The History of Lord Jagannātha’s Snana-Yatra
June 23, 2013 (VNN) Śrī Jagannātha Mahā-Bhāva-Prakāśa
An evening lecture by Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swami Mahārāja,
given on the 23rd June 1994, in Towaco, USA.
Today is Snāna-pūrṇimā, the auspicious full moon day of Lord Jagannātha’s snāna-yātrā, bathing ceremony. Jagannātha takes a public bath today. You may have seen in Jagannātha Purī, how on this day Lord Jagannātha, Baladeva and Subhadrā Devi are bathed publicly. Why are They bathed in public on this day? What is the occasion? Does anyone know?
Devotee: It is Lord Jagannātha’s appearance day.
Śrī Śrīmad Gour Govinda Swami: Yes. Today is the appearance day of Lord Jagannātha. Jagannātha is Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa appeared on the eighth day of the dark fortnight, Kṛṣṇāṣṭami, in the month of Bhādra, so how is it that today is the appearance of Jagannātha? That is another question.
