Saturday, June 28, 2014

Lord Jagannath and the English Word Juggernaut

Lord Jagannath and the English Word Juggernaut



The English Word Juggernaut, which means ‘a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way’, is derived from the name of Lord Jagannatha. Actually from the Puri Jagannath chariot procession. The chariots pulled during the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatraare really huge and earlier people used to get crushed under the big wheels while pulling it. Friar Odoric, a Franciscan missionary, witnessed one such accident in 14th century and wrote about the huge chariot in a European journal.

About the Puri Jagannath Ratha Yatra Chariots

About the Puri Jagannath Ratha Yatra Chariots



The three chariots (Raths) used for the annual Puri Jagannath Ratha Yatra are newly constructed each year. A particular family of carpenters owns the hereditary right to construct the chariots. The construction of the chariots begins on the Akashya Tritiya day, which is around three months before the actual Ratha Yatra day. Each chariot used in the Rath Yatra has specific size and dimensions. The chariots are a classic example on indigenous engineering marvel.

PURI Rath Yatra 2014 date – Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra

PURI Rath Yatra 2014 date – Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 


Puri Rath Yatra, the world famous chariot or car festival, at the PuriJagannath Temple in Orissa. Puri Rath Yatra 2014 date is June 29. It is celebrated on the second day of the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase of moon or bright fortnight) Ashadh month as per traditional Oriya Calendar. On the day of the Ratha Yatra (car festival), chariots (Rath) carrying Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra is pulled to the nearby Gundicha Temple.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Inspirational Stories #172 - The Carpenter

The Carpenter

A highly skilled carpenter who had grown old was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.

The employer was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed to this proposal but made sure that this will be his last project. Being in a mood to retire, the carpenter was not paying much attention to building this house. His heart was not in his work. He resorted to poor workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Inspirational Stories #171 - Who is the Rich Man?

Who is the Rich Man?
One day a wealthy father took his son on a trip to the country so that the son could see how the poor lived.
They spent a day and a night at the farm of a very poor family.
When they got back from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"
"Very good, Dad!" 



"Did you see how poor people can be?"
"Yeah!"
 "And what did you learn?"