It is a sight to behold when you can experience the emergence of a divine feeling when two superior power combines in front of you. Ekamra Kshetra, following its many cultural & spiritual marvels, gives you the once in a lifetime opportunity, every year on Ashokashtami. The Rukuna Ratha Jatra, one of the famous & unique festivals, is being observed with pomp & glory since ancient times. As we savour the beauty of devotion, here is the story behind this Cosmic Sangam.
The presiding deity of Ekamra Kshetra is God Tribhubaneswar also known as Swayambhu Lingaraj. Lingaraj is worshipped as a form of Harihara, a combined form of both God Vishnu & Shiva. As we celebrate Rukuna Ratha Jatra today, we dive into the tales of the ‘Cosmic Sangam’ when Hara left His abode to welcome & meet Hari Himself.
One of the popular tales behind the Rukuna Ratha Jatra in Odisha also dates back to the meeting of Tribhuvanesvara with God Ram (the reincarnation of Vishnu) in the Treta/Tretaya Yuga. During the period of His exile (or Banabasa), God Ram visited Ekamra Kshetra. It is believed that it was during this time that God Lingaraj invited God Ram to stay in this humble city. Rameshwar Temple is believed to be the place where He stayed. On the occasion of God Ram’s birthday, God Shiva visited Him at Rameshwar on His royal chariot.
There’s also a belief that while returning from Lanka after victory, God Ram & Goddess Sita stayed at Ekamra Kshetra to atone for the sin of killing Ravana, a brahmana. It is believed that he worshipped God Lingaraj there. The place where they stayed remains similar to the previous story. To mark this auspicious day, God Shiva visits God Ram every year at Rameshwar Temple and is received by God Ram & his 3 brothers; Laxman, Bharat & Shatrughna. Three temples dedicated to the three brothers can be found near Rameshwar temple.
Ashokashtami is believed to be the day when Goddess Sita, captivated in the Ashoka Vatika of Ravana, worshipped Shiva with eight buds of the Ashoka flower as Ravana’s son Indrajita engaged the naga-pasha weapon during the Lanka war. To mark the day, Odia women observe Ashokashtami Brata every year on this day. The Ashoka flower, the state flower of Odisha, symbolises love & happiness. The name ‘Ashoka’ (a - shoka) means without grief. It is believed that the medicinal power of the plant robs one of all grief. It is also one of the five flower arrows of Kamadeva.
During Rukuna Ratha Jatra, the idols of Chandrasekhara (God Shiva), Rukmini (God Krishna’s wife) and Ananta Basudev are brought to ascend the chariot. Here the triad of deities is regarded to be on the same line as Sreekhetra Ratha Jatra (Balabhadra - Shiva, Subhadra - Shakti, Jagannath - Vishnu). Here Shiva is represented as Chandrasekhar, Shakti as Rukmini & Vishnu as Anant Basudev. The festival also symbolises the combination of the three major beliefs (Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism) of Hindu ideology.
Do you know any other story behind it? Let us know in the comment section below.
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