Why Lord Jagannath Has Big Eyes: Lord Jagannath is famous as the Lord of the world. The most special feature of the idol is his big and expressive eyes. The idol of Lord Jagannath with brother Balram and sister Subhadra in the Jagannath temple located in Puri, Odisha attracts devotees.
A question comes to the mind of devotees: Why does Lord Jagannath have big eyes? The secret of Jagannath’s big eyes is not only a subject of art and craft, but it also has deep spiritual, philosophical, and cultural meanings hidden in it. In this article, we will understand the reason and symbols behind the big eyes of Lord Jagannath.
Mysterious eyes of the idols of Lord Jagannath
The idols of Lord Jagannath, Balram, and Subhadra of Jagannath temple are made of Darukbrahma wood. The form of the idols is different from other idols; there is a human-like figure, but it is elementary and symbolic. Lord Jagannath’s eyes are particularly round, large, and shiny, which gives him a lively look. This form of the Lord not only attracts the devotee’s attention but also awakens the feeling of devotion and reverence in their hearts.
Read More: Rath Yatra Story: Discover the Epic Tale Behind This UNESCO-Recognised Tradition
Spiritual Significance of Lord Jagannath’s Big Eyes
If we talk about the spiritual significance of Lord Jagannath’s eyes, then his big eyes are proof of his being omnipresent and omniscient. Lord Jagannath is the divine protector of the world and the eternal creator, who witnesses every action of all living beings.
Lord Jagannath’s big eyes indicate that the Lord is watching everything and the sins of the devotees are washed away by just looking at him. His eyes give the message to the devotees that the Lord is always alert to protect them.
Apart from this, these eyes are also a symbol of compassion, love, and kindness. Devotees believe that a glimpse of Lord Jagannath fills their life with joy and positivity. There is a divine power in the eyes of the Lord that soothes the minds of devotees and fills them with spiritual energy.
Mythological stories and legends related to the eyes of Lord Jagannath
There are many fascinating stories associated with Lord Jagannath’s wide, divine eyes.. According to one of these stories, when King Indradyumna instructed to make the idol of Lord Jagannath, Lord Vishwakarma himself came to him in the form of an old carpenter and laid a condition before the king that he would make the idols secretly in a closed room for 21 days and if anyone entered the room during this time, he would leave the idols incomplete and go away.
When no sound was heard for 14 days, Queen Gundecha thought that the old carpenter might have died without food or water. So she got the door of the room open. When the door opened, only incomplete idols were seen there. The king regretted seeing the incomplete idols, but then Lord Jagannath predicted from the sky that he wanted to be established in this form.
He said that this is his divine Leela form, cherished by his devotees. In this incomplete reading, his big eyes hold a special place and make his goddess form more impressive.
Cultural and artistic point of view
The idols of Jagannath and his big eyes are part of the traditional art and craft of Odisha. This art style is also associated with ‘Patta Chitra’ which emphasizes simplicity and symbolism. Big eyes not only make the idols come to life but also establish an emotional connection with the devotees. This style is the cultural identity of Odisha.
Rath Yatra and the importance of eyes
The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is world famous and during this journey, the eyes of the devotees are fixed on the idols of the Lord, especially his eyes. It is believed that getting a glimpse of Lord Jagannath during the Rath Yatra is very virtuous. His big eyes attract the devotees on this occasion and make their darshan very impressive.
Conclusion–Why Lord Jagannath Has Big Eyes
In this article, we learned about the mystery of Lord Jagannath’s big eyes (Why Lord Jagannath Has Big Eyes). We also understood the story and legends behind Lord Jagannath’s big eyes. In this series, we will keep bringing information about such mysteries, so stay connected to our blog.
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