Jai Shri Jagannath – A Line Drawing Tribute
Lord Shri Jagannath, the Supreme Being and the Lord of infinite universes, is worshipped with utmost devotion in every Odia household. According to the Niladri Mahodaya, every devotee of Shri Jagannath should worship his idol or image at home with devotion and reverence, chanting “Jai Shri Jagannath” as per their capacity.
As mentioned in the Skanda Purana, more than the elaborate rituals, what pleases the Lord the most is the heartfelt devotion of his true devotees. Therefore, distributing Mahaprasad to the poor and the neglected brings the fruit of immense merit (crores of punyas). Every Jagannath devotee should engage in charity and good deeds to receive the endless grace of Lord Jagannath.
In this spirit, Kala Kshetra—an initiative by the International Council for Education, Employment, and Empowerment, in collaboration with the Institute of Digital Media Technology—has created “Jai Shri Jagannath – A Line Drawing”. In the rich Utkaliya (Odisha) tradition, Lord Jagannath is not just a deity or a divine consciousness; he is also seen as a family member and a spiritual guide. Chanting his 108 sacred names daily is believed to bring immense spiritual benefit.
For the benefit of all devotees, and through great effort, this digital video titled “Jai Shri Jagannath – A Line Drawing” has been created. It features over 30 different forms of Lord Jagannath and visually presents all 108 of his sacred names as described in scriptures. The creators humbly request everyone’s support to make this initiative a success.
On 13/06/2023, the Governor of Odisha, Professor Ganeshi Lal, officially released the “Jai Shri Jagannath – A Line Drawing” video at Raj Bhavan, Bhubaneswar. On this occasion, the Governor expressed that if the culture of the beloved Lord of Odisha is spread in the right manner, it will foster devotion, love, and spiritual consciousness in the hearts of people and guide them on a righteous path.
Shri Janardhan Patjoshi Mahapatra, chief servitor and head of the Chhatisa Niyoga (Council of 36 Services) at the Shri Jagannath Temple, stated that this initiative is a divine offering from humanity to the Lord and prayed that Mahaprabhu bless all beings with compassion and welfare.
Shri Jayanarayan, another prominent servitor of Shri Kshetra, stated that this effort is sacred and divinely inspired. Shri Shubhananda Maharaj, the head of Mahiprakash Math in Puri, remarked that this initiative by Kala Kshetra will bring immense welfare to humanity. He also said that even if animals hear the Ashtottara Shatanamavali (108 names) of Lord Jagannath, they will be protected from going astray.
This tribute is not just a creative work; it is a spiritual movement meant to spread the glory, grace, and universal compassion of Lord Jagannath to every corner of the world.
