Lord Jagannath and Ganapati Bhatta

What was Ganapati Bhatta's strong belief about Brahman?

Why did Ganapati Bhatta not offer obeisances at the temple?

Who did Lord Jagannath appear to after Ganapati Bhatta left the temple?

What did Mudiratha ask Ganapati Bhatta to do?

What did Ganapati Bhatta accuse Mudiratha of doing?

What did Mudiratha promise Ganapati Bhatta?

Where was Lord Daru-brahma situated according to the story?

What benefit did Mudiratha claim that Ganapati Bhatta would get by taking darshan of the Lord?

What form did Lord Jagannath take to meet with Ganapati Bhatta?

Why did Ganapati Bhatta think there was no Brahman in Puri?

What is the meaning of 'kalpataru'?

What is the significance of the 'smana-mandap' in the story?

What was the occasion when Ganapati Bhatta reached the Lion Gate of the Jagannath temple?

What did Ganapati Bhatta prepare himself to do after meeting the Lord?

What was the Lord's response to Ganapati Bhatta's conclusion?

What was the outcome of Lord Jagannath's conversation with Ganapati Bhatta?

Lord Jagannath took the form of an old brahmana to meet Ganapati Bhatta, who was sitting sadly, wondering why he didn't attain immediate liberation after seeing the Lord in Puri.
Ganapati Bhatta believed that Brahman is in Nilagiri, and seeing Him would grant immediate liberation, but he didn't see Brahman in Puri.
He reasoned that if people had seen Brahman, they would have merged into His body and attained liberation, but since they returned without liberation, there must be no Brahman in Puri.

Lord Jagannath explained that He is known as Kalpataru, a wish-fulfilling tree, and He fulfills everyone's desires.
The people who came to Puri and returned without liberation had done so because they desired to go back to their homes, and the Lord fulfilled their desires.
He assured Ganapati Bhatta that if someone comes to Puri with a desire to be happy, get liberation, or go back to His abode, they will get the result according to their desire.

Ganapati Bhatta prepared to enter Puri and took darshan of Patita-pavana at the Lion Gate of the Jagannath temple on Deva-snana Purnima.
He saw Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra, and Sudarshan Chakra being bathed, but he didn't see the elephant face of the Lord, which he believed to be a characteristic of Brahman.
Disappointed, he left without offering obeisances.

Lord Jagannath appeared to Mudirath, the representative of the King of Puri, and told him to bring Ganapati Bhatta back, as he was disappointed and didn't see the elephant-faced form of the Lord.
Mudirath ran to bring Ganapati Bhatta back, explaining that Lord Daru-brahma could give four kinds of blessings and fulfill all desires.