Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra 2026: Who is ‘Pishi Maa’ of Lord Jagannath, without whose darshan Puri’s Rath Yatra is incomplete?

Jagannath Rath Yatra Unveiled: The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath located in Puri, Odisha is famous all over the world. The holy festival of Rath Yatra is celebrated every year on the second day of Shukla Paksha of Ashadh month. On this day Lord Jagannath goes on a city tour with his elder brother Balbadra and sister Subhadra and goes to the temple of his aunt Gundicha Devi. This year the Rath Yatra will be taken out on 16th July.

Every year lakhs of devotees participate in the Rath Yatra and attain virtue by pulling the ropes of the chariots. Everyone knows that Lord Jagannath goes to meet his aunt during the Rath Yatra, but do you know that during this yatra, Lord Jagannath also goes to meet his aunt Kunti? There is also a mythological temple of Mata Kunti in Puri. It is also called ‘Pishi Maa’s hut’. It is believed that the journey to Jagannath ji is not complete without stopping here.

According to the story of Mahabharata…

In Oriya language ‘Pishi’ means aunt. According to the story of Mahabharata, Mother Kunti was the aunt of Lord Shri Krishna. Kunti’s father King Shurasena and Lord Krishna’s father Vasudev were real brothers. During the Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath definitely goes to Pishi Maa’s hut along with his elder brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra. There is a pond around this temple of Mata Kunti. It is believed that God goes boating at his aunt’s place.

Inside this temple, along with Goddess Kunti, statues of 5 Pandavas can also be seen. Here Lord Shri Krishna is worshiped along with Mother Kunti. Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra ji are also present here. According to mythological belief, Lord Jagannath loved his aunt very much. He had promised his aunt that he would definitely come to her house while leaving for the Rath Yatra. Since then this tradition started.

God’s chariot is stopped in front of the temple

During the Rath Yatra, the chariot of Lord Jagannath is stopped for some time in front of the temple of Pishi Maa. When God comes to this temple, Poda Peetha is offered to him. It is believed that the Lord’s journey is not considered complete until he is taken to the hut of Pishi Maa and offered Poda Peetha.

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Disclaimer: The information given in this news is based on religious beliefs and general information. TV9 Bharatvarsha does not confirm this.