How Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu describe Jagannath form?
The book Mahabhava-prakasam by Sikhi Mahitioffers esoteric reasons behind the unusual form of Jagannath Dev. In Gambhira, the residence of Śri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Svarupa Damodara and Rämananda Raya asked Mahaprabhu about the extraordinary features of the deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had a different explanation to offer. According to him, Rohini Devi, the mother of Lord Balarama once paid a visit to Dwarka, when the wives of Krishna surrounded her and enquired about Lord Krishna’s past life in Vrindavana before he was married. They said, “Sometimes, we hear him talking in his sleep. With a sweet voice, hecalls out names of his friends like Sridãma and Subāla, and the names of his cows. At times, he calls,O Lalita, Viśākhā; O Srī Radhe!' Or he says, “Mother, please feed me fresh butter. Sometimes he cries,then wakes up and sobs for hours. How special are thoseresidents of Vraja! Please tell us about them.”
Rohini agreed, but said that Krishna must not hear herwords, otherwise he would be overwhelmed with emotion and may end up rushing to Vrindavana. So it was arranged thatKrishna's sister, Subhadra Devi would stand as a guard outside the room. With one ear pressed to the closed door, Subhadrå became so absorbed in Krishna's astounding dealings withthe Vrajavasis, which were full of love, that she did not notice Krishna and Balarâma approaching.Indeed, in her ecstatic trance, she was even unaware ofher owntransformatión. Her eyes had become wide and her limbs shrunk into her torso due to intensespiritual emotion. Being an expert in physiognomy, whenKrishna and Balarama saw the condition of Subhadra Devi, they immediately knew something extraordinarymust be goingon inside the room. So,they lend their ears.
Due to a feeling of the highest spiritualemotions (mahabhava), Krishna and Balarama experiencedsimilar transformations. At that time, Nãrada Muni appeared. Amazed at this sight, he beganto dance and chant in great jubilation. When Jagannatha, Baladevaand Subhadrå regained their senses, Närada Muni exclaimed in great wonder, “Oh Lord! I have seen many of your transcendental forms but I never have beheld such awonderful form of Mahabhava. Please, oh Lord, kindly manifest this form in such a way that everyone may have this extraordinary darsana.”
Lord Krishna said that he shall manifest this special form in the coming Kali yuga. Thus, by the mercy of the Lord's great devotee, we are nowable to behold and serve the Lord in these wonderful deity forms of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra.
