Why The British Feared Lord Jagannath And Couldn't Uncover The 'Brahma Substance'
According to Hindu tradition, the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra contain a sacred 'Brahma substance'—believed to be Lord Krishna's heart or divine essence
The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, which took place on June 27 in Puri, Odisha, drew lakhs of devotees to the coastal city. As part of the grand tradition, Lord Jagannath was placed on the Nandi Ghosh Rath, Devi Subhadra on the Darpadalan Rath, and Lord Balabhadra on the Taladhwaj Rath, following elaborate ritualistic worship.
In the 1800s, the British perceived Lord Jagannath not just as a deity but as a formidable force. The sheer number of devotees visiting the temple instilled fear in them.
On X, Ranvijay Singh recounted incidents involving the East India Company, detailing how the British spied to uncover the temple's secrets. Eventually, their espionage led to fear and retreat, as noted by several British officers, including in Lieutenant Stirling's diary.
The British Secretly Spied Inside The Temple
The British conducted their spying discreetly, often sending agents disguised as pilgrims and researchers. Their goal was to gather intelligence, create maps, and reveal the temple's secrets. When the locals learned of this, it sparked widespread anger and resentment.
Puri, for the British, was more than a temple city; it was a hub of public energy and resistance. Local obedience to Jagannath surpassed adherence to colonial laws.
Lieutenant Stirling Maintained A Secret Diary
Lieutenant Stirling's secret diary, which mysteriously vanished, documented his observations and eerie experiences within the temple. He described the idol's eyes and the uncanny silence near the sanctum sanctorum, suggesting that Jagannath seemed alive and breathing.
Stirling had arrived to spy, filled with pride—and the arrogance of being an Englishman. But the moment he entered the temple, that pride began to fade, replaced by awe and fear.
One Officer Went mad, Another Was Struck With Fever
The British were desperate to uncover the mystery of the Brahma substance believed to reside inside the idol of Lord Jagannath. Some say it is his beating heart, others believe it to be a relic from the cosmos. While some whisper about it in secret, others claim the Brahma substance pulses like a living being. According to legend, those who dared to touch it never lived long.
During the covert operation, one British officer developed a sudden, severe fever. Another lost his mind—screaming that the Lord's eyes were watching him, even in the dark.
The locals believed that Lord Jagannath protected himself. Soon, the atmosphere grew so intense that British soldiers and officers began avoiding the sanctum sanctorum altogether. One officer even began referring to him as a 'living god".
Lieutenant Stirling's original diary mysteriously disappeared. However, a rare copy is believed to exist in a private collection in London. Some claim it contains deeply disturbing revelations for the British, which is why it remains sealed to this day.
In reality, the British feared that the immense popularity and organizational strength of the Jagannath Temple could spark rebellion against their colonial rule.
Some X-posts claim that British spies who observed temple activities in Puri returned not just with reports, but with a deep sense of awe at its spiritual and social influence. British officials like Robert Clive and others from the East India Company often described India's cultural and religious practices in their diaries as 'mysterious" and 'uncontrolled"—elements they saw as a challenge to their authority.
British Fear Deepened By The Paika Rebellion
The British were also deeply wary of the Paika Rebellion in Odisha—an early and significant uprising in which the local warrior class, the Paikas, revolted against colonial rule. This rebellion occurred in the region influenced by the Jagannath Temple, further heightening British concerns. They feared that the temple's immense popularity and influence could inspire more such uprisings. The annual Rath Yatra, which drew millions of devotees, appeared to the British less like a religious event and more like an organised mass movement—a potential threat to their authority.
When The British Tried To Seize The Temple
After capturing Odisha in 1803, the British attempted to take control of the Jagannath Temple's administration. However, strong resistance from local priests and devotees forced them to withdraw. This incident served as a clear lesson—it was not easy to suppress the temple's immense religious and social influence.
The British never fully grasped the significance of the Rath Yatra or the temple's deeply symbolic rituals. Nor could they unravel the mystery of the sacred 'Brahma substance" believed to reside within the idols.
The Secret Of The 'Brahma' Substance
According to Hindu tradition, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are believed to contain a sacred 'Brahma substance'—a mystical element thought to be either the heart of Lord Krishna or a spiritual essence that gives the idols their divine sanctity. This element is transferred to new idols every 12 to 19 years during the highly secretive Navakalevara ritual.
The transfer is performed exclusively by a designated group of priests known as Daitapatis, under strict confidentiality and typically at night. To maintain the sanctity of the ritual, even the priests' eyes are covered during the process, as it is believed that no one should directly see the sacred object.
According to the Puranas, the heart of Lord Krishna is eternal and indestructible—an idea that reinforces the divine nature of the Brahma substance.
While the British were reportedly eager to uncover this mystery, their attempts were blocked by the fierce reverence and vigilance of the temple priests and local devotees. No outsider was ever allowed to witness or interfere with the ritual.
To this day, no scientific study has been conducted on the Brahma substance, as the temple practices remain closed to external scrutiny. It is widely believed to be a symbolic object, endowed with profound spiritual meaning shaped by centuries of tradition.
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tags :
brahma idols jagannath temple puri lord jagannath lord krishna
Location :
Puri, India, India
First Published:
June 30, 2025, 14:59 IST
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