We all know that there are three idols in the Jagannath puri temple, but do we know the story of it? Is it the real deity? is the deity carved to perfection? if Not why? The story has answers to all these questions.

(King Indradyumna, guided by a certain inspiration, built a huge temple on the sea-shore at Puri, All the while he wondered who will be the deity to be installed in the temple. Then he was directed in his dream to find out where some physical symbol of the Lord remained hidden. He sent four seekers in four directions to locate the same One of them, the young Vidyapati, reached the interior of a forest and came upon some dancing tribal damsels.)

Vidyapati, tired and frightened, sat in a dazed condition. Two of the girls fanned him with banana leaves. Another fetched cool water from a spring and offered him to drink it. Two of them supported him with their arms. They did all this in obedience to the instructions from one who outshone the rest. She was tall, articulate in her manners, and beautiful. Her friends called her Lalita. “O stranger,” said Lalita, kneeling down before Vidyapati, “we do not know who you are and what your destination is. Probably you strayed into the forest. Whatever be the case, we cannot desert you in the condition that you are. My father, Visvavasu, Chieftain of this forest, will be happy to receive you as his guest.” There was magic in Lalita’s invitation, though she did not say a word more than necessary. In the silence that followed Vidyapati stood- up gratefully, ready to follow Lalita. Lalita led the party, her pet tiger prancing about merrily and occasionally nosing the stranger.  Lalita whispered a message to one of her companions. She speeded up her steps and then ran and soon disappeared amidst the cluster of trees.

Vidyapati guessed that Lalita only sent an intimation to her father about the stranger she was taking home. Soon he saw Visvavasu emerging on a rock. He looked majestic, but he greeted Vidyapati with folded hands, “You are welcome, whoever you are,” He said when Vidyapati returned his greetings. “I’m duty-bound to inform my noble host that I am an emissary of King Indradyumna. I hope, my host will appreciate that I am also duty-bound to my king to keep my mission a scout,” said Vidyapati. Visvavasu was delighted to find out that the young Brahmin was a great scholar. The chieftain had rarely any opportunity to meet and benefit from a scholar. He requested Vidyapati to put up with him for a few days and to enlighten him in matters of religion and philosophy. Vidyapati agreed to comply with the request. Surely, he had a strong feeling that he ought to continue there. Had this feeling something to do with the great attention Lalita, Visvavasu’s only child, bestow on him? Not quite at the beginning. While Vidyapaii will go on reciting scriptures from his memory and explaining them, both Visvavasu and Lalita would listen to him with rapt attention. Vidyapati knew that Lalita admired him, but he was in no mood to think of her much. He did not forget, even for a moment, why he was there. Most of the time he remained silent and meditative. He had come in search of some secret divinity. Will he succeed in his quest? That was his worry.

But he forgot his worry for some days. It was when he fell ill and Lalita nursed him. He suffered, but his suffering was far surpassed by his elation at his close contact with Lalita. He realised that not only Lalita loved him, but also he loved Lalita. No wonder that he should give his silent consent to Visvavasu’s proposal that he be married to Lalita. It was spring and the whole nature was agog with love that burst forth in a million flowers and lush green leaves. Vidyapati’s marriage with Lalita was performed amidst the joyous songs of the tribal maids and the sweetly taunting cuckoos. Days passed. Vidyapati was both happy and unhappy. Happy he was for Lalita, unhappy for his mission that remained unfulfilled only if he could be as determined a worker as Visvavasu! For example, he had observed Visvavasu going out somewhere at dawn without fail, to come back, after the sunrise. Even a terrible cyclone would not stop him from this. Suddenly Vidyapati grew curious about it. Where does Visvavasu go? And he put the question to Lalita.

But Lalita was not to give up so easily. “Father, am I not your only child? Who will worship the deity after you? Won’t the duty rest in Vidyapati? What harm familiarising him with the deity now?” she persisted in her pleading. “Will your husband stay with us in this forest forever?” Visvavasu asked gravely. “Of course he will if you don’t disappoint him, if you love him like your son!” “Even then he belongs to another culture, another world. But, my child I will fulfil his desire. It is for your sake.” But Visvavasu was oathbound not to show anybody the way to the cave, unless it was time for him to hand over the charge of his deity to someone. Vidyapati agreed to proceed blindfolded. As usual it was the hour before the sunrise when Visvavasu prepared to go to the cave. Vidyapati’s eyes were covered by a pad of cloth. Visvavasu held his right hand and led him Unknown to Visvavasu and even unknown to Lalita, Vidyapati carried a handful of mustard seeds in his left hand. He went on scattering them along the way to the cave.

“My boy, lower your head we are now entering the cave,” said Visvavasu and he gently removed the cover from Vidyapati’s eyes. Vidyapati opened his eyes in the dark interior. His eyes went to a nook of the cave.

There, on a slab of stone, Visvavasu placed some flowers. Instantly there flashed a blue light. Vidyapati saw in the flash the vision of Krishna-the beautiful Krishna with his flute. A cry of joy and wonder went out of his lips. “What happened, my son’ asked Visvavasu. That brought Vidyapati back to senses.

Later that night after Vidyapti reached home,”Lalitha, I’ll be going out early tomorrow morning and will be back soon”. “I’ll make you some food to consume while you travel, please take it along” said lalitha.

Early in the morning Vidyapathi left to the cave following the mustard seeds that he had left the previous day. He took the idol and wrapped it in a cloth and rode away into the forest toward king Indradyumma’s palace.

—— To be continued