Chandan Yatra – Detailed Description

 Chandan Yatra is a marked festival of Lord Jagannatha. This is performed to the arca (worshippable) deity form. Every year this festival is held from the day of Akshaya Tritiya at Sri Jagannath Temple in Sridham Puri. On this day, the construction of chariots for the Rath Yatra festival begins. The entire festival continues for 21 days. Sri Madanamohana Deva is the vijaya vigraha (functional deity) of Sri Jagannath. During this time every day, Sri Madanamohana Deva is offered new attires along with His five associates. They are five Shiva lingas: Yameshwara, Kapalamochana, Lokanatha, Nilakantha, Markandapavana, known as Pancha Pandava. They are taken from the Simhadvara (main entrance) of Jagannath temple to Narendra Tirtha Lake. After various rituals, the deities board on a well-decorated royal boat to enjoy the evening vacation. During this time, sandalwood paste is offered to Sri Jagannathdeva all over His body.

Following the Jagannath temple, this Chandan Yatra ceremony is held at Khirachora Gopinath temple in Remuna, in Gaudiya Mathas, Iskcon, and various Krishna temples.

Significance of Chandan Yatra according to Vedic scriptures:

According to the Utkala Khanda of Padma Purana, Sri Jagannathdeva ordered Maharaja Indradyumna to coat His body with fragrant sandalwood paste on Vaishakhi Shukla Akshaya Tritiya.

The Chandan Yatra festival started on that day. This is described in Utkala Khanda of Padma Purana in Chapter 29 —

“Vaishakhsya site pakshe trityakshaya sangika।
Tatra mang lepayedgandh lepanai rati shobhanam ॥“

Translation: Shri Jagannath Dev is telling Maharaj Indradyumna, on the day of Tritiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha of Vaishakh month, to apply a fragrant coating of sandalwood paste all over my body.

It is written in Sri Vishnu Dharmaottara —

“Anulepana mukhyantu Chandananm Parikirtitam.”
Meaning: Sandalwood is considered to be the best among all the ointments.

It is written in Sri Narada Purana —

“Yatha Vishnoh Sadavishtam Naivedyat Shalisambhavam.
Shukenoktam Purane ca tatha tulasi chandanam.”

Translation: Sri Shukadeva Goswami says In the Puranas that Tulsi & sandalwood paste give pleasure to Sri Hari as the naivedya is made of Sali rice (a kind of fine rice).

Shri Purushottamdev instructed his servant Shri Indradyumnadeva, the Vaishnava emperor to apply aromatic sandalwood paste all over his body on the Akshaya Tritiya tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Baisakha. Even today, every day starting from Akshaya-Tritiya till the Shukla Ashtami Tithi of Jaishtha month, the functional deity Sri Madanamohana is taken to the bank of Sri Narendra Sarovara from the Srimandir. Sri Madanamohana Dev along with his minister Sri Loknath Mahadeva and other associates enjoys a boat journey in the lake. Sri Narendra Sarovara is also called ‘Chandana-pond’. Because the Chandana yatra of Sri Madanamohana is performed there.

Srila Kaviraja Gosvamipa writes in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita,—

“Ei-mate vaiṣṇava saba nīlācale āilā, daive jagannāthera se dina jala-līlā”

Translation: All the Vaiṣṇavas from Bengal went to Jagannātha Purī. By chance, they arrived on the day when Lord Jagannātha performed pastimes in the water.

“narendrera jale ‘govinda’ naukāte caḍiyā, jala-krīḍā kare saba bhakta-gaṇa lañā”

Translation: Boarding a boat in the water of Narendra-Sarovar, Lord Govinda performed His water pastimes with all the devotees.

“sei-kāle mahāprabhu bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge, narendre āilā dekhite jala-keli-raṅge”

Translation: Then Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu arrived with His personal associates to see the jubilant pastimes of Lord Jagannātha in Narendra-Sarovar.

This Chandan Yatra festival continues for twenty-one days. Every day Shri Jagannath Dev is offered new attires.

Boat festival of Madanamohana, the functional deity of Jagannath during Chandan Yatra:

On the occasion of Chandanayatra, Sri Jagannath’s Vijay Vigraha Swarup Srimadanamohanadeva’s boating ceremony – Every afternoon from Akshay-Tritiya, Sri Jagannathdev’s representative Srimadanamohan, Sri Lakshmi and Saraswati Devi travel to Srirandrasarovar shore by air. And Sri Sri Rama-Krishna in one vimana, and in five separate vimanas Sri Lokanath, Sri Yamesvara, Sri Kapalmochan, Sri Markandeyeshwar, and Sri Nilakanteshwar—conquered the Vijayamurthy of this fifth Mahadeva.

This festival is observed for twenty-one days. Pavilions are made on the way from the main temple to Narendra Sarovara. These are called Chhaya Mandapas. These are decorated with flowers, fruits, and leaves. On the way to Narendra Sarovara, Sri Madanamohan visits these Mandapas for a while, takes a rest, accepts bhoga, and enjoys music and dance. In this way, the deities reach the bank of Narendra Sarovara. Two vessels are arranged in Narendra Sarovara. One is for Madanamohana and Lakshmi- Saraswati. Another one is for Rama-Krishna and panca Mahadeva. Devadasis perform inside the former and ‘Natua Pila’ i.e. young boys perform inside the latter. There are three temples in the middle of the lake. And the biggest temple has a well in it. Sri Madanamohana takes bath there along with Sri Lakshmi Devi and Sri Saraswati Devi. Sri Sri Rama and Krishna reside in the second temple and Pancha Mahadeva in the third. They are worshipped and offered bhoga here. Both the banks of the lake and the temples are decorated with lamps.

When the festival is over, the deities return to the temple ascending on seven carts. They reach the destination at two prahara evenings. This is followed for the next twenty-first day.  Sri Sri Madanamohan is offered different attires every day.

Various dresses of Lord Krishna on the occasion of Chandan Yatra:

1. Natabara Krishna( The Best Dancer)
2. Krishna Janma(Birth of Lord Krishna)
3. Rajadhiraja(King of Kings)
4. Vana Vihari(Frolicking in the Forest)
5. Vastra Haran(Stealing of Gopis Clothes)
6. Gomati Krishna Vesha(Mother cow)
7. Chakra Narayana(Creator of the Universe)
8. Rasamandali Vesha(Circular Arena of the Rasa Dance)
9. Nauka keli( Boat Pastimes)
10. Raghunath Vesha(Lord Ramachandra)
11. Nrismhadeva Caturdashi(
12. Khat Doli(Swing Festival)
13. Sadbhuja Gauranga( Six-armed Form)
14. Kamdarpa Ratha(Cupid’s Chariot)
15. Gajendra Moksha(The Deliverance of Gajendra)
16. Aghasura Vada( Deliverance Of Aghasura)
17. Chintamani Krishna
18. Giridhari( Lifting of Govardhana Hill)
19. Rasamandala Vesha(Rasa Dance)
20. Giri Govardhana(Goverdhana Hill)
21. Bumble Bee

On the 20th day of the Chandana yatra, ‘Bhauri’ is celebrated. On this occasion, a boat is arranged for the deities and they are sailed in Narendra Sarovara. On the twenty-first day which is the last day of the journey, turmeric water is sprinkled on both boats. Another name for Chandana Yatra is ‘Gandha lepana-Yatra’.

Chandan Yatra of Gaudiya Vaishnavas on Akshaya Tritiya Tithi:

According to Chaitanya Charitamrita, Sri Madhavendra Puri, a great Vaishnava in Vrindavan, was the worshipper of Gopāla. One night, Gopala came into his dream and said, “I am feeling very hot in scorching summer. Bring sandalwood from the Malaya region and make its paste. Then rub it on My body. This will soothen my body.”

Then the old Madhvendra Puri came to eastern India at Jagannath Puri. There he approached the king and informed him about his dream. The king arranged one mana (80kg) of sandalwood, 20 tulas of camphor, and two servants to carry these. Madhavendra Puri was returning to Vrindavan with Malaya sandals and camphor. On the way, he came to Sri Gopinatha Temple at Remuna. That night, while he sleeping there, Gopal came in his dream and said, “O Madhavendra Puri, I have already accepted all the sandalwood and camphor. Now rub this sandalwood along with camphor and apply it on Sri Gopinatha’s body. Gopinatha and I are the same. Applying sandalwood paste on Gopinatha’s body will cool my body.” In the morning Srimadhvendra Puripada told the Pujari all about the night’s dream. The Pujari Brahmin was very pleased to hear this. He made a paste if camphor and sandalwood. Then he applied it to Sri Gopinatha’s body. He followed the same for the next 21 days and dressed Gopinatha in new attires. From that day Chandan Yatra started.

During the 21 days of Chandan Yatra, the deities are offered various kinds of Shringara.
Here are the names and descriptions.

• Natvara vesha (attire of an artful dancer): Once Lord Krishna took a disguise to steal the offerings of Gopikas for the sun god. He demanded tax from the Vraja Gopis on behalf of Nanda Maharaja. But the Vraja Gopis caught His disguise. As punishment for cheating, the gopis dressed Him as a gopi and asked Him to dance. And Krishna who is the heart of His devotees performed dance and increased the joy of the gopis. This exquisite dance form is called Nata vara Vesha.
• Krishna janma vesha (attire of birth pastime): Due to the unalloyed love of the eternal parents Nanda and Yashoda, Lord Krishna appeared as their son. Under the influence of Yogamaya, He took birth like a natural child amidst pregnancy, labor pains, and cutting the umbilical cord. This nourishes the Vatsalya rasa. In this way, the unborn was born and manifested his transcendental form as a newborn child. Because he wished to immerse himself in the ocean of parental love of Nanda and Yashoda. This form is known as Janma vesha.
• Rajadhiraja Vesha (Royal attire): Once Lord Krishna came to Kurukshetra from Dwarka with all his queens. It was an occasion of a solar eclipse when people take bath in holy rivers. As soon as the gopis knew this, they came to Kurukshetra. But they were shocked to see Krishna in royal attire and surrounded by queens, attendants, and carts. They tried to drag his chariot to take Him back to Vrindavan. Rajadhiraja Vesha is the pastime of Lord Krishna’s reunion with the people of Vraja.
• Vana Vihari Vesha (attire of the forest wanderer): One day Krishna went to the forest with his friends. Suddenly he felt very hungry. They found some Brahmanas performing yajna nearby. They approached the Brahmanas. The Brahmanas did not pay attention to their prayers. Then Krishna advised them to go to the wives of the Brahmanas and ask for foodstuffs. The Brahmin ladies offered food for Krishna abandoning their husband’s orders. They reached where Krishna was and got the opportunity to see his divine form. This form is called Vana Vihari Vesha.
• Vatsa-harana Vesha (attire for stealing calves): Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe, could not understand Lord Krishna’s pastimes. He tried to examine Krishna. He abducted Krishna’s cowherd friends, cows, and calves. Krishna knew all of these. He wished to deprive Brahma. As soon as His internal potency, Yogamaya understood his will, she made the cowherd boys disappear along with their cattle. Immediately she made similar mayika (materialistic) images by Mahamaya and represented them before Brahma.  Brahma, not understanding this mystery, abducted those unreal material images. At that time, Krishna continued to play by manifesting them from His body.
• Gomati Krishna Vesha: One day Nanda Maharaja ordered Krishna to bring his shoes. Lord Krishna despite being the ruler of the innumerable universe, brought Nandamharaja’s shoes on his head. This form of Krishna holding Nandamharaja’s shoes on his head is Gomati Krishna Vesha.
• Khat-doli vesha (attire of swinging bed): In Vrindavan, lord Sri Krishna manifests his transcendental madhurya pastimes along with his hladini shakti (pleasure potency) Srimati Radharani. The Gopikas who have dedicated themselves to serving Krishna through madhura rasa, sometimes arrange Jhulana (swinging bed) for them. Once they arranged such jhulana on the banks of Kusuma Sarovara in Vrindavan. The sakhis brought a wooden swing and wrapped that with leaves and bloomed creepers. Then they made Radha and Krishna sit there and started swinging. This is known as khat-doli.
• Chakra-Narayana Vesha: Once Vrajendra-nandana Krishna wished to examine the gopis. He suddenly disappeared during Rasa’s dance. The Gopis were sad due to this separation. They started searching for him. Meanwhile, Krishna took the form of a four-handed Narayana. The brajagopis came there and saw Narayana. They offered obeisances and prayed to get Krishna back to Narayana. But as soon as Sri Radharani came, Krishna could no longer retain his Narayana form. He re-appeared in His Vrajendra-Nandana form with the flute in His two hands. Then He met Radharani. This is Krishna’s Chakra Narayana form.
• Nau-keli vesha (Boat riding attire): One day the gopis of Vrindavan were going to the market to sell curd and milk. They reached the bank of Yamuna. But how would they cross the Yamuna River? There was no boatman. Finally, they found a boatman sitting with a boat at a distance on the ghat. They approached him to cross the Yamuna. The boatman agreed. He took the gopis on his boat and immediately asked for money. The gopis started bargaining for the fare. Finally, the gopikas agreed to pay sixteen annas kadi (small conch cells, used as currency). This boatman form of Krishna is called “Nau-keli vesha”(boat riding attire)
• Natavara Vesha (attire of the best dancer): One day Nanda Maharaja was going to the forest with Gopal. Suddenly a heavy storm came. Nanda Mahārāja saw Srimati Radharani coming near him.  Nanda Maharaja handed over Sri Krishna to Srimati Radharani and left the place. They reached a very pleasant place in Bhandira vana. There he manifested his new youthful form. He called up Brahma in his mind. Brahma immediately appeared before him and offered prayers. As per the instructions of Lord Krishna, Brahma arranged their marriage ceremony. He chanted Vedic mantras and performed yajna. The marriage was completed by circumbulating the Yajna fire. Finally, Sri Krishna put His garland on Radharani’s neck. Radharani also followed the same. Brahma became very happy seeing them together and praised them through hymns. Shiva and other demigods, Gandharvas and Kinnaras showered flowers and danced in ecstasy.
• Sri Rasamandala Vesha (Rasa dance attire): Rasalila is the sweetest and most glorious pastime of Lord Krishna. At first, Vrajendranandana Sri Krishna manifested his unparalleled and attractive form. Then He attracted the gopikas by playing his flute. Then they encircled him and performed dance. This is called Sri Rasamandala Vesha.
• Kandarpa Ratha Vesh (Cupid Chariot attire): When Lord Krishna was in Dwarka, Rukmini Devi, the princess of Vidharva, heard His glory. She mentally accepted him as her husband. Krishna is more attractive than millions of cupid: “Kandarpa koti kamaniya vishesa shobham”. His beauty defeats Koti Kandarpa or millions of cupid. To fulfill the wish of Rukmini Devi, Krishna abducted her and took her to Dwarka in a chariot. This form is called Kandarpa ratha vesha or the attire of a cupid chariot.
• Aghasura vadha vesha (Aghasura killing attire): Once Krishna and Balarama entered a forest with their companions. Kamsa sent Aghasura to kill Krishna. Aghasura transformed himself into a cave to make a trap for Krishna. Krishna’s cowherd friends discovered a new cave while grazing cows. They entered the cave and got trapped inside. But Krishna knew what it really was. Krishna entered the cave and took his life air away from his body. In this way, He freed His friends. This form is called Aghasura Vadha vesha.
• Raghunatha Vesha (attire of Lord Rama): Lord Krishna has numerous incarnations. Lord Rama is one of them. Lord Sri Ramachandra came to earth and taught how an ideal king should be. He is “maryada purushottama”-  the Supreme Personality of Godhead who propagates the highest ethical caliber. He is an embodiment of compassion. He shows his compassion to everyone through his pastimes. But Vrajendra-Nandana Krishna is at the zenith of all kinds of rasas. This is why Krishna is dressed as Sri Ramachandra.
• Sri Chaitanya Vesh: Once Radharani prepared a kunja for Krishna and was waiting for Him. But Krishna spent time in the Kunja of Chandravali. When Srimati Radharani heard this, she instructed her sakhis not to let Krishna enter her kunja. After hearing this news, Krishna was going towards Radharani’s kunja in disguise of a monk. Meanwhile, Lalita Devi saw the monk. She brought Him to Radharani’s room and asked the monk to predict her future. The monk said, “Since I am a sannyasi, I do not touch a woman. But I can predict her fate by looking at her forehead”. Lalita Sakhi then removed Radharani’s veil. Radharani saw Krishna and recognized Him. This is Sri Chaitanya Vesha of Vrajendranandan.
• Giri Govardhan Vesh (Attire of Govardhan Mountain): The people of Vraja worshiped Indra for rain. It was their ancient tradition. But Lord Krishna asked Nanda Mahārāja why they were worshiping Indra. Nanda Mahārāja replied Devaraja (king of demigods) Indra sustains us with rain. Then Shri Krishna said, Indra is only a demigod who is bound to Karma. He will have to rain by the order of the supreme personality of Godhead. So there is no need to worship him; If you want to worship, worship Govardhana. This will make our Vrindavana prosperous. Then everyone started worshiping Govardhana mountain instead of worshiping Indra with pomp and grandeur. Then Shri Krishna manifested his enormous form through the Govardhana mountain and accepted all kinds of gifts presented by the people of Vraja. This form of Krishna is called Giri Govardhan.
• Giridhari Besh: In the words of Lord Krishna, Nanda Maharaja started worshiping Govardhan with all the residents of Braja instead of worshiping Indra. Then Indra, driven by false pride, became angry with the people of Braja. He sent a heavy wind to Vraja. All the people of Braja approached Nanda Mahārāja for help. Krishna took them to the feet of Govardhana. Then the little boy Krishna upheld the entire Govardhana mountain like an umbrella on the nail of the little finger of His left hand. All the people of Vraja took shelter under Govardhan and became very happy hearing the sound of Krishna’s flute. Krishna’s Govardhana mountain lifting is called Giridhari Vesha.
• Vastra harana vesha (Stealing cloth pastime attire): The gopikas used to take bath in Yamuna during the month of Kartika. Then they made an idol of Goddess Katyayani with sand. They worshipped and prayed to mother Katyayani for the boon of having Krishna as their husband. On the last day of their penance, they left their clothes and got into the water for bath. Meanwhile, Krishna stole their clothes. Then he climbed up a tree and started playing the flute. Gopikas begged for their clothes to Krishna. But Krishna asked them to come to the bank of Yamuna land and take the clothes. Hearing this, the gopikas felt embarrassed. Finally, Krishna returned their clothes. This is Sri Krishna’s Vastra harana vesha.
• Chintamani Krishna Vesha (wish-fulfilling attire): Once a fruit vendor woman was going through the street of Gokula with a basket full of fruits. But her business was down that day. She reached the gate of Nanda Mahārāja’s house. Suddenly she saw the son of Nanda Mahārāja. Her mind got captivated by his attractive Gopāla form. Gopāla Krishna saw the fruit vendor woman and ran to her from the house. He said to her, “Will you give me some fruit?” The woman looked at the lotus face of Gopāla. She became so enamored with the beauty of Gopala that her eyes began to shed tears out of love. She gave some fruits to Gopala from her basket. Gopāla Krishna kept those fruits inside the house and brought some jewels in his small fist to her in return. When the woman put that little treasure in her basket, the basket got filled with precious gems and pearls. This form of Krishna is called the Chintamani Vesha. Because He fulfills all desires of His devotees.
• Gaja Uddharana Vesha (The Elephant Savior attire): There was an elephant who used to be considered Gajendra (the king of his herd). One day he along with his family came near a lake to enjoy bath at the foot of Trikut mountain. Everyone was swimming in the lake. Suddenly a crocodile attacked Gajendra and bit his leg. Gajendra fought fiercely with him. His relatives left him and started crying at the bank of the lake. As Gajendra continued to fight valiantly, his strength slowly began to run out. He knew that he was going to die soon. He picked up a beautiful lotus from the lake and offered it to the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. Immediately Lord Vishnu appeared before him. Gajendra offered his prayers to Him. Lord Vishnu first cut the head of the crocodile with His chakra and rescued Gajendra. After that, He cut off Gajendra‘s head also. Vrajendranandana Krishna is dressed according to this pastime. This is called Gaja Uddharana Vesha.
  
• Nau-Vihara Vesha (Boat riding attire): During his Vrindavana days, Lord Krishna used to enjoy boat rides in Yamuna or the Mansi Ganga along with the Gopis. This is an exclusive pastime of the madhurya rasa. Therefore Nau-Vihara Vesha demonstrates the boat riding pastime of Shri Krishna.