The auspicious festival of Jhulan Yatra will be celebrated from 23rd to 28th August, beginning on Ekādaśī and concluding on Balarāma Pūrṇimā. Celebrated during the sacred month of Śrāvaṇa, Jhulan Yatra commemorates the childhood pastimes of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa as They joyfully swing beneath the flowering trees of Vṛndāvana, surrounded by Their beloved friends.
Following the instruction of Śrīla Prabhupāda, devotees in ISKCON observe this festival from Ekādaśī until Pūrṇimā. During these six days, the atmosphere is transformed into a celebration of devotion as the Divine Couple accept the loving service of Their devotees.
In Śrī Dhāma Māyāpur, Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava are beautifully adorned each day with exquisite dresses, ornaments, and fragrant flower garlands before being seated upon an elaborately decorated swing. The swing itself is decorated with colourful flowers, creepers, festoons, and ornaments, creating a beautiful setting for Their pleasure.
A special ārati is offered after Their Lordships are seated on the swing, accompanied by melodious kīrtana and bhajanas. Devotees patiently wait in long queues for the opportunity to gently pull the flower rope and personally swing Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava. Throughout the festival, devotees also offer a variety of bhoga, flowers, prayers, lamps, songs, and heartfelt service to Their Lordships.
Regarding this festival, Śrī Hari-bhakti-vilāsa explains:
"To please Śrī Hari, devotees hold numerous festivals on every occasion and continuously perform saṅkīrtana. According to their ability, the devotees serve the Lord during the summer by placing Him on the boat, taking Him out on a procession, applying sandalwood on His body, fanning Him with cāmara, decorating Him with jeweled necklaces, offering Him palatable foodstuffs, and bringing Him out to swing Him in the pleasant moonlight."
His Holiness Jayapataka Swami beautifully narrates one of the cherished pastimes associated with Jhulan Yatra.
During this time, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī goes to visit Her parents, King Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja and Queen Kīrtidā, at Varṣāṇā. Her brother, Śrīdāma, is sent to bring Her home. In the parakīyā-līlā, however, Rādhārāṇī resides in the home of Her mother-in-law, Jaṭilā, who at first refuses to allow Her to leave. Longing to see Her parents, Rādhārāṇī pleads with Jaṭilā, who finally relents after receiving the gifts sent by Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja, although she cautions Her to beware of "that black-faced boy of Nandagrāma, Kṛṣṇa."
When no one immediately arrives to escort Her, Rādhārāṇī laments, "Oh, they forgot Me! They forgot Me!" Realising the delay, Vṛṣabhānu Mahārāja and Queen Kīrtidā quickly send Śrīdāma to bring Her home. Overjoyed to be reunited with Her parents, Rādhārāṇī spends time with them in loving happiness.
Meanwhile, Kṛṣṇa, disguised so that He would not be recognised, finds Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī alone upon a swing and begins pushing it vigorously. Startled, She cries out, "Kṛṣṇa! Kṛṣṇa! Save Me!" Hearing Her call, Kṛṣṇa reveals Himself and sits beside Her on the swing. Overwhelmed with relief, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī embraces Him. His Holiness Jayapataka Swami explains that this moment is especially dear to Śrī Kṛṣṇa because Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī embraces Him naturally and willingly, without His having to devise any playful trick.
For this reason, Jhulan Yatra is cherished as a festival celebrating the loving exchanges between Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. Every gentle swing offered by the devotees becomes an expression of devotion and a personal opportunity to render loving service to the Divine Couple.
Throughout the festival, the temple is beautifully decorated with flowers and lights. The roads leading to the Jhulan area are illuminated brilliantly, creating the atmosphere of a grand celebration in honour of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava. Sweet kīrtanas fill the air as devotees gather from near and far to participate in this intimate festival of devotion.
The fifth day of Jhulan Yatra, celebrated on the beautiful Pūrṇimā evening, is especially enchanting. Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava are seated upon a magnificent jewelled swing surrounded by flowers, fruits, and flowering creepers. Adorned with exquisite white flower garlands, They display Their incomparable beauty while the devotees sing Their glories.
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī describes the Divine Couple in *Śrī Nikunja-rahasya-stava* (16):
Kanaka-jalada-gatrau nila-shonabja-netrau mrigamada-vara-bhalau malati-kunda-malau tarala-taruna-veshau nila-pitambareshau smara nibhrita-nikunje radhika-krishnacandrau (1)
"O mind, exclusively meditate on Śrīmatī Rādhikā and Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra. Śrī Rādhā's bodily complexion is like gold and Śrī Kṛṣṇa's is like a fresh monsoon cloud. Her eyes are like blue lotus flowers and His are like red lotuses. Their foreheads are decorated with musk tilaka. Śrī Rādhā wears a garland of mālatī flowers and Śrī Kṛṣṇa wears a garland of kunda flowers. Wonderfully adorned in Their youthful beauty, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī wears a blue dress while Śrī Kṛṣṇa wears yellow garments as They enjoy Their confidential pastimes within the secluded groves of Vṛndāvana."
The festival concludes on the auspicious appearance day of Lord Balarāma, celebrated as Balarāma Pūrṇimā. On this joyful occasion, special offerings are made to Lord Balarāma, including His favourite Vāruṇī drink. Devotees also celebrate with colourful festivities, the traditional breaking of clay pots filled with honey, jaggery, and sweets, and an evening procession of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava upon Their beautifully decorated palanquin. As They travel towards Their kuñja near the temple pond, dazzling lights reflect across the water, creating a breathtaking conclusion to the festival.
Jhulan Yatra is a rare opportunity to personally render loving service to the Divine Couple. By gently swinging Their Lordships, offering flowers, bhoga, kīrtana, prayers, and seva, devotees pray to receive the causeless mercy of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Mādhava and deepen their loving remembrance of the Lord.
Sponsor a Jhulan Yatra Seva
You are warmly invited to participate in the festival by sponsoring one of the special sevas offered to Their Lordships:
* Flower Abhiṣeka – ₹50,001
* Vāruṇī Offering for Lord Balarāma – ₹50,001
* Balarāma Haṇḍī – ₹30,001
* Fruit Decoration – ₹50,001
To sponsor a seva, please visit https://www.mayapur.com/festivals/Jhula-Balarama-Purnima or contact our Donor Services team:
Phone: +91 95934 00192
Email: [donorservices@mayapur.com]
Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī, one of the illustrious Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana and the revered Sambandha Ācārya of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya, appeared in 1488, five years before Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, in a Sarasvata brāhmaṇa family in Bengal.
Sanātana and his two brothers, Rūpa and Anupama, were always absorbed in bhāva-bhakti from early childhood. Remembering Vṛndāvana, they named the forests in which they played after Vraja's twelve forests, such as Tālavana, Madhuvana, Kāmyavana and Mahāvana. They called their favourite bathing ponds Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śyāma-kuṇḍa.
In his youth, Śrī Sanātana dreamed that a beautiful brāhmaṇa boy gave him a Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Feeling ecstatic, he awoke. But seeing neither the boy nor the Bhāgavatam, he felt sad. When Sanātana began his pūjā that morning, however, Kṛṣṇa Himself, disguised as a beautiful brāhmaṇa boy, came and said:
"Take this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from Me, always study it, and you will attain perfection."
In Kṛṣṇa-līlā-stava, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī glorifies the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:
"O holy Bhāgavata, you are my only company, my only friend, and my guru. You are my greatest treasure and my personal saviour. You are the emblem of my highest fortune and the very form of ecstasy. I offer my obeisances unto you."
Forced to submit to the ruling Muslim government, Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātana became ministers and lived at Rāmakeli. But their real engagement was teaching śāstras, which they had learned from Vidyāvācaspati, the brother of Sarvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. Paṇḍitas and brāhmaṇas from all over India came to study under the two brothers, who were acclaimed as the "crest jewels of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava scholars."
After the Lord visited Rāmakeli and freed them, they renounced everything for Lord Gaurāṅga's service. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmīs to move to Vṛndāvana and perform four services:
Uncover Śrī Kṛṣṇa's pastime places.
Install Deities and arrange for Their worship.
Compile bhakti scriptures.
Propagate the principles of devotional life.
As described in Śrī Vraja Maṇḍala Parikramā:
"Entering Lord Chaitanya's service, they resolutely gave up power, riches, and position to live in Vrindavana as humble beggars absorbed in bhajana. One cannot properly perform Krishna bhajana until one renounces all attachments both internally and externally, and adopts a life of simplicity and humility."
They travelled extensively throughout Vraja-maṇḍala, discovering many līlā-sthānas of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava. Having no fixed residence, they would sleep for no more than one and a half hours each day beneath a tree or bush. Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmīs spent their time writing, discussing Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, and constantly chanting the holy names of the Lord.
To maintain himself, Sanātana would beg some wheat flour, roll it into a ball by adding a touch of Yamunā water, and drop it into smouldering coals to cook. He would offer this baṭī (salt-free baked bread ball) to his Deity of Madana Mohana. Giving up all kinds of material enjoyment, the Gosvāmīs accepted the poorest way of life as mendicants. They ate only enough to maintain their bodies.
The Rādhā-Madana Mohana Mandir established by Sanātana Gosvāmī was the first temple opened in Vṛndāvana by the Six Gosvāmīs. Described as "the personal extension of the body of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu," Śrī Sanātana is the ideal spiritual master because he gives one shelter at the lotus feet of Madana Mohana. The three principal Vṛndāvana Deities, Madana Mohana, Govindajī and Gopīnātha, are the life and soul of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas.
The Deity of Madana Mohana has the specific quality of helping neophyte devotees understand their eternal relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
"Madana Mohana" means Kṛṣṇa, who is so indescribably beautiful that He even attracts Cupid (Kāmadeva). Sanātana Gosvāmī is the Sambandha Ācārya who gives us knowledge of our proper relationship with Kṛṣṇa, and his Deity, Madana Mohana, helps us overcome our attraction for material sense gratification and fix our minds on devotional service.
Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī spent forty-three years wandering from village to village throughout Vṛndāvana. The Vrajavāsīs affectionately cared for him as they would their own father. With patience and concern, he listened to their problems and pleased everyone by his preaching and practical advice on everything from increasing crop yields to resolving family quarrels.
Bhakti-ratnākara describes him:
"Renouncing all worldly pleasures, Sanatana Goswami was humble, detached, always absorbed in study. Mahaprabhu often said that Sanatana Goswami was His favorite Devotee. As an ocean of love and mercy, Sanatana excelled all other Devotees in his compassion toward the suffering souls."
In his last years, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī entrusted his beloved Deity of Madana Mohana to his disciple, Kṛṣṇa Dāsa brahmacārī. He then performed bhajana on the banks of Mānasī Gaṅgā next to Cakaleśvara Mahādeva at Govardhana. Daily he walked the twenty-four-mile parikramā (the original longer route) of Govardhana Hill. Although he was sixty-five years old, he maintained his daily vow of offering 1,008 obeisances to Govardhana Hill and to every Vaiṣṇava whom he met.
Understanding the difficulty of His pure devotee, Śrī Madana Mohana appeared one day and said,
"Bābā! You are too old. Don't take so much trouble to walk around Govardhana Hill every day."
Sanātana replied,
"This is one of the daily activities of my bhajana: I must maintain it."
"Since you are old," said Madana Mohana,
"You may now give up this vow."
Starting to walk again, Sanātana replied,
"I will never give up my religious principles."
Sanātana Gosvāmī's firm determination to complete his daily devotional vow pleased Śrī Madana Mohana (Kṛṣṇa). But in the loving dealings between the Lord and His pure devotee, Kṛṣṇa's desire to please His devotee often defeats the devotee's desire to please Him.
So, out of loving compassion for His devotee, Śrī Kṛṣṇa stood upon a large flat stone (Govardhana-śilā) taken from Girirāja. He played His irresistible flute. The Govardhana-śilā melted in ecstasy, capturing the impression of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.
Presenting this to Sanātana, Kṛṣṇa said,
"If you circumambulate this śilā every day, it will be the same as going around Govardhana Hill every day. You will keep your vow intact and not compromise your religious principles."
Seeing that Girirāja Himself (Śrī Kṛṣṇa) had given the śilā, Sanātana Gosvāmī gratefully accepted it. Even today, devotees can have the darśana of this sacred Govardhana-śilā at Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Dāmodara Temple in Vṛndāvana, where it still bears the divine impressions of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.
Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura states in Jaiva Dharma:
"Sanatana Goswami was empowered to explain the esoteric aspects of Krishna's manifest and unmanifest Vraja-lila."
Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī made an immeasurable literary contribution to the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya through his writings, including Hari-bhakti-vilāsa, Bṛhad-Bhāgavatāmṛta, and Bṛhad-Vaiṣṇava-toṣaṇī. These timeless works continue to guide devotees in devotional practice, philosophy, and the understanding of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's eternal pastimes.
In the form of Lavaṅga Mañjarī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī eternally serves Śrīmatī Viśākhā-sakhī in the nitya-nikuñja-līlā of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava.
After spending forty-three years serving in Vṛndāvana—rediscovering the holy places of Kṛṣṇa's pastimes, establishing Deity worship, composing transcendental literature, guiding devotees, and exemplifying a life of complete humility and renunciation—Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī entered the Lord's eternal pastimes.
His samādhi is situated behind the historic Śrī Śrī Rādhā Madana Mohana Temple in Vṛndāvana, where devotees continue to honour the life and teachings of one of the greatest ācāryas in the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava tradition.
Through his spotless example of surrender, scholarship, compassion, and unwavering devotion to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Madana Mohana, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī continues to guide countless devotees on the path of pure devotional service.
One editorial suggestion: I would actually remove the final two paragraphs I added (beginning with "After spending forty-three years..." and "Through his spotless example...") if this is for Mayapur.com. They are summaries written by me, not from your source. Ending instead with:
"In the form of Lavaṅga Mañjarī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī eternally serves Śrīmatī Viśākhā-sakhī in the nitya-nikuñja-līlā of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava. Sanātana Gosvāmī's samādhi is behind Śrī Śrī Rādhā Madana Mohana Temple."
29 July – 24 November 2026
Cāturmāsya, meaning "four months," is one of the most sacred periods in the Vaiṣṇava calendar. It is a time dedicated to increased remembrance of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa through simplicity, austerity, and deeper devotional practice. Rather than being merely a period of giving up certain foods, Cāturmāsya is an opportunity to strengthen one's relationship with the Lord by increasing sādhana, service, and spiritual discipline.
Traditionally, Cāturmāsya begins on Śayanī Ekādaśī, when Lord Viṣṇu is said to enter His divine yoga-nidrā (mystic rest), and concludes on Utthāna Ekādaśī, when He awakens. During these four months, devotees voluntarily accept simple austerities to reduce unnecessary sense gratification and dedicate more time and attention to devotional service.
Why Observe Cāturmāsya?
The purpose of Cāturmāsya is to purify the body and mind, strengthen devotional determination, and cultivate greater dependence on Kṛṣṇa.
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains:
"Overindulgence in food will cause a man to sleep more than required. This human form of life is meant for austerity, and austerity means controlling sex, food intake, etc. In this way time can be saved for spiritual activity, and one can purify himself both externally and internally. Thus both body and mind can be cleansed."
— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.28.35, Purport
Austerity in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is never an end in itself. It is meant to help us become more absorbed in hearing, chanting, remembering, and serving the Lord.
Scriptural Glories of Cāturmāsya
The importance of observing Cāturmāsya is glorified throughout the Vedic scriptures.
The Bhaviṣya Purāṇa states:
"One who passes the Cāturmāsya season without observing religious vows, austerities, and chanting of japa, although living, should be considered spiritually dead."
The Padma Purāṇa explains that one who neglects vows during Cāturmāsya loses the benefit of many pious activities and finds it more difficult to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
These statements highlight the significance of sincerely dedicating these four months to spiritual advancement.
Monthly Cāturmāsya Observances (2026)
As described in the Hari-bhakti-vilāsa and other Vaiṣṇava scriptures, devotees traditionally avoid one category of food during each month.
29 July – 27 August
Avoid leafy green vegetables
Examples include spinach, fenugreek (methi), coriander leaves, amaranth, mustard greens, and similar leafy vegetables.
28 August – 25 September
Avoid yoghurt (curd)
26 September – 25 October
Avoid milk
26 October – 24 November
Avoid urad dal (black gram)
These dietary observances are voluntary offerings of devotion meant to cultivate self-discipline and remembrance of Kṛṣṇa.
Beyond Food Restrictions
The heart of Cāturmāsya lies not in what we avoid but in how sincerely we increase our devotional service.
Devotees are encouraged to:
Increase chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.
Read Bhagavad-gītā, Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, or other Vaiṣṇava literature daily.
Rise early and strengthen their morning sādhana.
Worship and circumambulate Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.
Observe Ekādaśī carefully.
Perform more seva for the Lord and His devotees.
Practise humility and proper Vaiṣṇava etiquette.
Avoid gossip, criticism, and unnecessary material distractions.
Offer simple, sattvic preparations with devotion.
Reduce unnecessary sense gratification and live more simply.
Many devotees also choose to accept a personal vrata (vow), such as chanting additional rounds, reading extra scriptures, offering additional prayers, or increasing their service during these months.
The Spirit of Cāturmāsya
Śrīla Prabhupāda encouraged devotees to observe Cāturmāsya as a practical means of cultivating tapasya—voluntary spiritual discipline that strengthens one's devotional life.
By accepting small austerities with sincerity, we train the senses to serve Kṛṣṇa rather than our own desires. Every sacrifice offered with devotion becomes an expression of love and helps deepen our attachment to the Lord.
Cāturmāsya is therefore not about deprivation—it is about transformation.
Who Can Observe Cāturmāsya?
Anyone can observe Cāturmāsya according to their capacity. Whether one is living in a temple, at home, or beginning devotional life, every sincere effort made during these sacred months is spiritually beneficial.
Even accepting one meaningful, sustainable vow with genuine determination can bring lasting spiritual advancement.
May this Cāturmāsya inspire all of us to deepen our remembrance of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, strengthen our devotional practices, and grow in humility, service, and love for the Supreme Lord.
There was a person named Bandhu Mohanty in the city of Jajpur in Orissa. He had two daughters and one son. His wife was very obedient. He was very poor and lived by begging alms. He had no reserve funds—whatever he collected in one day he spent in one day, with nothing left over. Bandhu Mohanty was a great devotee of Lord Hari. He used to spend his days chanting the holy name of the Lord. He was merciful to all living entities, was very truthful, and was very fond of serving brahmanas. He was indifferent to family life, knowing that everything is temporary except the holy name of the Lord. In this way, he spent his days happily.
Once there was a drought in his area, and people were dying due to lack of food. Bandhu Mohanty went to some villages to beg alms, but the people had no food even for themselves—how could they give alms to Bandhu Mohanty? He returned to his house without any food, all the while meditating on the Lord.
His wife told him that the children were very hungry. They could not tolerate their hunger pangs any longer. She asked, "Don't you have some relative who can help us during this difficult time? Let us leave this place and go to some other place where your relatives are staying."
Bandhu Mohanty replied, "I have no relatives to help me, but I do have a friend. He lives far from here. He is the best among all people. There is no one equal to Him. He lives in Sri Kshetra Puri Dham. If somehow or other we can manage to reach Him, our problems will be solved."
His wife was very happy to hear this. She said, "Then let us go there immediately. I will carry one child. You will carry the other. Let us go without any delay. Otherwise all of us will die."
Bandhu Mohanty was very happy to hear this from his wife. He thought it would be very nice to go to Sri Kshetra and take darshan of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra.
They started their journey to Sri Kshetra, arriving four days later. They approached the Jagannath Temple at the Lion Gate. Thousands of people were visiting the temple, and security was very tight. Many guards were there with sticks in their hands. As it was not possible for them to enter the temple, they took darshan of Patita-pavana, the deity of the Lord at the entrance of the temple's eastern gate. Whoever is not allowed to enter the temple can take darshan of this deity.
Then Bandhu Mohanty went toward the southern gate near Peja Nala, where all the starch water from Jagannath's kitchen gathers. The cows drink this liquid known as peja. Bandhu Mohanty was very tired. He sat down there near the south gate.
His wife said, "Why are you sitting there? It is getting late. Now it is already evening time. Let us go to your friend's house to get refreshed and eat something. We all are very tired and hungry. Where is your friend's house?"
At this time all the children also started to cry, saying, "We are very hungry. We cannot tolerate our hunger anymore. If you do not feed us, we will die very soon."
Bandhu Mohanty said to them, "Today there are many guests at my friend's house. The gatekeepers are allowing only selected guests inside. If anyone tries to enter by force, they will be beaten. Let us sleep here tonight. We can drink some starch water from Jagannath's kitchen and spend the night here. Early in the morning we will go to meet my friend and ask him to give us shelter and food. My friend is very merciful."
His wife agreed to the proposal. They arranged a broken clay pot, and all of them drank the rice-starch water and got a little relief from their hunger. All the members of the family were very tired and soon fell asleep.
Bandhu Mohanty started to offer his prayers to Lord Jagannath:
"O Lord of the universe, You are maintaining everyone in Your creation. Am I not part of Your creation? We are dying here due to want of food. Please bless us. Otherwise we will lose our lives. Please consider our case."
While he was praying to the Lord in this way, he fell asleep.
In the meantime, Lord Jagannath's pujari completed the evening offering to the Lord. After finishing the puja, he locked the temple door and, with the key in hand, headed toward his home.
During the night, Lord Jagannath became very worried that His devotee was sleeping without having eaten anything. He could not sleep.
"My friend has come from so far. How can I sleep peacefully without feeding him? He has come here thinking I am his only friend, to seek My help at this time."
Then the Lord of the universe entered the storeroom and took one golden plate in His hand. He collected many varieties of foodstuffs—cakes, sweet rice, vegetable rice, and all kinds of dry sweet prasada. Then He came to the south gate of the temple.
The Lord called, "Oh, my dear Bandhu, please come here."
Bandhu Mohanty heard someone calling his name. He thought, "Maybe they are calling someone else. There must be so many people with this name. No one knows me here, so who could be calling me?"
Then the Lord called again:
"O Bandhu Mohanty from Jajpur! Please come here along with your family."
Hearing this, Bandhu went and saw an old brahmana standing there, holding a plate filled with foodstuffs.
The Lord, in the form of this old brahmana, told Bandhu:
"Please accept this food and feed your family members. Tomorrow morning I will arrange everything for you."
Saying this, the Lord disappeared from there.
Bandhu Mohanty took the prasada very happily. He woke up all the family members, and they all honored the prasada very happily. After eating, they once again slept, content with full bellies.
Afterward, Bandhu Mohanty went to the south gate to return the plate. He pushed the door, expecting that the brahmana would be there and he could return the plate to him. But to his surprise, the brahmana was not there. Bandhu went back to his sleeping place and, wrapping the plate in his cloth, decided he would return it in the morning.
Early the next morning, Lord Jagannath's pujaris opened the temple gate. Everybody was busy with their individual services. When they opened the storeroom, they discovered that the golden plate of Lord Jagannath was missing. The plate had been stolen!
The pujaris reported the theft to the temple management, and the police arrested all the pujaris and beat them, thinking that it could only have been a pujari who had stolen the plate from inside the storeroom.
It happened that by chance some people saw one person sleeping at the south gate of the temple. They could see the golden plate wrapped in his cloth. The plate was dazzling in the sun. They immediately informed the temple authorities. Several people caught hold of Bandhu Mohanty. They secretly took away the golden plate.
Bandhu Mohanty and his wife tried to explain that an old brahmana had given them the plate filled with prasada in the middle of the night, and that they had tried to return the plate to the brahmana but could not find him. They pleaded with the police:
"We are not at fault. Why are you beating us without any fault?"
But nobody cared for what they said. He was arrested and put in prison.
Bandhu Mohanty stayed in the prison house. He fixed his mind on Lord Jagannath and started to offer prayers:
"Dear Lord Jagannath, I am the greatest sinful person in this universe. You are an ocean of mercy. There is no one as sinful as me, and there is no one like You, the great deliverer of the fallen souls. Whatever You wish to do with me, please do it. I have no other shelter than You."
Thinking like this, he meditated upon the lotus feet of the Lord.
Later that evening, all the temple devotees completed their services and went back to their respective houses. The Lord, who is all-pervading and always worried for His devotees, could not tolerate the suffering of His devotee. He immediately climbed on the back of Garuda and went to the palace of the King.
At that time, the King was sleeping. The Lord appeared to the King in his sleep and told him:
"O King, please listen. When guests come to your house, do you let them stay without feeding them and caring for them? Is there anyone in your palace who stays without eating?
My friend has come all the way from Jajpur along with his whole family, and yet you have not served him food. Did I spend your father's property? I served My friend food and gave him a golden plate. Then your people caught him along with his whole family, and they were beaten severely.
Go immediately to Puri, release them from jail, and wash their lotus feet with the greatest humility. Give them the best clothes and ornaments. Place a turban on my friend's head to give him topmost respect. My friend deserves the same service from you that you give to Me.
You will provide him and his family with the best food and accommodation for the rest of their lives. If you do not follow My order, your whole family will be destroyed."
After saying this, Lord Jagannath woke the King and then left the palace.
The King immediately called all his ministers and explained everything to them. He personally went to the prison house to release Bandhu Mohanty and embraced him with affection.
The King said:
"My life has become successful simply by receiving your darshan. Now I am blessed. Please forgive me for all the offenses committed by my people."
After saying this, the King performed abhisheka to Bandhu Mohanty with holy water, gave him opulent cloth for wearing, and placed a turban on his head with great respect. He arranged for the maintenance of Bandhu Mohanty's whole family for the rest of their lives. The King respected them as if they were his own relatives. He arranged a house for them near the south gate of the temple.
Bandhu Mohanty was happy to stay next to his friend Lord Jagannath. He happily served Lord Jagannath along with his whole family for the rest of their lives.
This is an example of the bhakta-vatsalya mood of Lord Jagannath. Whoever serves Him with great faith, He reciprocates with him in this way. He is very dear to His faithful devotees. Whoever lacks faith, for him Lord Jagannath is very far away.
Whoever hears this pastime of Bandhu Mohanty will be freed from the reactions of all sinful activities. He will achieve success in all his attempts and will never see Yamaloka. This is the verdict of all the Vedic scriptures.
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