Chandan Yatra Festival:
Being the ocean of mercy and the best friend of all jivas, Lord Sri Krishna bestows His undeserved compassion unto fallen souls. Only after receiving God’s grace will the suffering of the creature come to an end. Chandan Yatra is a ritual dedicated to the destruction of people’s sufferings. It is described in Utkal-Khanda, Sri Jagannath Dev said to Maharaj Indradyumna that-“Baiśākhasya mitē pakṣē tr̥tīẏākṣaẏasan̄jñikā. Tatra māṁ lēpaẏēdagandhalēpanairatiśōbhanama”
That is, Akshay Tritiya, on the third day of the holy month of Baisakh, will saturate my limbs with aromatic sandalwood. ‘Anlpana mukhyanta candana parikrtitama,’ Supreme Personality of Godhead Jagannath ordered His best servant Sri Indradumnya to impose aromatic sandalwood on his beautiful body on the third-most famous date of the month of Baisakh, as Chandan was the best of the rubbing products. Accordingly, Chandan is implanted in the Sri Jagannath’s beautiful body for 21 days, from the beginning of Akshaya Tritiya to the Shukla Eighth Tithi of the month of Jaisthya, and different delicious food stuff are presented everyday as well. At that time, a regular boat rally in conjunction with the triumphant deity of Sri Jagannatha Dev is hosted at a famous lake called Srinarendra Sarobar in Puri, India. Then, the gorgeous dress of light and floral garland is frequently worn. The sandalwood dress of Deity in the daytime is called ‘Chandan Besh’. According to the Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, a Great Vaisnava, Sri Madhavendra Puri’s beloved Deity Sri Gopal said in his dream, “Heat of My body is not pacifying, so bring sandalwood from Moloy mountains and put it on my limbs; it will cool me off.” Having the order, he went to Puri and collected sandalwood. On his return to Vrindavan, the old Madhavendra Puri arrived at the Sri Gopinath temple at Remuna and was dreamed again by the Deity of Sri Gopal saying, “Gopinath and I are identical. If you put sandalwood on Sri Gopinath’s limbs, my limbs will be cool.” Lord Sri Hari was pleased when Camphor Chandan was implanted on His body during the summer season. To remove body heat, Srila Madhavendra Puri applied sandalwood to Gopal Deity for 21 days. So, nice lesson we can brought out that keeping the Lord cool, we wil surpass the pangs of burning from Bhavdabagani (Fire of Material sufferings), otherwise, our sufferings will not be eradicated anymore.
Teaching from Chandan Yatra festival:
Having cooling effect:
Camphor is the coolest thing on the planet. Sandalwood, on the other hand, is a more pleasing material than camphor. That is why, the Lord’s body is implanted with sandalwood mixed with camphor pulp. The moon rays, on the other hand, are billions of times colder than sandalwood. This assists in the release from the heat of human mind. When a snake has accumulated too much poison, it is bound to a sandalwood tree to cool off. However, the poison of material existence has a far more toxic effect than snake’s poison. Putting offered Chandan on our body is the only way to get out of here.
Beauty increases:
Krishna in his Shyam-Sundar’s effulgent body is implanted with sandalwood pulp, makes an effect like the water-filled cloud of Sravana, and thus his beauty is enhanced. Seeing God’s beauty, spiritual beauty of the devotees is also developed. For instance, the beauty of the cowherd girls in Vrindavan is enriched as a result of seeing Krishna’s beauty.
The scent effect:
The attractive scent of sandalwood pervades the entire forest, as a pure devotee’s devotion inspires others to become a pure devotee.
Lord’s body is Sat-Cit-Anandamoya, beyond the three modes of material nature and incapable of containing any heat. The purpose of such Lord’s pastime, is to increase one’s glory by serving him, and also to purify to return to Godhead. In the case of pure devotees, the devotee’s joy is to be saved, and the world is saved as a result of hearing it.
To commemorate Sri Madhavendrapuri’s pastimes, a 21-day Chandan Yatra Festival is held every year at the ISKCON Swamibag Ashram and Śrī Kr̥ṣṇēra Basantalīlā is chanted as follows each and everyday-
Candanacarcitanīlakalēbara pītabasanabanamālī
Kēlicalanmaṇikuṇḍalamaṇḍitagaṇḍayugasmitaśālī.
Haririha mugdhabadhūnikarē.
Bilāsinī bilasati kēliparē. 1.
Pīnapaẏōdharabhārabharēṇa hariṁ parirabhya sarāgam.
Gōpabadhūranugāẏati kācidudañcitapañcamarāgam. 2.
Kāpi bilāsabilōlabilōcanakhēlanajanitamanōjam.
Dhyāẏati mugdhabadhūradhikaṁ madhusūdanabadanasarōjam. 3.
Kāpi kapōlatalē militā lapituṁ kimapi śrutimulē.
Cāru cucumba nitambabatī daẏitaṁ pulakairanukūlē. 4.
Kēlikalākutukēna ca kācidamuṁ yamunājalakūlē.
Mañjulabañjulakuñjagataṁ bicakarṣa karēṇa dukūlē. 5.
Karatalatālataralabalaẏābalikalitakalasbanabanśē.
Rāsarasē sahanr̥tyaparā hariṇā yubatiḥ praśansē. 6.
Śliṣyati kāmapi cumbati kāmapi kāmapi ramaẏati rāmām.
Paśyati sasmitacāru parāmaparāmanugacchati bāmām. 7.
Śrījaẏadēbabhaṇitamidamadbhutakēśabakēlirahasyam.
Br̥ndābanabipinē lalitaṁ bitanōtu śubhāni yaśasyam. 8.
Updated: 11th December, 2021