through the streets as the gods come to greet their people—reminding us that divinity moves among us, not above us.