'ÅšrÄ« JagannÄtha Ratha-yÄtrÄ' is bound to take one’s appreciation of Ratha-yÄtrÄ to new heights, beyond the thrill of an extraordinary cultural or religious experience. Annually, in PurÄ«, India, approximately a million people attend the ancient Ratha-yÄtrÄ festival, to take darÅ›ana of Lord JagannÄtha on His chariot, and at least three times that view it from other places in India and around the world. Still, the deep significance of Ratha-yÄtrÄ, being most confidential, is not widely known. 'ÅšrÄ« JagannÄtha Ratha-yÄtrÄ' is rich with this significance, offering an invaluable Gauá¸Ä«ya Vaiṣṇava perspective of this wonderful event. The book contains three separate ancient histories of Ratha-yÄtrÄ as well as an elaborate description of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu’s inner moods during the festival.
The basis of this book is 'The Origin of Ratha-yÄtrÄ', a transcription of ÅšrÄ«la BhaktivedÄnta NÄrÄyaṇa GosvÄmÄ« MahÄrÄja’s English lectures, but because a written review and translation (into Hindi) of one’s spoken word will naturally contain intensified focus and greater detail, as well as elaboration and omissions, 'ÅšrÄ« JagannÄtha Ratha-yÄtrÄ' is a new presentation of this subject. Due to ÅšrÄ«la MahÄrÄja’s deep immersion in the beautiful moods of ÅšrÄ« Caitanya MahÄprabhu, it is not surprising that his revelation of ÅšrÄ« Ratha-yÄtrÄ is also suffused with this sublime sweetness and deep philosophical truths.