Count Down: Day 11 To Ratha Yatra! || Festival Event: June 26th 2025
Before the Ratha Yatra festival in Jagannath Puri, there is a very meaningful event that takes place—Gundicha Marjana. It is the day when Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu personally cleaned the Gundicha temple, the place where Lord Jagannath would later reside during His stay away from the main temple.
On this day, Mahaprabhu gathered all His devotees and went with them to the Gundicha temple, carrying brooms, water pots, and great joy in their hearts. The Lord Himself began sweeping, collecting all the dust, straw, and dirt into piles. The devotees were amazed—the Supreme Lord was cleaning with His own hands, and He was doing it with so much love and care.
Everyone followed Him, working together, fully engaged in the service. The Lord then brought water to wash the temple. The walls, floors, ceilings—everything was washed clean. Mahaprabhu even used His own cloth to wipe areas that needed more attention. He would gently correct anyone who missed a spot, not with pride, but with deep affection, teaching everyone the mood of true service.
By the end of the day, the temple was completely clean, cool, and bright. But it wasn’t just the temple that had been cleansed. In truth, everyone’s hearts were being cleaned, too.
This whole event is deeply connected to the verse from Śrī Śikṣāṣṭakam:
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanam
“Cleansing the mirror of the heart…”
Just as the temple was cleansed to receive Lord Jagannath, our hearts must also be cleansed so that the Lord may reside there. The dust in the temple represents the many unwanted things in our hearts—false pride, selfishness, envy. Mahaprabhu showed us that cleaning with our hands can lead to cleaning within, and that even the most ordinary task becomes sacred when done with love and sincerity.
Gundicha Marjana is not just a festival of cleaning—it is a festival of purification, of learning humility through service. And the most beautiful part is that the Lord Himself showed us how to do it.
So every time we pick up a broom, every time we clean something in the Lord’s service, let us remember this sweet pastime—when the Lord became a sweeper and showed the world the glory of simple, heartfelt service.
To serve on this day please visit: https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Gundica-Marjana
Yesterday we celebrated the ever-merciful Snana Yatra of Lord Jagannatha, and what an outpouring of love it was! Truly, the Lord is Bhavagrahi Janardana — the One who accepts the devotion in our hearts far more than any external offering. Who could be more merciful, more reciprocal, more captivating than Him? Just after the glorious Darshan Arati, Lord Jagannatha, along with His dear brother Baladeva and sister Subhadra Devi, ascended Their Snana Mandap — the bathing platform — where They received an unending Abhishek from thousands of longing, love-filled hearts. For over 5 hours, devotees poured water, love, and prayers upon the Supreme Lord who stood there gracefully, accepting all offerings without discrimination. Jagannatha’s mercy knows no boundaries.
The Skanda Purana proclaims: — "I do not consider one’s sin or piety, family or birth. Whoever worships Me with love is very dear to Me." Just look around — villagers, pilgrims, children, elders, near and far — they all came together, united by the sheer pull of the Lord of the Universe. He draws the soul, not by force, but with those huge lotus eyes, reminding us that we are never too unqualified to approach Him. The Abhishek ceremony isn’t just a ritual — it is an act of surrender. Bathing the Lord on this day is said to wash away lifetimes of sins, open the heart, and awaken dormant love for Krishna. It is said that the Snana Yatra is the only time the Lord accepts such public bathing, allowing each of us to come face-to-face with His humility and compassion.
Alongside, prasadam flowed endlessly — lovingly cooked and distributed to tens of thousands of devotees, visitors, and guests who gathered to honor our dearest Lord on this auspicious day of His appearance in this majestic form. And now, having accepted all our offerings and sins, Lord Jagannatha will rest for 15 days — this period is known as Anavasara. During this time, the Lord enters a private chamber to "recover", but really, He is entering our hearts, preparing them to receive a spark of pure love for Him. But don’t worry — He’s coming back! And not quietly! The grandest parade — Ratha Yatra — will begin soon from 27th June to 5th July! Jagannatha will once again come out in His chariot to bless the world.
If you missed the chance to serve during Snana Yatra, this is your golden opportunity! Come join the service of the Lord of the Universe as He takes to the streets with His siblings. There are many sevas waiting, and every little effort is seen and loved by the Lord.
Come pull the chariot of your heart closer to Him. Come serve Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi in Their divine journey!
Sponsor a Seva: https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Ratha-Yatra
Once upon a time, a renowned and devout worshipper of Lord Ganesha made a visit to Puri. This devotee was known for his unwavering devotion—he worshipped no one but Sri Ganesha and considered Him the Supreme.
When he arrived in Puri, the king warmly welcomed him and invited him to have darshan of Lord Jagannath in the grand temple. However, the devotee politely declined.
He explained, "My heart belongs solely to Lord Ganesha. I do not visit any other deity’s temple."
The king, being a great devotee of Lord Jagannath and also well-versed in the scriptures, gently reasoned with him, saying, “But dear sir, Lord Jagannath is none other than Lord Vishnu Himself—He is the source of all the demigods, including your beloved Ganesha.”
Still hesitant, the devotee eventually agreed, out of respect for the king, to accompany him to the temple—though his mind remained fixed on Lord Ganesha.
It happened to be the sacred day of Snana Yatra, the grand public bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra Devi. The atmosphere was festive and divine. As the devotee stood before the altar and beheld the enormous deities adorned with flower garlands and sandalwood paste, he folded his hands and prayed silently:
“O Lord, if You truly are the Supreme, and if all demigods indeed reside within You, then please reveal to me the form of my Lord Ganesha.”
Just then, something miraculous happened.
Before the eyes of all present—and especially the astonished devotee—Lord Jagannath manifested Himself in a form with a large head and trunk, resembling Lord Ganesha! The devotee was overwhelmed with emotion. Tears flowed from his eyes. His heart overflowed with love, awe, and reverence. He realized in that moment the deeper truth: that the Supreme Lord takes on various forms to reciprocate with the love of His devotees.
This merciful pastime came to be remembered eternally, and since then, on the day of Snana Yatra, Lord Jagannath is decorated in an elephant-like costume, known as Gaja Vesha, to commemorate this beautiful exchange of love.
This pastime is lovingly recounted in H.G. Pankajanghri Prabhu’s book: “The Pastimes & History of Lord Jagannath in Rajapur.”
Offer a Seva this Snana Yatra, Just 6 Days to Go!!! https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Snana-Yatra
ISKCON Mayapur joyfully presents “Biodiversity in Bhakti Yoga”—a heartfelt visual and meditative offering designed to reconnect hearts with the sacred natural world of Sri Mayapur Dhama. Featuring over 500 breathtaking images of local flora and fauna, accompanied by spiritual insights from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, this offering invites viewers to see nature through the lens of Krishna consciousness. As part of the ‘CONNECT with Sri Mayapur-dhama’ project, it encourages us to perceive and remember the Lord in every aspect of creation—promoting mindful devotion, compassionate living, and a deep spiritual bond with Mother Earth as an expression of our bhakti.
To explore the mobile-friendly digital gateway, click here. https://srimayapurdhama.com/biodiversity/
Srila Prabhupada said, “Simply by remembering this picture, that is perfection. Because we need to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. We should constantly think of Kṛṣṇa. If you think of Him in any way, that is your perfection.” (Lecture – December 1, 1968, Los Angeles). This profound instruction forms the foundation of the ‘Biodiversity in Bhakti Yoga’ initiative. It invites devotees to see nature as Krishna’s sacred footprint—guiding our hearts deeper into remembrance, gratitude, and loving service to the Lord.
Inspiring Meditation Through Nature
Each image—whether a blooming lotus, the fleeting flight of a bird, or sunlight dancing through the trees—becomes a gateway to meditation. These moments in nature remind us that Krishna is the original artist, and that the creation itself is one of His divine expressions. Just as devotees meditate on Krishna’s form, we can also learn to respect and honor the beauty around us, recognizing it as sacred.
Kṛṣṇa’s Divine Form in Nature’s Elements
Nature, in all its splendor, reflects the spiritual qualities of Krishna’s own transcendental body https://srimayapurdhama.com/biodiversity/nature-krishna/. “What they call beautiful nature is but His smile…What they call the sweet songs of the birds are but specimens of the whispering voice of the Lord.” (SB 1.11.26 Purport) Srila Prabhupada also writes, “The bereavement of material existence immediately subsides when one sees the charming smile of the Lord.” (SB 3.28.32, Purport) Even a few mindful moments in nature can ease the burdens of the heart and awaken deep spiritual joy—reminding us of Krishna’s smile, which is sweeter than the sweetness itself.
Revealing Nature’s Role in Krishna’s Pastimes
Vedic scriptures beautifully portray how forests, rivers, animals, and hills become active participants in the Lord’s transcendental pastimes. Whether it is Krishna’s worship of Govardhan Hill or Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s ecstatic travels through the forests of Jhārikhaṇḍa, nature serves as a sacred stage for divine lila. This project encourages devotees to rediscover these spiritual connections and to recognize biodiversity and harmonious living as integral expressions of Vedic culture and Krishna consciousness.
Promoting Ahimsa and Compassion for All Living Beings
In Bhagavad-gītā 15.7, Lord Krishna declares: “The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts.” This vision of spiritual unity lies at the heart of the Biodiversity in Bhakti Yoga project—encouraging the practice of ahimsa (non-violence) and deeper compassion, not only toward fellow humans but also toward plants, birds, insects, and animals.
Bhakti Begins at Home: A Devotional Call to Honor Mother Earth
Krishna assures us, “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I will accept it.” (BG 9.26) Inspired by these words, we invite devotees worldwide to express their bhakti through care, respect, and a lifestyle harmonious with Mother Earth. Plant a tree, grow flowers for your Deities, walk through a forest while chanting the holy names, pause to appreciate a bird’s song or the breeze through the trees. These simple, mindful acts become beautiful offerings of love and devotion to Krishna—honoring His creation while strengthening our connection with Him
Caring for Mother Earth is an expression of our bhakti. Every tree, every flower, every gentle breeze is a reminder of Krishna’s loving presence. When we engage with nature in a spirit of devotion, we not only help protect the environment — we also deepen our relationship with Him.
A Prayer for Sacred Connection
As described in The Nectar of Devotion: “Every part of Kṛṣṇa’s body was so soft that even at the touch of newly grown leaves, the color of the touched part of His skin would change.” (NOD 26) Let us pray that every time we touch a new leaf, we remember Krishna and feel inspired to serve Him by caring for His sacred creation. May this awareness keep us grounded in loving devotion and forever sheltered at the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His eternal abode — Sri Mayapur Dhama.
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We warmly invite you to share your feedback and suggestions to help us enhance the “CONNECT with Sri Mayapur-dhama” project by clicking here https://srimayapurdhama.com/follow-us/. We are grateful for your support in spreading this initiative among your friends, family, and congregation, creating a valuable opportunity for devotees worldwide to experience the mercy of Sri Mayapur-dhama. Your generosity and encouragement are essential to the success and growth of this project. If you feel inspired to contribute, please click the donate link here https://srimayapurdhama.com/donate-now/.
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By Nandan Dasa, Mayapur Master Plan Office
