What is the Festival of Jagannatha Misra?
The Festival of Jagannatha Misra comes on the day after Gaura Purnima. Devotees remember the celebrations that greeted the appearance of baby Nimai, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and they keep the day as the jata-karma ceremony of the infant Lord. In 2027 it is on Tuesday, 23 March.
Significance
Jagannatha Misra was the brahmana of Navadvipa who, with Srimati Sacidevi, became the father of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Devotees see in him Nanda Maharaja, who celebrated Krishna's appearance in Vraja with the same overflowing joy.
The Caitanya-caritamrta describes how neighbours, devotees and heavenly beings came with gifts to see the infant Lord, and how Candrasekhara Acarya and Srivasa Thakura performed the ceremonies for Him. Jagannatha Misra kept nothing for himself:
Whatever riches Jagannātha Miśra collected in the form of gifts and presentations, and whatever he had in his house, he distributed among the brāhmaṇas, professional singers, dancers, bhāṭas and the poor.
Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila 13.109
How to observe it
Devotees fast until moonrise on Gaura Purnima, and this festival is the feast that follows. Regular grain prasada is honoured once more, and the new year begins for Gaudiya Vaishnavas. Hear the Adi-lila account of the Lord's appearance and meditate on His jata-karma ceremony. You can also follow Jagannatha Misra's example by sharing prasada, or something from your own home, with someone in need.
Questions
When is the Festival of Jagannatha Misra in 2027?
It is on Tuesday, 23 March 2027, in the Vaishnava calendar for Kurukshetra, the day after Gaura Purnima.
What is the Jagannatha Misra feast?
It is the feast of grain prasada that follows the Gaura Purnima fast, which is kept until moonrise. It is named after Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's father, who celebrated the Lord's appearance with generous charity.
Who was Jagannatha Misra?
Jagannatha Misra was a brahmana of Navadvipa who, with Srimati Sacidevi, became the father of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In Lord Caitanya's pastimes he is understood to be Nanda Maharaja of Vraja.
What is jata-karma?
Jata-karma is the traditional ceremony that welcomes a new child. On this festival devotees remember the jata-karma of baby Nimai, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Tuesday, 23 March 2027
- Marks
- The start of the new year for Gaudiya Vaishnavas
- Meal
- Regular grain prasada after the Gaura Purnima fast
- In Krishna's pastimes
- Nanda Maharaja
Seva for this day
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