Snana Purnima of Lord Jagannath!
Lord Jagannatha holds a unique place not only in the history of Odisha but also in the lives of its people.The annual cycle of festivals at the ancient Jagannath temple in Puri begin with the 'Deva Snana Purnima' which is celebrated on Jyeshtha Purnima, marking the ceremonial bathing of Lord Jagannath and his siblings,Balabhadra and Subhadra.
It is an important precursor to the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra and is the first public appearance of the deities during the year.Except the Snana Purnima and the Ratha yatra,in no other festival,the main images of the trinities alongwith Sudershan make a public appearance.
The deities are brought out from the sanctum sanctorum to the Snana Mandap, an elevated platform, in a grand procession called Pahandi.The purified water pitchers from the 'suna kua' or Golden well are carried from Bhoga Mandap to the bathing platform by the Suaras who are a class of servitors, in a long single line queue.
The deities are then given a ceremonial bath with 108 pitchers amidst chanting of hymns. This ritual is called ‘Jalabhisheka’.After the conclusion of this ritual,Jagannath and Balabhadra are dressed in elephant headgear representing the God Ganesh and Goddess Subhadra wears a lotus flower Besha.This is the ‘Hati Besha’.
According to an Odiya religious treatise called 'Dadyata -Bhakti',a devotee from Karnataka once visited Puri on Snana purnima.
He was a great devotee of Ganesha and was disappointed at not seeing his Ganesha God on the bathing platform.Lord Jagannath who resides in the hearts of his bhaktas respected his sentiment and appeared in an elephant form to please the devotee.
The 'Hati Vesa' is principally conducted by the Daitas which is significant in emphasising the autochthonous linkage and the familiar identification of the images is nearly obliterated.A special bhog is prepared as offering to the Lord on the day of Deva Snana Purnima and in the evening, the deities appear for Sahanamela for public viewing.
The origins of the Snana Yatra are deeply rooted in the Skanda Purana, which narrates the story of King Indradyumna, who installed the wooden deities and initiated this sacred bathing festival.'Niladri Mohadaya', a religious text written in Odiya, records the rituals of the festival.
Sriharsa in his 'naisadhiya Charita' (XV.89) also refers to this festival of Purushottama. After the Snana Yatra,from the 'full moon' day till the 'new moon' day, the Gods are traditionally believed to fall ill and kept in a sick room to recuperate in privacy under the care of the Raj Vaidya.
After spending 15 days inside the 'Anasara Ghara' the 'Nabajaubana' festival takes place which just precedes the Car festival 'Ratha Jatra'.During the Anasara period, devotees head to the Alarnatha Mandira in Bramhagiri to worship lord Jagannath who manifests as Alarnatha during this period.
Snana Purnima is a vibrant festival celebrating the divine presence of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, blending tradition, devotion, and the belief in the Lord's transformative power.This is one of the rare occasions when non-Hindus and those outside the temple premises can have darshan of the deities.
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