If you stand in front of Lord Jagannath’s idol in Puri and simply stare into His eyes, you will notice something unusual. The eyes are round, wide and almost childlike. There are no eyelids, no eyelashes, no sharp angles. Just two enormous circles that seem to watch everything and everyone. For centuries, devotees, scholars and travellers have wondered: why are the eyes of Lord Jagannath so big?
One explanation is deeply emotional. In Odia bhakti literature, poets have often written that Jagannath watches over every being – the fisherman setting out to sea, the potter working in his yard, the child walking to school, the widow lighting her evening diya. Big eyes represent endless compassion. They never close, never get tired, never stop looking out for the smallest of His devotees.
Another layer comes from tantra and symbolism. Jagannath’s form is not anatomically realistic; it is mystical. The large eyes represent the sun and the moon, the two cosmic witnesses. They remind us that nothing in life is truly hidden. Our intentions, not just our actions, are always seen. To stand before those eyes is to stand in front of your own conscience.
Art historians also point out that the eyes help darshan. In a crowded temple, you may be far away, but the huge circular eyes instantly catch your attention. Even if you briefly glimpse the Deity, the impression of those eyes stays with you. Many devotees say that even when they leave Puri and go back to their city, they can still feel those eyes watching over them.
In many Odia homes, children are told that when they feel scared at night, they should close their eyes and remember Jagannath’s big eyes. 'Tanka bada bada akhi tumaku rakhya karuchhi' – His large eyes are protecting you. Perhaps that is why, generation after generation, Odias grow up with an invisible, comforting gaze following them wherever they go.
One explanation is deeply emotional. In Odia bhakti literature, poets have often written that Jagannath watches over every being – the fisherman setting out to sea, the potter working in his yard, the child walking to school, the widow lighting her evening diya. Big eyes represent endless compassion. They never close, never get tired, never stop looking out for the smallest of His devotees.
Another layer comes from tantra and symbolism. Jagannath’s form is not anatomically realistic; it is mystical. The large eyes represent the sun and the moon, the two cosmic witnesses. They remind us that nothing in life is truly hidden. Our intentions, not just our actions, are always seen. To stand before those eyes is to stand in front of your own conscience.
Art historians also point out that the eyes help darshan. In a crowded temple, you may be far away, but the huge circular eyes instantly catch your attention. Even if you briefly glimpse the Deity, the impression of those eyes stays with you. Many devotees say that even when they leave Puri and go back to their city, they can still feel those eyes watching over them.
In many Odia homes, children are told that when they feel scared at night, they should close their eyes and remember Jagannath’s big eyes. 'Tanka bada bada akhi tumaku rakhya karuchhi' – His large eyes are protecting you. Perhaps that is why, generation after generation, Odias grow up with an invisible, comforting gaze following them wherever they go.
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