Jagannath in Our Soul

Bengal has an enduring connection with Lord Jagannath – from Chaitanya’s footsteps to the rhythms of Ratha Yatra and the literary pulse of a region in devotion

- Jayanta Sengupta

The connection between Bengal and Jagannath is much older and deeper than we often realise. If we trace the chronology, the Jagannath temple in Puri comes up in the 12th century - more or less contemporaneous with the Konark Sun Temple. While Konark eventually fades, the Ratha Yatra originally associated with it shifts to Puri, cementing Jagannath's centrality in devotional life.

The Jagannath temple thrived under dynasties like the Gangas, Gajapatis, and Mughals, who ruled both Bengal and Odisha. This shared governance enabled cultural exchange, but true spiritual resurgence began in the early 16th century with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu - this transformed Bengal’s relationship with Jagannath.

Chaitanya and the Literary Tide