Jagannatha Rath Yatra Rituals: A grand Jalabhishek of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra was performed on Dev Snan Purnima in Puri today. The three idols were brought to the bathing pavilion with the 'Pahandi' tradition and were bathed with holy water from 108 urns. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi and Gajapati Maharaj were also present. After the bath, the deities were made to wear Gajavesh.

Now the Lord will rest in 'Ansara Griha' for 14 days. Darshan will reopen on June 26, and a grand Rath Yatra will be taken out on June 27. Cameras and 70 platoon forces have been deployed for security. In this sequence, let us know the importance of the Pahandi tradition, Sunakua, Gajavesh, Anasara Ghar, etc.

Pahandi Yatra
On June 11 at 5:45 am, Sri Sudarshan, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and finally Lord Jagannath were taken out of the sanctum sanctorum sequentially and taken to the bathing pavilion. This is called Pahandi tradition. In this, there is a grand process dance of taking the deities from the sanctum sanctorum to the bathing pavilion. It is also called 'Pahandi Vijaya'.

Sunakua

Sunakua means golden well or golden well. There is a golden well located near the north gate of the temple complex. The water of this holy well is taken out only once a year at the time of bathing. Today at 12:20 pm, this water was filled in 108 holy pots and used for the bath of the deities, and along with this, mantras were also chanted with sandalwood, herbs, and fragrant flowers.

What is Gajavesh?

'Gaj' means elephant, 'vesh' means form or costume. Gajavesh means decorating Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra in the form of elephants. This tradition is done on the day of Dev Snan Purnima, after the bath. When the idols are bathed with 108 urns, they are believed to fall sick and are then decorated as elephants.

Anasara Griha

After bathing with 108 holy urns on Dev Snan Purnima day, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are believed to fall sick in human form and are taken to the “Anasara Griha” inside the temple for rest for 14 days. During this time they are kept away from public darshan and the temple Vaidyas treat them with Ayurvedic herbs, decoctions, and ointments. This is a time of separation and waiting for the devotees as the Lord remains invisible. On June 26, on the day of “Navayuvan Darshan”, they reappear in a healthy, young and radiant form, and on the next day, June 27, they return among the devotees with the Rath Yatra.

PC Social media