BHUBANESWAR, June 27, 2025 - As millions of devotees prepare for the world-famous Rath Yatra in Puri, a prominent scholar has challenged one of the most widespread misconceptions about Lord Jagannath's annual journey, revealing the profound spiritual significance behind this ancient tradition.
Dr. Ansuman Kar, Secretary of Kalinga Bharati and noted literary researcher, has clarified that the popular narrative of Lord Jagannath visiting his "aunt's house" during Rath Yatra is historically and spiritually inaccurate.
The Birthplace, Not Aunt's House
"I will like to make it loud and clear that this journey of Lord Jagannath is not to his 'Aunt's' place," Dr. Kar emphasized in his latest analysis. "Gundicha temple in general and the Adapa Mandapam in particular is the birth place of Lord Jagannath."
According to Dr. Kar, the confusion stems from centuries of oral tradition and the influence of the Bhakti movement. "Both Gundicha and Rameswar are today wrongly referred to as 'Aunt's Place,'" he noted, explaining how this misconception has been perpetuated through generations of guides and commentators.
The scholar traces the origins back to ancient Puranic accounts: "According to our Puranas, it is at this place the lords first appeared as the divine log and then it was here where the mystic figure of old Vishwakarma carved the trinity."
Historical Evolution of the Festival
Dr. Kar's research reveals that the modern form of Rath Yatra began during the reign of King Anangadeva III around the late 12th or early 13th century. "Most available documents and records suggest that Rath Jatra in its present form started during the reign of King Anangadeva III, the grandson of Chodaganga Deva," he explained.
The tradition has even older roots, with similar festivals existing at the Lingaraj Temple. "A similar festival like Rath Jatra was already in place at the Lingaraj Temple known by the name of 'Rukuna Rath Jatra,'" Dr. Kar noted, citing research by scholars Kedarnath Mahapatra and Satya Narayan Rajguru.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Influence
The personification of Lord Jagannath and the "aunt's house" narrative can be attributed to later developments. "Historically, this can be attributed to the advent of the 'Bhakti Movement' around the 15-16th century under the leadership of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu," Dr. Kar observed.
"Chaitanya Mahaprabhu played a significant role in personification of Lord Jagannath both as Krishna and as a normal human leading to establishment of many human like rituals," he explained. While this made the deity more accessible to devotees, "in the process we have created unwanted factual errors that have been passing on from generation to generation."
The Deeper Spiritual Message
Beyond historical corrections, Dr. Kar emphasizes the profound philosophical significance of the journey. "If Sri Mandir is the 'Karmabhoomi' of Lord Jagannath then Gundicha is his 'Janmabhoomi,'" he explained.
"But this journey is not merely a travel from workplace to place of birth but it is Lord Jagannath's way of telling humanity to stay connected with its roots – for in situations like a cyclone those who are deeply rooted are never uprooted," Dr. Kar elaborated.
Symbol of Inner Journey
The scholar reveals that Rath Yatra represents an inner spiritual journey. "Rath Yatra is also the symbol of 'आत्मनाम रथ' where the lord asks his devotees to feel him within oneself and only then will the person realise that it is the Lord himself who is driving us to our destiny."
As lakhs of devotees converge on Puri for this year's Rath Yatra, Dr. Kar's insights offer a deeper understanding of this ancient tradition that transcends mere ritual to become a profound spiritual metaphor for humanity's eternal quest for meaning and connection to its divine origins.
Dr. Ansuman Kar is a doctor by profession with a passion for literature, noted columnist, author, poet and literary researcher, currently serving as Secretary of Kalinga Bharati and Utkal Chhatra Sahitya Samaj, Cuttack. Views expressed in this opinion piece are personal.
