Nava Dina Yatra

Today is the auspicious day of “Bahuda??? the return of the Holy Trinity Lord Baladeva, Mother Subhadra and Lord Jagannath to the Shri Mandira after a week’s sojourn to the temple of Queen Gundicha in the annual “Rath Yatra???or chariot festival. It is believed that the Holy Trinity first appeared on a “Maha Vedi???at the site where the Gundicha temple stands and it was on this site that King Indradyumna had performed one thousand “Ashwamedha Yajna??? Hence the “Rath Yatra???symbolises a return to the roots.

There are many theories of origin of the Jagannath cult. From tribal to Buddhist, Jain, Shaiva, Shakta and ofcourse the Vaishnavas, every faith has laid claim to the creation of this magnificent Lord of the Universe and the expansive cult of Jagannath. However, a very different view of origin relates to the nine planets or “Nava Graha??? Some scholars interestingly relate Lord Jagannath to the “Nava Graha???and consider the Lord as an incarnation of the nine planets. The round eyes of Lord Jagannath are regarded as the Sun and the Moon, the red lips are the red planet Mars, riding on the chariot as a dwarf he is Mercury, in yellow attire he is Jupiter, in the ability to attract anyone who looks at him, he is Venus, in his blackness he is Saturn, and in his incomplete physical form he is Rahu and Ketu, the north and south nodes of the Earth. Therefore Lord Jagannath is also referred to as “Navagraha Roopi Janardana Roopa??? The nine planets hold great significance in western and eastern philosophies and are considered to wield powerful influence over individual and collective destinies. Hence praying to the planets and seeking their benevolence remains a steadfast practice, especially in the hindu faith in which we find the nine planets carved on the top of temple doorways to be offered propitiation before entering the sanctum sanctorum.

Since the Rath Yatra is spread over a duration of nine days, it is also called “Nava Dina Yatra??? During these nine days, the “nitis???observed inside the “Gundicha temple???are specific to each of the seven planets on the seven days that the deities reside inside the temple, seated on the “Adapa Mandapa??? while the day of “Gundicha Yatra???is reserved for rituals pertaining to “Rahu???(north node of the Earth) and the day of “Bahuda???for “Ketu???(south node of the Earth.)

Talking of “Nava Dina Yatra???and “Nava Graha???connects to the fascination with “Nava???or “Nine??? The number “Nine???has attracted mankind with its mysticism and uniqueness since ages. It is the last and highest of the primary integers and is considered to be the most spiritual number across most faiths and religions around the world. When we multiply by nine it results in mirror symmetry. The vibrations of number nine is believed to be the language in which the angels whisper their blessings. The Hebrews regarded nine as the symbol of the immutable truth. The Bahai???sect regards nine as the number of perfection, the exalted digit symbolising comprehensiveness and culmination. In Buddhism, the nature of the Buddha is recited everyday through the prayer “Buddha Guna???which extols the nine attributes of the Buddha. The 108 Arihants are the cornerstones of the philosophy of Jainism. In Islam, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. In Christianity nine represents finality and completeness, there are nine fruits of the spirit, and Lord Jesus died at the ninth hour after being crucified. These are only a few references, there are many more similar beliefs across religions and cultures around the world.

Hinduism believes that there are four Yugas:
Satya Yuga ???1,72,800 years (1+7+2+8 = 18 == (1+8 = 9)
Treta Yuga ???12,96,000 years (1+2+9+6 = 18 = (1+8 = 9)
Dwapara Yuga – 8,64,000 years (8+4+6) = 18 = (1+8 = 9)
Kali Yuga – 4,32,000 years (4+3+2) = 9

Nine is the number of Lord Brahma the creator. Hindu prayer rosaries have 108 beads, chanting of mantras is prescribed 108 or 1008 times.. The concept of “Nava Dwara???enunciates that the human body is only a manifestation of nine holes without the presence of the soul. “Nava Vidha Bhakti???or nine types of devotion is considered the surest way to receive the grace of the Lord. “Nava Ratna??? “Nava Rasa??? “Nava Ratri???are all related to the power of the number nine which is considered sacred and auspicious. There are 108 Gopis (cow girls) devoted to Lord Krishna, 108 holy places of the Vaishnavas, 108 Upanishads, 18 Puranas and Upa- Puranas and 18 Dharma Shastras. The epic Mahabharata consists of one lakh stanzas divided into 18 parvas. The Mahabharata war lasted for 18 days with 18 divisions of the army.

Coming back to Lord Jagannath and the “Nava Dina Yatra??? the “Shri Mandira???is built on five “Shakti Konas???and four “Shiva Konas???or nine basic triangles. The height of the roof of the temple is 180 feet (1+8=9). The height of Lord Jagannath’s “Rath???or chariot is 45 feet (4+5=9). Also, on the day before Makara Sankranti, the Holy Trinity is dressed in “Nababanka Besha??? “Nabanka???means nine and it is believed that taking nine circumambulations (pradakshina) around the temple on this day is auspicious. The idol of Lord Madanamohana is taken around the “Ratna Simhasana???four and a half times and then taken around the “Kurma Bedha???another four and a half times, thereby making it a total of nine circumambulations and completing the “Nabanka Bedha Parikrama??? The new rice brought by Goddess Lakshmi as she returns from the house of her father “Mahodadhi???prior to Makara Sankranti is also taken around the “Shri Mandira???nine times and then offered to the Lords on the Ratna Simhasana as “Makara Chaula???on Makara Sankranti.

As the Lords return home today on the ninth day of the “Nava Dina Yatra??? may the vibrations of number Nine bring healing, hope and happiness. May the Lord of the Universe bless us all. Jai Jagannath Mahaprabhu.

(Photograph from Puri Official on Twitter)