Rath Yatra: origin
Centuries ago, our thinking was pretty narrow. We wanted to protect our sacred idols from any kind of impurity. And since we considered the lower classes to be impure, we did not allow them to enter our temples. They could do the darshan of our deities only when we took them out on the streets on processions on festive occasions. Today, most temples have no such restrictions. But we continue to host street processions for our deities even today.
Rath Yatra: Meaning
When we take our utsav murtis from the sanctum sanctorum of our temples – through the streets in chariots (Raths), we call it a Rath Yatra. Yes, the Rath Yatra in Jagannath Puri is very famous. But several other temples too host Rath Yatras. Let’s take a look at a few of these Rath Yatras….
Lord Padmanabhaswamy’s Rath Yatra: Aarattu
Aeons ago, Vishnu, the presiding deity of the Padmanabhaswamy temple (in Thiruvanthapuram) hunts down an evil demon in a forest. So, the people of Thiruvanthapuram express their gratitude to the various facets of Vishnu who killed the demon and protected them.
They take images of lords Padmanabhaswamy, Krishna and Narasimha on a Rath Yatra during their 10-day biannual “Aarattu” festival. And give them all a purifying ritual bath on the seashore of Shankhu-mukham beach.
From the Aarattu Rath Yatra, we learn to express our gratitude to the various aspects of God. For He alone comes to our rescue and showers His grace on us. When we need it the most.
Venu Gopalaswamy’s Brahma Rathotsavam
The villagers of Bellandur (town near Bangalore) have been worshipping lord Venu Gopalaswamy for many generations. They place an utsav murti of Venu Gopalaswamy on a Rath on the 8th day of the 12-day Bellandur Habba festival. And pull the Rath towards the nearby Ganesh temple. Even today, the villagers say, “When we do the darshan of Venu Gopalaswamy during the Rath Yatra we know He will bless us with prosperity.”
From the Rath Yatra of the Bellandur Habba festival, we understand the value of material wealth. For only when we sustain ourselves in the material world, can we even think of pursuing spirituality.
Meenakshi Amman’s Rathotsavam: Ther Tiruvizha
When Malayadhwaja, a Pandya king performs a yagna, a small girl with three breasts manifests. Shiva appears before Malayadhwaja and says, “Treat this girl, an incarnation of Parvati, like your son. And she will lose her third breast when she marries me.”
Malayadhwaja names his daughter Meenakshi and trains her in warfare. Meenakshi becomes the queen of the Pandya kingdom after Malayadhwaja dies. She conquers the world with her extraordinary war skills. And decides to conquer Kailasha too. When Meenakshi confronts Shiva on the battlefield, she falls in love with him and realizes she is a form of Parvati.
Shiva as Sundareshwar goes to Madurai to marry her. Meenakshi and Sundareshwar invite her brother, Alagar (a form of Vishnu) for the wedding. Alagar however gets delayed. So, Sundareshwar takes the form of Alagar and performs the Kanya Daan of Meenakshi. And conveys the message that He, Shiva too is a form of Vishnu only.
When Alagar crosses the Vaigai, He learns his sister’s wedding was over. He becomes furious. So Meenakshi and Sundareshwar come to Vaigai river to pacify him. Alagar calms down. Instantly. He gives all the gifts he has been carrying for Meenakshi and Sundareshwar in a mandapam in the middle of the Vaigai river. And returns to Alagar Hill without entering Madurai.
During the festival of Meenakshi Ther Tiruvizha, her devotees seat special utsav murtis of Meenakshi Amman and Sundareshwara in a Rath. They pull the chariot themselves as they take them out on a procession through the streets. And witness Vishnu giving away His sister in marriage to Shiva during the wedding ceremony.
We celebrate Meenakshi Amman’s Kalyanotsavam for one month. For the first fortnight, we celebrate Meenakshi Amman’s coronation and accept her as the divine ruler of Madurai and her marriage to Sundareshwar. During the next fortnight, we celebrate the journey of Alagar from His temple in Alagar Kovil to Madurai.
From Meenakshi’s Rathotsavam, we learn to respect a woman. For Meenakshi rules Madurai as ably as any man. Let’s remember that in God’s realm, barriers like gender, caste and material wealth will never exist.
Rath Yatra in Pushti Marg
In Pushti Marg, on Rath Yatra, we seat only our Nidhi swaroops on a Rath and move the Rath in the four cardinal directions. We do not follow this ritual alone in Nathdwara because we believe that Shrinathji is Krishna’s Goloka swaroop.
But on the day of Rath Yatra, we offer four bhogs and perform the arti four times for Shrinathji and our Nidhi swaroops too. We cover the Rath entirely with a four-layered multi-coloured skirt.
And on Rath Yatra we remember the four special occasions when Krishna sits on a chariot and conveys a profound message to us. We nurture four different Bhaavs when we move the Rath in four different directions. These are the four bhaavs…
In His childhood, Krishna insists that He wants to go out for a ride on a Rath. Yashoda fulfils Krishna’s wish but does not tether the horses to the Rath to protect young Krishna. So, Krishna’s sakhas pull the Rath and together they all have great fun as they go on imaginary Rath Yatras to distant divine places.
When we move the Rath in the first direction, we nurture Bal Bhaav and Sakha Bhaav. For Krishna has, is and will always be as innocent as a child and our dearest friend too.
As a youth, Krishna leaves Vrindavan and goes to Mathura in His chariot. He leaves behind Radha and the gopis whom He loves most dearly. Yet, He does what He has to. Because, as an avatar, He has a mission to fulfil in the mortal world.
As we move the Rath in the second direction, let’s nurture Viraha Bhaav. And remember how Krishna enables Radha and the gopis to find Him in their own Atma instead of clinging to His mortal body. Let’s try to do so too.
When Krishna becomes a young man, Rukmini yearns to marry Him. She sends a letter to Krishna asking Him to elope with her. Then surrenders to His will. Entirely. Rukmini does not know if Krishna will come to her rescue. But is so totally devoted to Krishna that she has no doubts at all.
And as we move the Rath in the third direction, let’s remember how Krishna elopes with Rukmini in His chariot as we nurture Rukmini’s Daasya Bhaav. Let’s try to develop the quality of completely surrendering to Krishna’s will. At all times in our lives.
And finally, Krishna becomes Arjuna’s Saarthi during the Mahabharata war. He understands Arjuna’s dilemma. But does not take any decision for Arjuna. Or fight any of Arjuna’s battles for him.
As we move the Rath in the fourth direction, let’s revere Krishna, the Jagatguru. And sober up to the reality that He is not going to solve any of our problems either. It’s up to us to dip into the wisdom of our scriptures. Constantly. And walk on the path of Dharma to the best of our ability.
Yes, we host different Rath Yatras for different gods for different reasons. Let’s understand the essence of each Rath Yatra when we indulge in the festivities. Consciously. Every. Single. time.
Rath Yatra photos given by Hardevji.
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