Stories of Jagannatha

Madaḷa Pañjī (literally “drum chronicle”), the historical chronicle of Jagannatha worship, contains a wonderful story from 1386. One evening, Goddess Charchika, who resides in the village of Banki near Cuttack, was late for the night worship.

Lord Jagannatha forgave her, but Lord Baladeva became angry. He scolded her: “You have become proud of your power and position! Do you think you can arrive whenever it is convenient for you? Go away!”

Charchika, stung by his words, retorted sharply: “You are the one who is proud! You wear luxurious clothes, use expensive oils and ornaments. Why do you scold me for a small mistake? Let me see my Lord!”

Lord Baladeva is the guru-tattva. Since he is the original guru, no one can approach the Lord without his mercy. Angered by her insolence, he forbade her to enter the temple.

Grieving, Charchika spent the night sitting on the temple steps, unable to enter. The next morning Balarama sent her a message: “A proud devi (goddess) like you cannot enter the temple. If you want to see Jagannatha again, you must learn humility. You must serve as a simple maidservant in the house of the bhitarcha-mahapatra (the priest responsible for putting the Lord to sleep for the night).”

Receiving his order, Charchika dressed in a white widow’s sari. She went to the mahapatra’s house in the Puri Dola Mandapa Sahi area and told him that Lord Jagannatha himself had instructed her to become his servant.

The priest, whose mother had recently died and whose wife was elderly, accepted her into the house. Over time, he marvelled at her devotion, humility, and intelligence, especially in serving the family deities. However, the neighbors were puzzled—she never went to receive Jagannatha’s darshan (audience). When asked, she would reply: “Darshan is possible only when the Lord grants His mercy. If he wishes, I will go.”

One stormy night, when the bhitarcha-mahapatra returned home soaked, she met him saying: “I lit a small lamp for you, but it has just gone out.”

He was surprised: “How did you light it? It is late, and the neighbors are asleep.”

She replied softly: “There is another way.” Then she revealed her true divine form, stretching her arm all the way to the top of the Jagannatha temple to relight the flame in the house.

Her form became cosmic and radiant, larger than the entire city of Puri. The priest fell at her feet in awe.

She explained the reason for her presence in his house, and he promised to ask Lord Jagannatha to forgive her. He also begged her to stay in his house so that he and his descendants could continue to worship her.

When Charchika returned to the temple the next night, Lord Baladeva said: “Now I am pleased with you. No one can remain a devata if they are proud. You have served humbly. Now you may enter again.”

Recognizing her devotion, Balarama granted her an eternal service: “You will become the devata (deity) of Lord Jagannatha’s chariot, Nandighosha. Although the Lord’s servants will serve him in this chariot, it will be your duty to protect it.” In Odisha, she is revered as a kshetra-pali, the guardian of the holy place, and also as the guardian of Lord Jagannatha’s chariot during the Ratha-yatra.

There are two main temples of Charchika Devi related to Jagannatha: one in Banki (near Cuttack) and the other on the Grand Road in Puri, next to the temple office. Local shastras tell that the deity in Banki was visited during Satya-yuga by Maharaja Indradyumna, when Narada Muni led him to search for the original Nila Madhava deity.

This story illustrates that in practicing bhakti, pride must give way to humility in serving the Lord. It also shows that ekale īśvara kṛṣṇa, āra saba bhṛtya—Krishna is the only ruler, and all others, including gods and goddesses, are his servants. In Puri, Jagannatha, the Lord of the universe, allows all beings—great and small—to surrender and serve.

Quoted from “Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu”, Issue 596.