Lord Jagannātha is playful. Moving and moving, His ratha suddenly stops when half the path is traversed.
The demigods, demons, and humans pull, but the ratha does not move. Stick in hand, how many times does the pūjāri fall to the ground?
By the king’s order, hundreds and hundreds of elephants are yoked on both sides. The elephants pull with all their might, but the ratha does not move even a single footstep.
Going behind, Lord Gaura Rāya places His head against the ratha and pushes. The ratha suddenly goes with the speed of the wind. In an eyeblink it seems to have traveled 800 miles.
Raising their arms, the devotees at the Rathayātrā call out, “Jaya Gaura!” Personally seeing the transcendental power of both Lord Jagannātha and Lord Gaura, this Yadu dāsa feels his heart struck with wonder.
About Līlā Kārī Jagannātha
Calls Jagannātha līlā-kārī, "performer of pastimes" — an epithet for the chariot festival's central Deity, whose annual outing from the temple is itself the pastime being glorified.
Frequently asked
What is the meaning of Līlā Kārī Jagannātha?
Lord Jagannātha is playful. Moving and moving, His ratha suddenly stops when half the path is traversed.
How many verses does Līlā Kārī Jagannātha have?
Līlā Kārī Jagannātha has 5 verses.
Can I download Līlā Kārī Jagannātha as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for Līlā Kārī Jagannātha — verse and translation on each slide — is available to download in both PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF formats from this page, for use in kirtan or temple programs.