Monday Post

Few days back, I had written about Maharashtra Govt’s order regarding not permitting artist, technicians over 65 years of age to take part in film and TV relating shooting  and other works. When the shooting resumed this order of Maharashtra govt was challenged in The Bombay High Court, and last Friday  HC announced the judgement. The bench of Justice Shahrukh Kathawala and Justice Riyaz Chagla cancelled the state govt’s order which barred people of 65+ years from shooting. The court observed the condition is discriminatory, arbitrary and violates the right to live in dignity. They further added “ Having permitted the film industry to operate and open , subject to conditions, the introduction of the impugned condition that places absolute restrictions on persons above the age of 65 years from carrying out the occupation or trade, whilst not similarly restricting persons of the same age who are engaged in other trades and occupations permitted to operate and open, would amount to an unreasonable restriction and hence a violation if their right under the constitution {article 19(1)(g) (right to practice any profession)}.

I, from the beginning knew that state govt is going to lose this case, as constitution of India provides right to every citizen to profess his profession irrespective of age. When there was no restrictions on other trades, and only restrictions on artists/technicians from Film/TV industry was not going to stand in any court of law.

Recently I came across an article, on the social media, which really baffled me, and the same  I would like to share with you all. The article goes like this:

When Lord Krishna left his body, his funeral was done, his whole body was found in five elements but his heart was beating like a living man and was absolutely safe, and it is said that his heart is still safe today which is with Lord Jagannath. Very few people know that it lives inside a wooden statue and beats in the same way.

Mahaprabhu Jagannath (Shri Krishna) is also called the God of Kalyug. In Puri Orissa, Jagannath swami resides with his sister Subhadra and brother Balram—but the secret is such that no one has known till date.

In every 12 years, the statue of Mahaprabhu is changed, at that time whole city is blackout, means the lights of the whole city is turned off. After the lights are turned off, the CRPF army surrounds the temple premises from all the sides, No one can go to the temple at that time.

There is deep darkness inside the temple, the priest’s eyes are tied and he has gloves on his hand. He removes the Brahma substance from the old statue and puts in new statue. What is the Brahma substance, no one  knows till date, no one has seen till this date. This replacement of statue is happening for thousand of years.

This is super natural substance which touches only the gloves worn on human body. The saying is that it is related to lord Krishna, but what is this, no one knows. The whole process happens every 12 years, and at that time security is very high. But till date no priest has been able to tell what is in the statue of Mahaprabhu Jagannath? Some priests say that when we took the substance in our hand, it was bouncing like a rabbit, as our eyes are covered, and hands are gloved, we can only feel it.

There are many other facts which are related to Jagannath temple:

As soon you take a first step inside the temple through Singhdwar, the sound of sea waves is not heard , and as soon as you step out of the temple, the sound of sea waves is heard again.

You might have seen birds flying on the peak of most temples, but no bird passes over the Jagannath temple.

The shadow of main peak of Lord Jagannath temple is not made at any time of the day.

The flag located at the 45 storey peak of this temple is changed daily, and it is believed that if flag is not changed even for a day, the temple will be closed for 18 years.

There is Sudarshan Chakra on the peak of the temple. Which looks at you in every direction.

In the kitchen of the temple, 7 utensils of clay are kept on top of each other to cook Prasad, which is cooked by wood fire, during this time, the dish of the utensil kept on top is cooked first. The Prasad that is made every day in this temple is never less for the devotees, but the surprising thing is that as soon as the curtains of the temple are closed, the Prasad is also finished.

So friends, these are the few facts/surprises related to Lord Jagannath temple. I have never visited this temple, when I was young my parents had visited this temple, my father mentioned some thing about this temple but I am unable to recollect the same, as this was not a interesting topic for me at that age. If any of you have visited this temple may add on or correlate these facts.

Awaiting for your views/feed backs/comments.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

10^th August 2020.