How Krishna Left the Earth - The Tale of Jara and the Divine Heart of Jagannath

The Arrow of Destiny

One calm day, Krishna sat under a peepal tree in the forest, resting his eyes. A hunter named Jara was nearby, searching for prey. From a distance, he saw something glowing-Krishna's foot, which shone brightly like a deer's eye. Mistaking it for an animal, Jara released his arrow.

It struck Krishna on the heel. As Jara ran toward his target, he froze in shock and guilt. "I've made a terrible mistake," he cried, recognizing the Lord. But Krishna smiled gently and said, "This too is part of the plan. Don't worry."

Lord Krishna calmly accepts his mortal wound, marking the end of his earthly life

Krishna blessed Jara and forgave him. Then, as the sun dipped low, a golden chariot from the heavens appeared. Krishna's divine form rose from his body and returned to Vaikuntha, the realm of Vishnu. This moment marked the official beginning of Kaliyuga, the current age of mankind.

The Heart That Didn't Burn

Later, when Krishna's mortal body was cremated, legends say that his heart-or his divine essence-did not burn. It glowed and floated out to sea, untouched by fire. This was no ordinary heart. It was something sacred, alive, and eternal.

Years later, a king named Indradyumna from Odisha had a vision of this sacred relic. He was told in a dream that Krishna's divine soul resided in a piece of wood that would float to shore. That wood, called Daru Brahma, was used to carve the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.

And inside the wooden idol of Jagannath, they placed the glowing heart of Krishna. This relic is believed to still exist today, hidden deep inside the deity, changed secretly during the ritual of Nabakalebara, which happens every 12 to 19 years.

What This Story Teaches

• Even gods accept destiny: Krishna's calm acceptance shows grace even in death.
• Forgiveness is divine: He didn't blame Jara. He thanked him.
• Endings are new beginnings: Krishna's passing gave birth to a new era and to the story of Jagannath.
• Faith keeps the soul alive: Krishna may have left the earth, but in Puri, he still lives on-in spirit, and perhaps even in form.

So when devotees stand before Lord Jagannath in Puri, many believe they're not just praying to a symbol-they're standing in the presence of Krishna himself, whose heart still beats for his devotees, even today.