Symbolism in Puri Jagannath Murti by Yogavidyavachaspati
Pandit Ramakanta Kar Published in the Orissa Review of June 2004
Sri Jagannath is the Lord of the Universe.
The Murti of Lord signifies both Purush (Male) and Prakruti
(female). Sri Jagannath, Sri Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are imagined by
tantriks as Dakshina Kali, Tara and Bhuvaneswari
Vaishnavas think Sri Jagannath, Sri Balabhadra and Goddess
Subhadra are Vishnu or Krishna , Shiva and
Brahma respectively.
Sri Jagannath was also known to be worshipped as Shiva
(Purusha) and Shakti (Prakriti), His lower part resembling Shiva Linga and the
upper part as omnipotent Goddess Durga. So Sri Jagannath is imagined as
Dakshina Kali, the deity of destruction.
In the 15th century Adikavi (the first poet of Orissa)
Sarala Das has mentioned in his "Sarala Mahabharat", that the image
of Sri Jagannath, Sri Balabhadra and Subhadra were built out of the unburnt and
imperishable body turned Daru (wood) of Sri Krishna by Sri Vishnu himself in the guise of
an old carpenter under orders of King Indradyumna and his wife Gundicha. So Lord Jagannath is called as Darubrahma or Parambrahma.
His two lid-less, big round and white lotus-like eyes
indicate that He is omniscient of all that happens in the world and that
nothing is hidden from his eyes. He has no ears but can hear all the hymns or
prayer of his devotees. He has no eyelid but he can see every portion of the
universe and his mouth is closed but He is eating 56 Pautis of Prasad daily. This
is the specialty of Lord Jagannath.
Source - Orissa Review June 2004