Udaipur, September 12: The power of devotion was highlighted during the ‘Apnon Se Apni Baat’ discourse being held at Narayan Seva Sansthan under the guidance of its president Prashant Agarwal. Through accounts of Lord Jagannath’s glory, the devotion of King Indradyumna and the moving story of devotee Salabega, the discourse focused on the strength of sincere devotion.
Prashant Agarwal said that Lord Jagannath is not merely the deity of a temple but the Lord of the entire universe. He said that before true devotion, barriers of caste, class and external differences automatically disappear.
King Indradyumna’s Devotion
The discourse narrated that the righteous King Indradyumna had a deep desire to have the divine darshan of the Lord. After receiving information about Neel Madhav, he sent his messengers, including Vidyapati, in search of him.
Vidyapati had darshan of Neel Madhav in the forest through Vishwavasu and informed the king about it. King Indradyumna himself reached the place for darshan, but by then the Lord had disappeared. Devarshi Narad explained to him that this was not the end, but the beginning of a new divine leela of the Lord.
Later, divine wood was found on the seashore, which is traditionally known as ‘Daru-Brahma’. The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Mata Subhadra were established from this sacred wood.
Agarwal said that the unique form of the Lord represents His will and divine leela. King Indradyumna constructed the temple and formally consecrated the three idols.
Tradition of the Rath Yatra
The tradition of Rath Yatra is associated with this divine leela of the Lord coming among His devotees. Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh, Lord Balabhadra’s Taladhwaj and Mata Subhadra’s Darpadalana chariots become the centre of attraction for devotees.
The ‘Chhera Pahara’ tradition performed by the Gajapati Maharaj during the Rath Yatra conveys the message that before the Lord, a king and an ordinary devotee are equal. Lord Jagannath Himself comes out of the temple to give darshan to His devotees.
The Moving Story of Devotee Salabega
The story of devotee Salabega was particularly emotional during the discourse. Despite not having the right to enter the temple, his devotion towards Lord Jagannath remained unwavering. He would wait for the Lord’s darshan during the Rath Yatra.
According to popular belief, once when Salabega was delayed in reaching Puri, Lord Jagannath’s chariot did not move forward. The chariot moved only after Salabega arrived and had darshan of the Lord.
The episode reflects the belief that for the Lord, the devotee’s sincere and selfless feelings are paramount.
Sincere Devotion is the True Path to God
Prashant Agarwal said that devotion to Lord Jagannath teaches that more than wealth, show or external means, what is needed to reach God is sincere faith, complete surrender and true emotion.
He said that when there is no discrimination in the mind and no deceit in one’s feelings, devotion itself becomes the path to God. He described this as the core message of Jagannath devotion.
During the programme, Prashant Agarwal also interacted with beneficiaries with disabilities who had received artificial limbs from Narayan Seva Sansthan and learned about their experiences.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.