With grounding of the Maha Daru (the holy neem tree) meant for making of the idol of lord Jagannath at Kharipadia in Jagatsinghpur
district on Monday evening, a question often asked is why the God takes body of wood and not gold or any other metalIJ
The Hindu scriptures and Puranas say that lord Vishnu often love woods and trees. The greatness of Darubramha is mentioned in the Sarala Mahabharata.
Once being enraged, king Hiranyakashiapu questioned his minor son Prahallad about the existence of lord Vishnu. Prahallad trembling with fear indicated towards a pillar of the palace as his answer.
Hearing the bold answer of Prahallad, Hiranyakashiapu with much cruelty and wrath hit the pillar by his sword.
Immediately, lord Vishnu emerged out of the pillar taking the form of a lion-headed human being and mitigated the sorrows of Prahallad. The lion-headed God is named as God Narasingha, who is also regarded as the fourth incarnation of lord Vishnu.
In his invocation, Sarala Das has described God Narasingha as Shri Jagannath.
Both lord Shri Rama and lord Shri Krishna are also named as Kodandadhari and Dandadhari. Thus, it indicates the relation of these lords with Daru.
In the Musali Parva of Odia Mahabharat, it has been described that hunter Jara scored an arrow to lord Krishna and He breathed his last and merged with lord Vishnu.
later, Jara Sabar and Arjuna, while beginning cremation of lord Krishna, heard a heavenly voice, “Set fire to my mortal remains using the log on which you would find the symbols conch, wheel, club and lotus.”
As per the direction, Arjun placed the body of lord Krishna on sandal wood and set fire. But the Pinda (heart) did not burn.
While Jara was thinking deeply, again the heavenly voice resounded, “This heart will not be gutted in fire. Immerse the body in the sea; it will be worshipped on the Neelakandar.”
After a long time, a Daru was seen floating on water on the confluence of river and sea at Banki Muhan near Jagannath Dham, Puri. King Indradyumna and Savar Biswabasu brought the Daru to the shore.
King Indradyumna attempted to construct idols of lord but the wood could not be sized and no form of lords could be conceived.
At that time, Narada appeared and suggested to offer a flower to Maa Kakat Mangala. Then Daru Brahma split into three parts for construction of idols of lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra according to requirement. Since that time, Nabakalebar is being celebrated with blessings of Maa Kakat Mangala.