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Legend Of Shri Jagannath.
There is a 18th century styled church bell in the northern part of Puri Jagannath Temple shrine, near the Niladri Vihar Museum kept as an embodiment of Lord's Jagannath's mercy to his devotees.
There is a 18th century styled church bell in the northern part of Puri Jagannath Temple shrine, near the Niladri Vihar Museum kept as an embodiment of Lord's Jagannath's mercy to his devotees.
This dates back to mid-eighteenth century when Goa and Pondicherry were under the Portuguese rule.
A French captain Albaque Beatow was in charge to ship a huge bell from France which could be a part of country's largest church which was being built in Pondicherry.
A French captain Albaque Beatow was in charge to ship a huge bell from France which could be a part of country's largest church which was being built in Pondicherry.
The ship could return to Europe after completing it's task. While on the way, the ship was caught in a storm and the Captain saw a large sea creature advancing towards the ship. Sight of helplessness prevailed when they figured out that they had no way out of this.
Along with them, there were Odias too as they were sailing near Puri, in the Bay Of Bengal during the time of the storm.
In middle of chaos, the captain saw one man who wasn't nervous and instead was praying to a portrait of a deity.
In middle of chaos, the captain saw one man who wasn't nervous and instead was praying to a portrait of a deity.
When asked, the man answered that he way praying to Lord Jagannath while he held close a handdrawn potrait of the trimurtis. The anxious Captain promised the bell to the Lord if saves him a day his men from their fate.
Soon the storm weakened and the supposed creature had changed its path. An emotional Beatow returned to the old man and embraced the Lord. Within a few hours, the reached puri and the Captain presented the bell and some cash to the shrine.
Soon, Beatow's act had spread throughout Europe and had created a furor. Even the Pope had asked the French government to take back the bell from the shrine but it was in vain as anything donated to the temple is not returned.
The French Government had approched Jawaharlal Nehru in an attempt to pressurize him, to return the bell but the temple authorities simply declined. The original bell was also a part of some rituals. It had developed cracks and was replaced by another donated by a Nepali King.
"My Lord, You are so kind that You willingly protect all those who simply bow down to You with respect, and thus You mercifully relieve all the distress of Your servants", Srimad Bhagavatam(11.5.33)
Not the actual picture of the bell but a representative one.
Jai Jagannath!
Not the actual picture of the bell but a representative one.
Jai Jagannath!
