JAGANNATH AND SALABEGA
Once, a Mughal Subedar Lalbega abducted n forcefully married a brahmin woman to whom a son, Salabega was born.
In a military campaign, Lalbega was killed and Salabega was deeply injured.
His mother’s prayers to Jagannath were answered and he was cured.
This incident made Salabega a Bhakt of Jagannath. He went to Puri to have darshan. When he was not allowed in the Mandir, he decided to wait till the annual Rath Yatra to have Prabhu’s darshan.
Later, he built a small hut on the roadside n every year, waited for the chariot.
For the rest of the year, he visited various Mandirs. One year, he fell ill and could not return in time. He prayed to Jagannath to wait for him till he arrived for Rath Yatra darshan. In his dream, Jagannath promised to wait.
When Rath Yatra began, the Rath stopped near his hut
It refused to budge and remained there for 7 days till Salabega returned and worshipped Jagannath.
After his death, Salabega was cremated and a Samadhi built. Till this day, Jagannath Rath stops at his samadhi for sometime during Rath Yatra.
His devotional prayers to Jagannath are sung even today. His song ‘Ahe Neelashaila’ is perhaps the best description of Bedha Parikrama. He got the title Bhakta Kavi SalaBega.
If you have faith enough to surrender, Jagannath has love enough to accept you.
Narayan Hari🙏🏻
