The historic Jagannath Temple in Puri, one of the Char Dhams of Hinduism, holds within its sacred precincts several mystical traditions and ancient secrets.
The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Odisha’s Puri today. Lakhs of devotees from across the world have gathered to witness the grand procession of the three divine siblings, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.
This revered annual event is held during Ashadh Shukla Paksha in the Hindu calendar month Asadh.
The historic Jagannath Temple in Puri, one of the Char Dhams of Hinduism, holds within its sacred precincts several mystical traditions and ancient secrets, one of the most intriguing being that of the third step at the temple’s entrance, known as ‘Yamashila’ or ‘Yama’s stone’.
To enter the Jagannath Temple, one must ascend 22 stairs, each considered sacred. The third step from the bottom holds special, and somewhat ominous, significance. Known as Yamashila, this step, in religious lore, is believed to be the abode of Yamraj, the Hindu god of death.
According to a popular legend, Yamraj once visited Lord Jagannath, troubled by the fact that no souls were coming to his domain. Only seeing Lord Jagannath was believed to grant salvation to devotees, allowing them to skip the journey to Yamlok
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