Why Lord Jagannath also present at Singhadwara of Puri’s Srimandira, watch

Puri: In the famous temple of Lord Jagannath in Puri of Odisha, the idols are there on the Ratna Bedi inside the sanctum sanctorum of Srimandira. However, we can witness that Lord Jagannath is also worshipped at the Lions Gate, the famous Singhadwara of the 12^th century shrine. One can get a glimpse of this small temple even from the Singhadwara and without entering into the temple. Even, many devotees gather at the Singhadwara early in the morning everyday when the Alati of this Lord Jagannath is performed. This Lord Jagannath whom devotees can pray at the Singhadwara is called Patitapabana, the one who can free even a sinner from his sin.

There is a legend behind presence of Lord Jagannath at the Singhadwara. It has been claimed that this legend is also supported by historical evidences. The reason is as follows:

In medieval India, the terror of Muslim kings was at its peak. Their main work was to demolish Hindu temples, loot temple property, forcibly marry Hindu women, etc. Therefore many Hindu kings were forced to change their religion out of fear or they worked under him.

Back then, the Muslim rulers had appointed their Subedars everywhere. The subedars used to collect tax as per their wish and without any limit for their Muslim ruler. They also used to commit unspeakable atrocities on people. They were aiming to collect as much tax as possible.

King Ramchandra Dev of Odisha fell victim to such atrocities. At that time he too was forced to work under the Mughal Empire. His kingdom was at Khordha near Puri. Tapki Khan was the Subedar of his kingdom employed by the Muslim ruler.

Tapki Khan strongly opposed Hindus. He always thought about how the Hindu temples would be demolished and how to convert Hindus? He was also thinking of plans about how maximum taxes can be collected from the state? His atrocities went on increasing day by day. King Ramachandra could not bear it. Seeing the people of his kingdom in such trouble, he declared war against Tapki Khan. But unfortunately the king was defeated in this battle and the Subedar kept him imprisoned in Cuttack.

King Ramchandra was a great devotee of Lord Jagannath. Earlier, he used to visit Puri every day to have darshan of Lord Jagannath. Yet in the prison he neither could see his cherished God, Lord Jagannath, nor he could know any information about his kingdom. Accordingly, he was more worried that in his absence, Tapki Khan would definitely attack Lord Jagannath Temple and try to harm Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Maa Subhadra.

At this time a proposal came from Tapki Khan for the king. The Subedar offered that if king Ramachandra would marry Khan’s sister Razia, he will be freed from jail.

Initially, the king denied the proposal as he did not wanted to marry a Muslim woman. He feared that by doing so he would be away from Lord Jagannath.

Razia’s mother was a Hindu woman, who was forced to marry a Muslim. Therefore Razia was also a great devotee of Lord Jagannath. After knowing about King Ramachandra’s denial for the wedding, she went to meet him in the prison.

She met the king in the jail and requested him to marry her so that he can free himself from prison and can also provide protection to Lord Jagannath in Puri. She intimated that otherwise Khan would probably loot the temple.

At first the king did not agree to this proposal because marrying Razia means changing his religion and staying away from Lord Jagannath forever. Therefore he refused the proposal. The king said that even if he would touch the Muslim woman, he would be considered a sinner. The subjects of his kingdom would rise against him for changing the religion.

At this point Razia explained the king and said, “Look, if you feel like it then you just marry me. But don’t touch me. I will only accept you as my husband in my mind. I will manage with that. But by doing so, you can stop the danger coming on Lord Jagannath”. Hearing this, the king agreed to marry Razia only for Lord Jagannath.

After the marriage the king was released from the jail. He went to Khurda but Razia did not go with him. She stayed back in Cuttack. Hence, the king visited Cuttack regularly to meet her every week.

When the people of his kingdom learned that the king had married a Muslim woman, they were very upset. The priests of the temple also became very angry at the king.

Now, King Ramachandra himself became Muslim after marrying Razia, a Muslim girl. Therefore he was barred from entering into the temple of Lord Jagannath. The Hindu queens also abandoned him. The king became completely alone in the palace. Yet, the priests did not know that the king was a great devotee of Lord Jagannath. Hence, he also lost all the rights of Lord Jagannath temple. The king was also barred from the Chhera Pahanra ritual during Rath Yatra. Lighting lamps inside the temple on Ekadasi, receiving sacred offerings and receiving holy garlands of basil were all stopped for the king.

On the other hand, Tapki Khan did not attack Lord Jagannath temple anymore because the king married his sister. The temple continued to function smoothly as before. But how can a devotee live without God? And how the God can live without His devotee?

Despite all this, the king had love and immense devotion towards Lord Jagannath. He was dying to visit the temple but it could not be possible because of the restrictions put. As he couldn’t go to the Lord Jagannath Temple during the day he went near the lions’ gate at night after it is closed and everyone sleeps. Then King Ramchandra went near the lion’s gate and started crying loudly.

He prayed the Lord saying, “O Lord Jagannath, you are omniscient, you know why I changed my religion. O Lord, please give me a chance to see you just once.”

Similarly, every day the king comes to the lions’ gate at night and cries loudly to convey his sorrow to the Lord. Seeing this sorrow of His devotee, how can the Lord Jagannath remain silent? Lord Jagannat got up from his throne and came near the lions’ gate.

After seeing his idol Lord Jagannath, tears of joy flowed from the king’s eyes. Satisfied, the devotee king then returned. Now, the devotee saw his God and vice versa and both were happy. The same thing happened every day. The devotee and the Lord see each other in the darkness of the night.

Now the servitors became worried, because whenever they open the temple door of the sanctum sanctorum in the morning, they observe that the ornaments and flowers of the Lord are not in their place.  Moreover, from the lions’ gate till the Ratna Bedi, flowers were found fallen here and there as if someone, clad with flowers and garlands, had gone from the sanctum sanctorum to the temple entrance. The priests were astonished to witness it but they could not know what was happening.

Hence, Lord Jagannath’s chief servitor took up fasting and sat down in front of the Lord silently. He thought that God would send him some message regarding this.

That night, Lord Jagannath came in his dream and said that King Ramachandra Dev is His greatest devotee. To protect the temple, he married a Muslim girl. But even today he cannot stay without the Lord’s darshan. That’s why every day he comes to the lions’ gate and cry loudly to call Lord Jagannath.

“How can I stay away from such a devoted devotee? So I also go to the lion’s gate every night to see my devotee and to provide him a chance to get a glimpse of me. You do one thing and set up my shrine in a small house in front of the Singhadwara so that King Ramchandra can see me every night,” saying this, Lord Jagannath disappeared.

Now everyone understood that King Ramachandra had taken such a big decision only to save Lord Jagannath.

As per the order of the Lord, a small house dedicated to Lord Jagannath was established on the right side of the temple door and since then he is worshipped there as ‘Patitapabana Lord Jagannath’.

King Ramchandra Dev was a Muslim, hence the Lord came out of his altar to free him from the sin and hence the God was called Patita pabana.

Even today Lord Jagannath appears to devotees as Patitapabana at the Singhadwara who cannot enter the temple. The Lord is present there for the devotees.

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