juggernaut

The Car of Juggernaut, as depicted in the 1851 Illustrated London Reading Book.

Meaning

Noun

Origin

  • (17th century) From Hindustani Hindi जगन्नाथ/Oriya ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ/ Urdu جگنّاتھ, from Sanskrit जगन्नाथ (Jagannath), a title for the Hindu deity Vishnu's avatar Krishna. English form influenced by suffix -naut. Jagannath.
  • From British colonial era in India, witnessing the Rath Yatra (chariot parade) at Puri, Orissa. The festival features a huge annual procession, with a wagon of the idol of Jagannath. Pulled with ropes by hundreds of devotees, the wagon develops considerable momentum and becomes unstoppable.

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