September 26th 2024.
The temple of Lord Jagannath is a place of great splendor and majesty, befitting the stature of the supreme deity. The rituals that take place here, known as 'Niti', are divided into three categories - daily, occasional, and festive. These rituals are carried out by a team of around 85 to 90 servitors, each with a specific role and set of duties.
The daily nitis begin early in the morning, around 5am, and continue well into the night. While there may be some variations in the timing, especially on festive days when additional rituals are performed, the basic routine remains largely unchanged. Here is a list of 20 daily rituals that take place at the holy Puri temple.
The first ritual of the day is known as Dwaraphita, where the doors of the temple are opened at 4:30am by five servitors - Bhitarchha Mahapatra, Pratihari, Muduli, Akhanda Mekap, and Palia Mekap. This is done after the Bhitarchha Mahapatra has checked the seal placed on the lock the previous night by Talichha Mahapatra. Once the seal is deemed intact, the doors are unlocked and opened, including the inner sanctum known as the Kalahat Dwara.
After the Dwaraphita ritual, Mangala Alati takes place at approximately 5:30am. This is when sacred lamps are offered to the deities by Bhitarchha Mahapatra and two other Puspalaka servitors. They stand below the Ratnasinghashan to perform this ritual, which includes three different types of Alati - Karpura Alati, Bati Alati, and Pithau Alati.
At 6am, the Mailam ritual takes place, where the deities' garments and floral decorations from the previous night are replaced. This is followed by the Abakasha ritual at 6:30am, which is a crucial daily ritual for Lord Jagannath and His Siblings. During this ritual, a group of servitors, including Bhitarchha, Palia Puspalakas, Suarbadu, Paniapata, Mukhapakhala, Pratihari, Chatuary, Bhandar Mekap, Mahabhoi, and the temple astrologer, Khuri Nayak, clean the deities' teeth and bathe them with various auspicious substances.
After the bathing rituals are completed, the deities are dressed in new clothes and adorned with floral ornaments and garlands in the Beshalagi ritual. At 7:45am, the Rosha Homa ritual takes place in the temple kitchen, where a sacred fire is lit by the Puja Panda servitors to purify the kitchen and bless the food.
Next is the Surya Puja at 7:45am, followed by the Dwarapala Puja at the Jaya Vijaya gate of the main temple. At 8:30am, the deities are offered their first meal of the day - Gopal Ballav Bhoga. This offering, considered as a light breakfast, includes various sweets, fruits, and coconut dishes. It is performed by three Pujapanda servitors at the Anasara Pindi.
These are just some of the daily rituals that take place at the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, showcasing the grandeur and devotion towards the supreme deity. Each ritual is carried out with great care and precision by the dedicated servitors, ensuring that the temple remains a place of divine beauty and reverence.
The temple of Lord Jagannath is a magnificent structure that stands as a symbol of devotion and divinity. Within its walls, a series of rituals are performed daily to honor the supreme deity, known as Niti. These rituals, categorized into daily, occasional, and festive, are carried out by a dedicated team of 85-90 servitors who each have a specific role and pre-determined duties and times.
The day at the temple begins early, with the first ritual, Dwaraphita, taking place at 4:30am. This marks the opening of the temple doors and involves the examination of the seal placed on the padlock the night before by the Bhitarchha Mahapatra. Once the seal is found intact, the door is unlocked and opened, followed by the same process for the inner sanctum known as Kalahat Dwara.
At 5:30am, the Mangala Alati ritual takes place, where sacred lamps are offered to the deities by the Bhitarchha Mahapatra and two other Puspalaka servitors. This is followed by the Mailam ritual at 6am, where the previous night's garments and floral decorations are replaced with fresh ones. The deities are then dressed in simple cotton garments in preparation for the Abakash ritual at 6:30am.
The Abakash ritual is a crucial daily event for Lord Jagannath and His siblings, involving a group of servitors who clean the deities' teeth, bathe them with a variety of sacred substances, and perform puja using Pancha Upachara. Once the bathing rituals are completed, the deities are dressed in new clothes and adorned with floral ornaments and garlands in the Beshalagi ritual.
At 7:45am, the Surya Puja takes place to honor the Sun God, followed by the Dwarapala Puja at 8:30am to pay respects to the temple's gatekeepers. The deities are then offered their first meal of the day, known as Gopal Ballav Bhoga, at 8:30am, which includes a variety of delicious items such as coconut sweets, fruits, and curd.
As the day progresses, more rituals take place, such as the Rosha Homa to purify the kitchen before cooking for the deities begins, and the Gopal Ballav Bhoga offered at 10:30am. The rest of the day is filled with additional rituals, each with its own significance and purpose, until late into the night when the temple doors are closed once again, marking the end of another day of grandeur and devotion at the temple of Lord Jagannath.
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