Retracing The Years When Rath Wheels Stopped Rolling in Puri

Retracing The Years When Rath Wheels Stopped Rolling in Puri

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri this year. The Car Festival, which draws lakhs of devotees from around the world, was stopped to prevent the massive gathering of people usually witnessed during this mega event. Delivering its verdict, the court observed that allowing Rath Yatra during this pandemic would not be a wise decision since millions of people have been infected by the virus and lakhs already lost their lives across the globe.

This will be the first time in nearly 300 years that the chariot festival would not be organised in Puri. The last time Rath Yatra had to be cancelled was in 1735 during the Mughal invasion. The Jagannath temple was attacked several times by Mughal invaders and the deities had to be hidden, which led to the cancellation of the festival on several occasions. My City Links brings you the chronology of events which affected Rath Yatra in the past.

• It is believed that Raktavahu invaded the Jagannath temple following which the idols of the Trinity were shifted to Gopali, a village in Sonepur, and hidden underground. After 146 years, Somavanshi King dug out the idols and built a new temple in Puri. The deities returned to Puri during 814 and 819.  
• In 1340, during the reign of Narasingha Deva-III, Sultan of Bengal Illias Shah attacked the temple. Narasinghadeva hid the Trinity at an unknown place.

• During the reign of Ganga King Bhanudev III, Firoz Shah Tughlaq, a Muslim ruler from Delhi, attacked the temple in 1360.  
• During the reign of Suryavansi King Prataprudradeva, Ismail Ghazi, the commander of Sultan of Bengal Allauddin Hussain Shah, attacked the temple in 1509.  Priests of the temple shifted the idols to the foothills of Chadheiguha Pahad in Chilika lake.  
• During the rule of Mukundadeva Harichandan, Kala Pahad, a general of Bengal King Suleiman Kirrani, attacked Sri Mandir in 1568. The idols of the three deities were hidden in an island in Chilika lake. The idols were buried underground in Hastipatna in Parikuda. However, Kalaphad found out the idols, took them to the banks of Ganga River and burnt them. Saint Bisher Mohanty, who was following Kalapahad, managed to bring back the Brahmas. In 1575, King Ramachandradeva brought the Brahmas to Khurda Gada. Due to the attack on the temple, Rath Yatra could not take place for nine years from 1568 to 1577. 

• In 1601, a commander of Bengal Nawab Mirza Khuram attacked the temple. However, the priests saved the idols and shifted them to Panchamukhi Gosani temple in Kapileswar. After a few months, the idols were again shifted to Pentha.  
• In 1607, Subedar of Odisha Hasim Khan attacked Jagannath temple.  However, King Purusottam Dev shifted the idols to Gopal temple in Khurda. The deities returned to Puri temple in 1608.

• In 1610, Hindu Rajput Jagirdar Kesodasmaru attacked Srimandir and converted the temple into a fort. During this period, the idols were at Gundicha temple. Kesodarmaru also destroyed the three chariots. The three deities remained in Gundicha temple for eight months. The idols were later shifted to Jagannath temple on a Vimana (palanquin).  
• After becoming the Subedar of Odisha, Kalyan Mal, son of Akbar’s revenue minister Todar Mal, attacked the temple in 1611. The servitors shifted the idols to Mahisanasi in Chilika lake. That place was later known as Brahmapura. The idols remained there for a year.

• In 1617, Kalyan Mal again attacked the temple. However, the servitors managed to shift the deities Gurubai Gada in Chilika lake just before the attack.  
• In 1621, the temple came under attack from Subedar Ahmed Beg. The idols were shifted to Andharigada in Banpur. The Brahma of the idols was transferred to Gadamanitri in Khurda district. The deities returned to Puri temple in 1624.

• In 1692, Mughal commander in Odisha Ekram Khan attacked the temple. Before the attack, Lord Jagannath was hidden behind Bimala temple on the premises of Srimandir. Later, the three idols were shifted to Maa Bhagabati Temple at Gadakokal in Brahmagiri block. The idols were again shifted to Bada Hantuada near Chilika lake. The deities returned to Puri in 1699.  
• Naib Nazim (Deputy Governor) of Odisha Mohammed Taqi Khan attacked the temple twice in 1731 and 1733. To protect the deities, servitors shifted the idols to Hariswar in Banpur, Chikili in Khallikote, Rumagarh in Kodala, Athagada in Ganjam and finally to Marda in Kodala. The idols were kept in Marda from 1733 to 1736.

(Pictures: Internet)