FRENCH-BELL

It is a very old story written about the power of Lord Jagannath of Puri, Odisha. He is worshipped and deeply revered by every Odias as He is the incarnation of Lord Bisnu who assumed a form of Daru Bramha ( Wooden Bodied diety without hands and legs. There are many episodes narrated in support of His effulgency whereby He saved His honest, simple as and sincere devotees from distress and life risks. Hereunder a real episode which was taken place during 18th century in the Bay of Bengal that proved His mercifulness. This story was read by us during 3rd quarter of the 20th century while we were High School studen in a book titled Jagannath Mahima ( the great Effulgency of Lord Jagannath,Puri) But it is our ill luck that we forgot the name of the writer and publisher. Had we remembered we would have been able to inform our reader brothers and sisters.

A passenger steamer ship was on it's voyage from Pondicherry to Calcutta which was packed with passengers. The ship was owned by French Government of Pondicherry. So the crew men and the Captain were French origin. A disaster happened which severely frightened all the passengers on board. That a severe Cyclonic storm broke out suddenly in the ocean with dense black clouds and high wind at a soeed of 200 kilometres per hour began to blow. The ship was unsettled and trembling by the force of powerful wind. The waves of the ocean rose up to 20 metres high. Besides, a gigantic timingila fish ( Whale shark ) was rushing towards the ship rapidly with high speed which was the sign of danger to all. Hence all the passengers and crew members gave up the hope of their life. Nevertheles there was an imminent life risk,Albaque Beatow the French Captain ( Christian ) did not lost his heart. But he was a little bit upset because of thinking about the lives of his crew members and passengers. The situation was extremely critical.and there was no way to get rid of it.

The Captain started loitering on the deck thinking and thinking. Suddenly he saw a passenger in a cabin who was sitting with the lotus position and meditating in front of three nos.of framed pics of Lord Jagannath,Lord Balabhadra and Lady Shubhadra. Furthermore the devotee was burning a bunch of incense sticks before the Trio deities with an offering an apple as Bhog ( the food stuffs that specifically proffered ). In sight of it the Captain was stunned and spontaneously his hands turned folded with his head bowed down. He exclaimed, " O my God of the Universe Lord Jagannath, I salute You and your elder brother and sister ( Although he was the follower of Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, he had enough knowledge of Hindu gods and goddesses ) and earnestly I pray You to please save the precious lives of my passengers along with my crew members. O my omnipotent Lord I don't care for my life. I may die with the vessel but my co-passengers lives must be saved. I have gone through your scriptures and known about your preincarnations how you had saved the lives of innumerable innocent followers of yours. O Lord Jagannathjee You are a Great Saviour. Please listen to my heart's talk. Please help. I must present you a large bell,our country made, while I'll go to Puri. " After conveying that much the Captain Sahib began to weep. His blue eyes were full of tears. No sooner he finished delivering his earnest appeal to Lord Jagannathjee, than the cyclonic rainstorm came to an end and the timingila disappeared in the vast ocean after changing it's direction from the vessel instantly. The Sun appeared through the clouds and scattered it's crepuscular rays. The passengers on board got relaxed by virtue of the warming rays of the Sun.Then all are completely safe and OK. The devotee - passenger, crew men and all other passengers at once started shouting at the top of their voices, " Hail Lord Jagannath,Hail Balabhadra,Hail Mother Shubhadra. Crores of salutes to you all Trinity. You are Great Saviours of mankind. " The Captain was so enlightened by the Effulgency of Lord Jagannath that his hailing speech accompanied with his hilarious dancing on the deck.

Gradually the helmsman accelerated the speed of the steamer. It floated forward rapidly towards the destination. After sometime the Captain was able to see the Neelachakra ( the spoked Blue Wheel ) and the Patita Pawan Baanaa ( the floating flag which purifies the sinner's body and mind ) of Lord Jagannath Temple,Puri, Odisha. The Captain was seriously sentimental. He dipped himself fully in the devotional ocean. He was also chanting the Holy Name of Lord Jagannath. As a result of which he instructed the steersman to anchore the ship at the Chandbali Port. Then he suggested all to accompany him up to Sri Jagannathjee Temple Puri. But only a few interested ones agreed with him and others stayed on board awaiting his return. From Chandbali he hired the horse-coaches and proceeded to Puri with his co-voyagers. As there was restriction for entering Jagannath Temple on the part of a non-Hindu, the Captain was bound to hand over the Bell to Gajapati Maharaja, Puri and afterwards it was bestowed to Lord Jagannath The French Captain Albaque Beatow turned himself as a true devotee of Lord Jagannath after this incidence whose cordial presentation of a Farasi Ghanti has been enhancing the glory of Lord Jagannath as yet even after more than 300 years. If we ponder over the past we must be glad enough to know the efficacy of Lord Darubramha, the Universal as well as a Cosmopolitan God. On the contrary, if we ponder over the present and future aspect we may be sad enough while observing the attitude and behaviour of ultra modern generations. Because they lack something which we have and we had in respect of our own Jagannath culture, the exceptional cult of the world. However we should always try to be liberal enough towards the modern culture and it's all round progress after concentrating our mind on the circular eyes of Lord Jagannathjee. Besides, an appeal to our younger mass that they should be well adapted with modern society, no bar,but they shouldn't underestimate own culture and moralities that strenthen their inner entities for good. Jay Jagannath.