There is a fascinating aspect of the connection between Lord Krishna and Lord Jagannath.
( by Lokanath Mishra)
The devotees of Lord Krishna, including Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, believed that Lord Krishna and Lord Jagannath are one and the same.
According to this tradition, Lord Krishna’s heart or chest is believed to be embedded in the Navikarna (or Navikendra) of Lord Jagannath. Navikarna refers to the hollow part of Lord Jagannath’s idol.
This belief is rooted in the idea that Lord Krishna’s divine essence is present in Lord Jagannath, and that the two deities are ultimately identical. This concept is often referred to as the “Krishna-Jagannath identity” or “Krishna-Jagannath aikya”.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a prominent saint and devotee of Lord Krishna, played a significant role in popularizing this idea. He believed that Lord Jagannath was a manifestation of Lord Krishna’s divine love and that the two deities were inseparable.
This unique aspect of Odia Vaishnavism highlights the deep spiritual connection between Lord Krishna and Lord Jagannath, and reinforces the idea that the divine is ultimately one and indivisible.
We found the following examples from the Mahabharata that demonstrate Krishna’s awareness of the Ramayana. These instances highlight the connections between the two epics and the avatars of Lord Vishnu.
1. *Bhishma’s explanation*: During the Rajasuyagya, Bhishma explains Krishna’s previous avatars, including Rama, to the assembled kings. (Mahabharata, Sabha Parva, Chapter 38)
2. *Bhagavad Gita*: Krishna says, “Among the bearers of arms, I am Rama” (Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 10, Verse 31).
3. *Krishna’s advice to Yudhishthira*: After the Kurukshetra war, Krishna suggests using tricks to bring out Duryodhana from the pond, citing examples from previous battles, including Rama’s defeat of Ravana.
4. *Story of King Srinjaya and Narada*: Krishna consoles Yudhishthira by sharing the story of King Srinjaya and Narada, where Narada tells the king about Rama and his kingdom.
These examples illustrate Krishna’s knowledge of the Ramayana and his previous incarnation as Rama. They also demonstrate the interconnectedness of Hindu scriptures and the avatars of Lord Vishnu.