Lord Chaitanya goes to Rathayatra

Lord Chaitanya would go with all his devotees to JagannathPuri for the Rathayatra festival. He loved to go to see his Lord being pulled from the JagannathMandir through the town to the GundicaMandir.

Jagannath is carried to the chariot

Devotees swept in front of the chariot to clear the way. Lord Chaitanya was very pleased to see that the King, MaharajPrataparudra, was sweeping.

Rathayatra procession starts

After their Lordships had been seated inside the three brightly decorated chariots, the chariots began to move.

Lord Chaitanya dances in front of the chariots

Lord Chaitanya would run, jump and twirl around. His dancing was so captivating that everyone fell in a trance watching him. Even Lord Jagannath’seyes widened in delight and were fixed on Lord Chaitanya as he danced.

Lord Chaitanya dances with each group

Lord Chaitanya then did something very magical. He expanded himself into all of the kirtan groups so each group thought that the Lord Chaitanya was only dancing with them. Only a few people could see what was really going on.

Maharaj Prataparudra could see what was happening

Maharaj Prataparudrawas watching from the rooftops and saw that Lord Chaitanya was golden just like Radharani. The way that Lord Chaitanya was looking at Lord Jagannath was just like the loving glance that Radharani would give to Krishna. He felt very fortunate to be able to witness this.

Lord dances in front of the chariots

As Lord Chaitanya danced, he was so happy that tears sprayed from his eyes and his teeth chattered. His voice choked up and when he tried to say Lord Jagannath’s name only the words “jaja gaga” would come!

Lord Chaitanya tricks Jagannath

Sometimes Lord Chaitanya would go behind the chariot. When he did this, the chariot would suddenly stop and not move again. Lord Chaitanya was testing to see if Jagannath had forgotten him. Lord Jagannath would not move until he could see Lord Chaitanya dancing in front.

Elephants and wrestlers try to move the chariot

One time the chariot stopped again and this time it could not be moved by anyone. The King became worried. He brought the strongest wrestlers in the land to push it from the back and pull it from the front, but it still would not move! Then he brought elephants and harnessed them to the chariot to pull it but they could not move it either.

Lord Chaitanya moves the chariot

Lord Chaitanya took the ropes and put them in his devotees hands. He then went behind the chariot and with his head, he gently pushed the chariot. To everyone’s amazement, it started moving!

The gopis pull Krishna back to Vrindavan

Lord Chaitanya remembered the love of RadharaniHe took the rope, and feeling that same love of Radharani, he began pulling Krishna’s chariot back to Vrindavan.