Mana Bhanjana Pastime
Scene 1 : (Laxmi Devi waking up from rest and comes to know from her servitors that Lord Jagannath has not returned from Gundicha Temple and she gets worried and decides to see what her beloved husband is doing. She calls her servitors to make her palanquin ready)
Scene 2:
Description: Lord Jagannath is inside Gundicha Temple enjoying Madhurya Ras along with Lord Baladev and Subhadra Devi. Servitors are serving him nice bhoga offerings. Laxmi Devi arrives in her palanquin with her servitors with all opulence.
Lord Jagannath servitors (scream): Oh No! What will happen now, Close the door, Mother Laxmi is here.
(Gundicha Temple Door closes and Laxmi cannot enter inside and is feeling insulted and furious. Somehow she controls her emotion and tries to persuade)
Laxmi Devi (persuasive voice): Oh, My Sweet Lord! Please be merciful towards me, please be gracious enough to come back to the grand temple with your worship-able elder brother and loving sister. You have stayed away from the temple for a long time. I have personally come over here to extend my warm invitation. In your absence, the temple looks vacant and deserted. I am not able to cook a single grain of Rice during your absence. For whom should I will cook?
(Jagannath’s servitor sends a mahA garland of Jagannath )
Lord Jagannath servitor: Oh divine Mother, Our lord has sent this Mahaprasad garland for you and had asked us to convey the message that he will be coming back soon to your temple. At this moment, he cannot come to meet you as he is happily enjoying with his family, friends, Gopas and Gopis of Vrindavan. Please do not worry and go back to your temple.
(Laxmi Devi feeling angry and jealous, goes out in a fury, sees lords Chariot on her way back. Secretly, breaks a portion of chariot and walks out)
Laxmi Devi (confused and worried); Oh My Lord, what did I do? How could I do this? Before everyone knows about this, let me secretly leave and go to my Temple.
(She hides and leaves with her servitors.)
Scene 3:
(Return Chariot Festival, Sudarshan, Baladev and Subhadra devi enter the inner sanctum of temple, Jagannath comes near the gate to enter the inner sanctum)
Laxmi Devi: My dear Servitors! listen. I hear the voice of my Lord Sri Hari outside. It appears, he has arrived in the temple now with his brother and sister. You move fast and close the entrance door. Listen carefully, let my elder brother-in-law and sister in law enter the temple. My Lord should not be allowed to enter the temple. Let him remain outside today and get drenched in rain.
(Gate closes restricting Lord Jagannath entering to temple)
Servitors of Laxmi Devi: O Respected Lord of the Universe, Our mother Goddess Laxmi has asked us not to allow you come inside the temple. So please leave at once.
Lord Jagannath: Dear Laxmi, my sweet heart, why are you so angry? What offense I have committed that you are not allowing me, your eternal consort, to come inside your temple.
Oh lotus eyed daughter of the ocean god, open the door of the entrance. I have brought for you so many gifts, and this gorgeous piece of silk cloth.. aah So beautiful. This, I believe, will best suit your fair complexion.
Laxmi Devi: Hey, Natabar ! My illustrious companion! Are you aware of the general reaction of the people around us? What are they thinking about me? You really do not know the reason of my sulkiness and behavior towards you?
Hey Nilachala Nath ! You didn't take me, your eternal consort along with you on the chariot, while going on the divine Rath Yatra festival to Sundarachal. Instead, you let your elder brother and loving sister join you.
How could you do this? Did you not dishonor your consort by this kind of act? You never thought about me.
You gave darshan with elder brother and sister on the Gundicha temple altar for nine days.
nine days, Didn't you, my supreme Lord?
Don’t you think it is unusual to leave your consort behind for so many days and enjoy outside?
Lord Jagannath: Hey, Devi! Isn't it the fact that you are the divine owner of the temple? In fact, you look after the daily rituals and manage all aspects of the temple. If you go out, the routine and standards of the temple will be at stake.
Hey, Devi! Did you forget, you are Chanchala in your action and behavior, you cannot stay in one place for a moment? Think for a while; can you remain with me in Gundicha temple with my devotees for so many days at a stretch?
Laxmi Devi: I know, you cannot change your habits. This is what your have learnt. Having stayed in Vrindavan with those milkmaid ladies for long, you have picked up many unusual habits and your present acting is nothing new.
Please go back to the cowherd ladies of Vrindavan; they may be waiting for you. Hey, Muralidhar! You have captivated all the residents of Vrindavan by your sweet clever words and magical flute. You have brought me many gifts, I do not need them. Please offer them to the beautiful damsels of Vrindavan; they will be very happy.
My Lord, you will have to make a promise that in future, you will not move out of Sri Mandir. Unless you make a commitment in this order, you won’t be allowed into the sanctum.”
Lord Jagannath: Hey, Devi! As you know, in Satya Yuga, King Indrayumna built this temple. His queen Gundicha devi was a great devotee of mine. Satisfied with their devotion, I asked them for a boon. Indradyumna initially did not ask for any boon. When I insisted, the king said that, after him, there should be no survivor in his dynasty to claim the temple as their own temple.
Looking at this, I told Gundicha Devi, to consider me as his adopted son and I committed to her, that I should visit, her place once a year. In compliance of her wish, I should visit Gundicha Temple once in every year.
So Devi ! Please do not misunderstand me.
You also visit your devotees on all Thursdays during the month of Margasir every year. In the same spirit, I set off on my divine sojourn only once in a year to give blissful darshan to my devotees and to atone their sins. If you do not open the door, I shall go back to Gundicha Temple and live there forever.
“Bhadre, I am bound by a divine commitment to my devotees. I give public darshan to countless fallen devotees at least once a year. So this sojourn of mine is known as Patitapaban Yatra.
(Laxmi devi slowly calms down)
Lord Baladev: Oh Goddess Laxmi! If my brother, kanha is a culprit, I am also not free from your accusation. Our darling Subhadra accompanied us because she cannot remain without her brothers. And so, you were left in the temple for the genuine reason best known to you. After all, this is your temple. Please do not mind my brother's mistake. Now kindly open the door and let my brother enter the sanctum.
(After Baladev’s consolation, Laxmi devi becomes calm as she cannot disobey Lord Baladev. She offers lamp to Lord Jagannath to welcome him and Devotees offer Rasogola to Lord Jagannath and Laxmi Devi as a mark of celebration)