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Home , Brahmani (Matrika), Nyasa (ritual), Puja (Hinduism)

Orissa Review June - 2009

Puja in Srimandir

Padmanabha Mahapatra

Shri in , and mouth of Siva; that which has entered into the mouth of Uma; and that which is the opinion of The mode of of Sri Jagannath is . - 'Agatam Sivamukhabjat gatam tu unique and different from that of the other Vishnu Girija mukhe, matam ch Basudevasya tasmat temples, situated in north and south India. Sri Agama uchyate'. So Agam or Tantra Sastra is Jagannath is Pranab; He has been identified with mainly based on three aspects, such as - Saivism; the mystic Vedic Bijamantra ''. His puja has (Saivagam) Saktism (Saktagam) and been developed and systematized in a well (Vaishnavagam). Agam or Tantra Sastra is a designed- process by coordinating the basics of means for over all development of society Vedic, Tantric and Vaisnavite streams. - 'Dharmarth kamamokhyadi chaturbarga Dharmashastras prescribe three main streams for sadhan pathpradarshak.' the puja of Hindu Devatas, those are - Nigam, Agam and Lokacar. Nigam is the pure Vedic 'Tantra aims to transform every action in system, Agam is the tantric system and Lokacar life into a , so that the individual performs is the combination of both or some other system, every action and thought with a feeling of worship which is followed with reference to the prevailing and awareness. The action of bathing, dressing, conditions of the locality, time and authorities. sitting for worship, offering various symbolic sacrifices, sexual relations, stages of development Nigam - (the Vedic system) - The guide from inception to womb, birth to marriage etc. for Vedic (Nigam) is Karmakanda; are transformed into worship. The aim of Tantra which concentrates mainly on , Jaga and is to unleash the cosmic energy in man, so that he Yagnya (fire sacrifice). - 'Swatah rises to higher level of awareness.' ('A systematic pramanswarup Veden nischitartho nigamyate course in ancient Tantric Techniques of and gnayeta iti atah Vedah Nigamah, Nigamyate Kriya' - Satyananda -P.P. - 335 gnayete anena iti Nigamah.'( Bhagavat - /336) 1-5-61) Tantra has been divided into 64 parts - Agam (Tantra) - Agam or Tantra Sastra is 'Chatuhsasthi ch Tantrani'. Over and above very much elaborate and contains the multiple that, saints such as , , Basistha, system of Upasana. The proper meaning of the Pulastya, Bhrugu, Yagnyabalkya, Sukra and term Agam is that which has come out of the Brihaspati etc. have written huge number of

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Upaantras also. Tantric system has some Acaras; between consciousness and form. This system out of them Bamacara and Kaulacara are most applies to every thing in the world around us. The important. Bamacara is not suitable for visible form is the expression, while the Mantra is Vaishnavite system. In Tantra, Yantra and Mantra the vehicle of expression. Mantra is the direct link play the major role. with the beyond. Yantra - Yantra is the body of the deity. The deities on the Simhasana of Srimandira Puja of a deity is required to be taken up on a have been placed on specific ; Sri Yantra, so Yantra is very important. Balabhadra on Yantra, Sri Subhadra on 'Sarbeshameb Devanam Yantrapuja Bhubaneswari Yantra and Sri Jagannatha on Prasashyate' (Gautami Tantra). Without a Yantra, Yantra. The Daru Devatas (made of wood) Puja can not be taken up. If the Yantra is not themselves are Tantrics, because their known then eight-petalled lotus is to be accepted construction has been made on Tantric as Yantra and the puja is to be undertaken background, with reference to Purana, accordingly. 'Bina Yantren chet puja Devata Sanatkumar , Biswamitra Samhita and na prasidati, Anuktakalpe Yantram tu likhet Hayasirsha Samhita etc., all Tantric Texts. The Padmadalastakam '. (Gautami Tantra) Vimana of Sri Mandir is a and the Mantra - Mantra is the soul of the deity deities are the SiddhaYantras. To keep the on a Yantra. - 'Mantrayate guptam paribhasate Yantras; engines moving; the presence of a iti Mantrah'. Mantra is secrete, to be learnt from perfectly trained and experienced Yantree or the best . The sound of the being Engineer is always required; he is the Pujak in the chanted combined with the power of the resolve literature of Sri Mandira and he is charged on made by the person performing the Puja, reaches Tantra. 'Mananatt Mantrah' Mantra is very the divine power that converts the chants into the difficult; it can only be learnt from perfect desired . It is a must that Mantras are or teachers; and it is the only means to take up very powerful. But they must be chanted in a Puja in a systematic manner. Who are the Gurus balanced note and rhythm. - 'Manah then ? They are , Vishnu and Maheswar. santoshanam saucham maunam mantrarth From the above analogy we conclude that in the chintanam, Abyagramanirbedah japam- Puja Paddhati of Srimandira, Guru is there in place sapatti hetabah'. of Mantra; Pujak is there in place of Tantra and the deities are there in place of Yantras. Mantras in a gross level are special sound patterns. On a deeper sense they are still much System of Pancaratram Pujapaddhati more. Along with Mandalas and Yantras, Mantras Purana mentions that the Puja of are most important and considered as the essence Sri Purusottama was being undertaken according of the practical Tantra. Mantras and Yantras to the tenets of Pancaratra system during the time (Mandalas) are utilized in conjunction with each of king Indradyumna. The same system with some other to form powerful combination. A Mandala, additions and alterations continues even at present. Yantra or Devata is the form of consciousness. Among the different disciplines of Vaishnava The Mandalas, Yantras or Devatas are the worship the system of Pancaratram holds a very manifested forms, configurations of , while prominent position. The Supreme Narayana the Mantra, which is also Shakti, is the link himself, who in turn taught it to Uddhab within

16 Orissa Review June - 2009 the span of five nights, directly imparted it to Sage work, stated to have been originated at Narad. Pancaratram literature glorifies image Purusottam Khetra; it has also much influence on worship as even superior to the . Whatever the puja system of Sri Jagannath. that may be, under this system, the idols have been Niladri Mahodaya is a very popular work. held as very necessary to conceive and meditate It states the origin, rites and rituals of Sri on God. Jagannath. But the period of its compilation and Texts on Pujapaddhati about it's actual author are not yet definite. Some say that it was compiled at the time of king Some ritual texts exhibiting the mode of Bhanudev IV (1414-1435 AD), but this book as worship of Jagannath, as available at present are a reference is not found to have been quoted by mentioned below. any author of Orissa till 18th century. So it comes Gajapati Purusottama Dev (1466-1497 to one's mind that it is a later compilation. Niladri A.D), the famous Gajapati king of Ganga dynasty, Mahodaya contains 91 chapters, dealing in detail compiled 'Gopalarchanavidhi' on the rites and with all the rites and rituals and day-to-day rituals of Sri Jagannatha and 'Muktichintamani' on functions in Jagannath temple. It is a compilation the sanctity of Purusottama . Gopalar- based on all Dharmasastras, and chanavidhi otherwise known as 'Niladrinatha etc., hence it is called as 'Sthala Purana' in Orissa. Pujavidhi' and 'Niladrimahodayarcanavidhi' have However, the latest compilation of Niladri been compiled on the Vaishnava Skandha of Mahodaya along with its Oriya translation has Agamakalpataru. been edited by Dr B.K Swain and published by Narasimha Mishra Vajpeyee (1525-1580 Sadgrantha Niketan, Puri recently in two volumes A.D) was the famous Smrti writer and royal and available in the market. preceptor of Gajapati Prataparudra Dev (1497- Over and above all references cited above, 1533AD). Out of his 18 voluminous works the fairs and festivals, rites and rituals of Sri 'Nityacarapradeepa' was the best and it has been Jagannath Temple have been discussed in the published by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in following works. 1928. Nityacarapradeepa has been divided into (a) Gopalarchanapaddhati by Sri Basudev 4 parts excluding its Parivasa Prakaran. In this Tripathy (1700- 1750 AD). work the author described in detail, about all the temples, tirthas, lakes, Gods and Goddesses of (b) Kalanirnaya - by Sri Raghunath Das (1715- Srikhetra. Therein he has suggested for 1750 AD) worshipping Sri Balabhadra in Sankarshana (c) Kalsarvasva - by Sri Mishra (1750 mantra, Sri Jagannatha in Krishna mantra and AD) Goddess Subhadra in Devi mantra. (d) Virasarvasva - by Sri Gopinath Tripathy Gadadhar Rajguru Mahapatra (1700- (1778 AD) 1750 AD) was a reputed Smrti writer, his compiled work 'Gadadharpaddhiti' has also been (e) Bamdev Samhita - Published by published by the Asiatic society in 1904 and Muktimandap Sava, Puri during 1908. In his 'Kalasar,' in the Mangalacaran he 1972. has started with praying Lord Jagannath and (f) Surisarvasva - by - Govinda Kabibhusana mother Vimala. Sri Gautamiya Tantra is another Samantaray; edited by Sri Bhagaban Panda

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and published by Orissa State Museum the Parasara Samhita quotes the integrated form (published in 2 parts in 1974 and 1994) of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. - All such texts except 'Surisarvasva' have 'Jagannatheti bamangam broadly dealt with the puja systems of Sri Balaramardharupinam / Subhadrakhya- Jagannath only, but there are no ancient Mahalaxmi rupasardhangabeshinam // xxxx Tam paraparamabyaktam namami independent ritual texts exhibiting the detailed Purusottamam '.// Here Goddess Subhadra has mode of worship of Sri Balabhadra and been accepted as Goddess Laxmi, who blesses Subhadra. Even though there are some the world with auspicious boons. independent temples of Balabhadra / Baladev in some places of Orissa, which are of later origin, Feeling of a common man - the Pujaks thereof state that they follow the similar When a normal devotee hears the puja mode of worship to that of Puri temple. One small proceedings in Jagannath temple, he feels that the text 'Surisarvasvokta Sri Basudev Pujapaddhatih' puja mantras are partly Vedic, partly Tantric and compiled by Pandit Sri Jameswara Mishra partly Puranic. The Vedic part is the use of 'Om', Sharma around fifty years back exhibit the puja at the initiation of the puja -mantra; the Tantric system of only Sri Balabhadra. part is the use of 'Klim' for Jagannath - 'Hrim' for The Tantric texts of other states of India, Subhadra, 'Slim' for Balabhadra after utterance which have much similarity with the puja system of 'Om'. The Puranic part is - Krishna - Jagannath, of Sri Jagannath, are 'Saradatilak' and Basudev - Balabhadra, Bhubaneswari - 'Karmadipika'. Saradatilak of Laxman Desika Subhadra. Sudarshan is formless, Turiya (gap seems to be a composition of middle of the 10th between two recitation of Om), He is considered century. The mode of worship of Srikrishna- as 'Jyotibrahma'. Trailokyamohan, recommended in this work has System of worship followed at present - much similarity with the worship of Purusottama Jagannath and it is compatibility to the religious The seriatim of puja (Pujakrama) is almost notions of Orissa. 'Karmadipika' of Kesava Bhatt equal in respect of all the major deities placed on Kashmirika, a follower of Nimbarka School of the Ratnasimhasan. Only we find variation in the Mulamantra, Devata Nyasa, Pitha Nyasa, Mantra Visnuism, is a composition of 14th century. This Nyas and Murtipanjar Nyas mantras in respect of text is more authoritative on the worship of Gopal each of them, those are exhibited in the following Krishna with the eighteen-syllabic and ten-syllabic chart. As regards the Avarans (Associates) of each Mantras. It does not accept as the consort deity, the factual position has been explained just of Krishna but considers and below the chart worked out. So far as the Bhuta Satyabhama as His legitimate wives. The influence Suddhi, Pranab; Pran Pratistha, Martka Nyasa are of 'Karmadipika' on the Puja system of Jagannath concerned, the basic mantras are the guidelines. is much more than any other text. The Upacara puja includes 16 Upacaras starting In the entire Pancaratra there is only one from to Vandana as exhibited in the text i.e. 'Parasara Samhita' that mentions about succeeding paragraphs. Dhyan mantras of all the Sri Jagannath of Purusottam Khetra. As in the four deities are incorporated in the last paragraph 'Jagannath Khetramahatmya' of 'Skanda Puran', of this article.

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Balabhadra Subhadra Jagannath References Basudev Puja Paddhati Bhubaneswari Puja Gopalarchana Puja Paddhati Paddhati Mantra Dwadasakhyar Basudev Ekakhyari Bhubaneswari Astadasakhyar Mantra Mantra Gopal Mantra 'Om Namo Bhagabate "Hrim'' 'Om Klim Krishnaya Vasudevaya' Govindaya Gopijan Ballavaya' Devata Nyasa Srikanthadi Nyasa Kala Nyasa Keshavadi Nyasa Pitha Nyasa -do - - do - - do - Mantra Nyasa Basudev Mantra Bhubaneswari Mantra Gopal Mantra Murtipanjar Nyasa - do - - do - - do - Bibhuti Panjar Nyasa As regards Sri Sudarshan there is a specific Seven Abaranas of Sri Balabhadra -(1) 1st mantra, He is referred to as a thousand - spoked Abarana -Twelve syllabic mulamantra, (2) 2nd one Sahasrara. - 'Om Sahasrara Hum Phat'. Abarana -12 connected with 12 months His puja includes the violent aspects of Vishnu - Keshav, Narayan, Madhab, Govind, Vishnu, and contain many elements of worship of Madhusudan, Tribikram, Baman, Sridhar, Narasimha. Hrsikesa, Padmanabha and Damodar, (3) 3rd Abaranas (Associates) of the deities - After Abarana -12 corresponding - Kirti, Kanti, completion of bath, offering of clothes, sacred Tusti, Pusti, , Ksanti, Kriya, Daya, Medha, threads, ornaments, flowers and sandal pastes etc. Harsa, Saraddha and Lajja, (4) 4th Abarana - to the main four deities, the puja of their Abarans four Atmas, (5) 5th Abarana - Balabhadra are to be undertaken. This is the worship of the Himself in the middle, (6) 6th Abarana - All associates of the deities, who surround them in Digpals with their weapons (7) 7th Abarana - shape of a circle. Ayudhas of Balabhadra. Seven Abaranas of Sri Jagannath - (1) His Seven Avaranas of Subhadra -(1) 1st close friends in 1st Abarana - Dama, Sudam, Avarana - Monosyllabic Mantra 'Hrim', (2) 2nd Vasudam and Kinkini.(2) 2nd Abarana - Hrdaya, Abarana - on east, south, west, north of Her- Siras, Sikha, Kavaca and Astra portion of the Gagan, Rakta, Karalika, Mahatsukama, (3) 3rd Mulamantra.(3) 3rd Abarana - Eight wives of Abarana - on six corners of hexagon, from east Srikrishna (4) 4th Abarana - Real and foster clockwise- , Savitri. Visnu, Saraswati, Siva parents of Krishna, Balabhadra, Subhadra; and Brahma, (4) 4th Abarana - on 8-petals of cowherds and Cow - mandeis. (5) 5th Abarana the first lotus -Anangakusuma, - Five Kalpavrksas, celestial Vrindavana. (6) 6th Anangakusumatura, Bhubanpalika, Gaganvesika, Abarana - Eight Bhaktas, disciples of Krishna. Sasirekha, Gaganrekha, Karali and Vikarali, (7) 7th Abarana - Digpals with their weapons, (5) 5th Abarana - 16 deities on 16-petalled lotus, vahans (carriers) and family members. from eastern side moving clockwise -Uma,

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Saraswati, Sri, , Jaya, Smrti, Dhrti, Medha, the morning breakfast at 9 AM; Bhogamandap Mati, Kanti, Anangamadan, Anangamadanatura, bhoga, for public sale at 11 AM and Badasimhar Bhubanesa, Bhubanpalika, Sarvasisira and bhoga, a light dinner at 11.45 PM; are small pujas Anangavedana and 8 mothers outside the lotus, consisting of only five Upacaras. Sakal Dhoop, Astamatrkas, starting from east- (east), the morning meal at 10 AM; Madhyahna Dhoop, Maheswari (south-east), Kumari (south), Vaisnabi the mid - day meal at 1PM and Sandhya Dhoop, (south-west), Barahi (west), (north-west), the evening meal at 8 PM are exhaustive pujas Camunda (north), Laxmi (north-east), (6) 6th consisting of sixteen Upacaras. Abarana - 8 Digpals with their weapons, (7) 7th Seriatim of rites observed during Puja Abarana - Ayudhas- Sayudha and Savahan. (Pujakrama) Five Abaranas of Sri Sudarshan - (1) 1st The formal rites before the initiation of the Abarana - 4 deities in four directions - Acakra puja on Ratna Simhasan in Srimandir, are (south-east), Vicakra (south-west), Sucakra (1) Baishnabadi Samskar i.e. fire sacrifice in the (north-west), Adhicakra (north-east). This temple kitchen, (2) Puja of Cakra i.e. Sun Abarana is treated as 'Angavaran' (2) 2nd God situated in the south-east direction (agneya Abarana - 8 weapons hold in eight hands - Simple kona) of the temple premises and (3) Puja of Door Namaskar Mantra 'Om Sankhaya Namah' with Attendants (Dwarpals) in front of the Jay-Bijay regards to 8 weapons hold by Him in His eight Dwar. hands - Sankha, Cakra, Gada, Padma, Sara, Three Pujapandas take up the pujas on Dhanus, Pasa and Ankusa. (3) 3rd Abarana - 8 Ratna Simhasan. The senior most Pujapanda main Shaktis of Visnu - Laxmi, Saraswati, , performs the worship of Sri Jagannath, so also Priti, Kirti, Kanti, Tusti and Pusti. (4) 4th Abarana the puja of Sudarsan, Sridevi and Bhudevi. Other - 8 Digpals - , , , Nirrti, Varun, two Pujapandas take up the pujas of Sri , Kuber, Isana. (5) 5th Abarana - Ayudhas Balabhadra and Sri Subhadra respectively. of the deity. Preliminaries - The worshippers just after Pancopacar and Shodasopacar Puja their arrival on the platform sprinkle some scented By the term Puja we mean to offer some water on the ground and utter the Mulamantra; food items to God; the item due for offering to this is called Bhumisuddhi. They sit either in God is called 'Naivedya'; after the food items Padmasana or in Svastikasana on a wooden stool, already offered to God it is turned to Prasad, but on the right side of the deities facing towards the images, so that they face towards the north, while in the temple of Sri Jagannath it is Mahaprasad. the deities face towards the east. The next item is Puja in Jagannath temple is termed as Dhoop. Vighnotsarana, removal of obstacles. Then they The literal meaning of Dhoop is . The pujas seek permission from the Bhairava. Sastras codify are undertaken behind the closed doors and the that Bhairava is the guardian of the Khetra so also public are not allowed to see to it; when after of the temple. Next is Pujanam - Ringing puja; the doors are opened; the sanctum becomes of the hand bell -This indicates that the puja smoky with descent incense; for this reason here begins; Ghanta also drives away all the demons puja has been termed as Dhoop. from the spot. The next preparation is In the temple of Jagannatha Puja is normally Pujopakarana - Drabya-Samsthapana-this is offered six times in a day. Gopal Ballav Bhoga, arrangement of puja articles.

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Ritual purification of the self - (Sanctification of upacars by Bikhana; Prokhana; Samanyarghya Vidhi (Preparation of holy water), Tadana; Abagunthana; Dhenumudra; Asana Suddhi (Purification of the seat), Kara and recitation of Mulamantra), Suddhi (Kara suddhi is smearing the palms with Atmapitha puja, Suddhitrayam (The purification some sandal- paste, then having taken a flower, of the worshipper; the Mantra and the Deity). rubbing the same with utterance of the mantra Realization of the deity and Actual worship 'Sudarsanaya Astraya Phat'), Dasa Diga Bandhan, - Devata Pithapuja -Yantra puja, invocation of Bhuta Suddhi (Purification of the elements of the the deities; Establishment of the deities; body), Pranab, Prana Pratistha (Establishment of Pratistha; Nyasas on the bodies of the deities; the vital breaths; Kara nyasa; Deha nyasa etc of exhibiting the of the deities; (abahan; the Mantra; meditation on Pranasakti), Pranayam sthapana; sanniddhana; sannirodha; sakalikarana; (The regulation of vital breaths), Matruka Nyasa abagunthana; dhenumudra; amrutikaran; (Touching of various parts of the body by right mahamudra; paramikarana; these are the ten hand palm and finger tops; along with chanting of mudras). appropriate mantras). Antarmatruka and Bhirmatruka both to be covered.) Upacar Puja -(offering of the following upacars) -- Asanam (Offering of seat), Swagatam- Deification of the self - Devata Nyasa (Extending welcome), Padya -(Providing water (Srikanthadi Nyasa for Balabhadra; Kala Nyasa for foot washing), Arghya - (Providing water for for Subhadra, and Keshbadi Nyasa for face washing), Acamaniya -(Providing water for Jagannath), Tattwa Nyasa (The worshipper has mouth rinsing), Madhuparka -(Mixture of honey to identify the body part by part with the whole and other items), Punah Acamana - (Rinsing of universe with all the mundane and the Devine on mouth on subsequent occasion), Snana -(Taking it), Bhabanacatustayam / Pitha Nyasa (Muladhar Bath on exhibition of Snana ), Bastra and bhabana; Hrdaya bhabana; Hasta bhabana and Yajnopavita -(Offering of dresses and provision Deha bhabana), Mantra Nyasa (Basudev mantra of sacred threads), Abarana - (Offering of for Balabhadra, Bhubaneswari mantra for ornaments to the deities), Gandha -(Offering of Subhadra and Gopal mantra for Jagannath), sandal paste and other scented materials), Puspa Murtipanjara Nyasa (Placing of alphabets inside -(Offering of varieties of flowers), Puspanjali - and outside the body for identification with (Offering of five Puspanjalis), Abarana Puja (from Brahma Basudev mantra for Balabhadra, first Abarana to Seventh Abarana, as discussed Bhubaneswari mantra for Subhadra and Gopal earlier, this is an interruption in between the mantra - Bibhuti Panjara Nyasa for Jagannath). Upacar Puja), Dhoop -(Offering of incense), Antaryaga (mental or internal worship) - Deepa -(Showing of candle pot to the deities), the worshipper establishes the image of Krisna- Naivedya -(Naivedya samskar; offering of Jagannath in his heart, undertakes an internal fire- Naivedya to the deities, showing Naivedya mudra sacrifice and offers Him mental worship. In course with mantrochattan; Japa or muttering of the of conducting such action the Cakra in the mantra; providing water for ablution to the deities; Muladhar is considered as the Vedi and the deity acamana; offering of tambula and aratrikam.), is imagined as the fire burning on it. Candanaivedya -(Bahyabali). Preparation for external worship - Arghya Concluding rites - Prasannarca - Samskar (Vishesarghya Bidhi), Upacar Samskar (Keeping the deities in full charming attitude),

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Aratrikam- (This is the main lustration.), Bandanas Pujaka - The Worshipper - (Prayers after completion of all upcaras He, who offers the upacaras and naivedya symbolizing the deities as royal authorities), to the deities, is known as Pujaka, a Pujapanda, Brahmarpana -(Atmasamaparna before God), in the language of Sri Jagannath temple. As the Hinapuranam - (Making good of all shortcomings), Pujapaddhati followed here is based on Vedic Nirmalya Grahanam and Prasad Sebanam etc, culture; he can also be called as an . By Pradakhina and Namaskaram. performing Asana Suddhi; Bhuta Suddhi; Kar Dhyana Mantra of Sri Balabhadra - Nyasa and Deha Nyasa of the mantra; meditation 'Om Vishnu saradacandrakotisadrusam on Pranasakti; Prana pratistha; Kara Suddhi; sankhasthangam gadam, Ambhojam dadhantam ; Antarmatraka and Bahirmatraka sitabjanayanam kanlyajaganmohanam Nyasas etc; the Pujak initially attributes godly Abaddhangadaharkundalmahamaulisphuratkankanam Sribatsankamudarkaustubhadharam bande qualities in himself and then undertakes the puja munindreih stutam' of the deities. And An Acharya must have been born in a high family, he must have acquired thorough 'Shantam chandradikantam mushalahaladharam basudevagrajantam - Vogisham charubaktram knowledge in Vedas; ; ; bishadharmukutam sebitam devabrundeih Smrutis; Agamas and specifically on the Bandeaham lokanatham tribhubanabiditam Pancaratra puja system. He must be a man with sarbasiddhipradanam Ramamabhiram full faith and devotion to God and well-versed on bikasitabadanam rebatiprananatham.' Vedic as well as Tantric mantras. He should be a Dhyana Mantra of Sri Subhadra - married person; maintain perfect health and there 'Yasajabakusuma patakdibyamurtim may not be any physical deformities in him. He Pashankushambhayabarana nijabahudandyih. must be performing his daily routine works; snana; Aashodashakhyakalaya nija padmabasa suddha bastra paridhan; bandana; ; Ekakhyari tribhubanadhipatinamasthe.' baiswadeva; sandhya and gayatri etc. with all Dhyana Mantra of Sri Jagannath - devotions and then proceed to the temple premises for Devarchana. In the Niladri Mahodaya, 'Phulendibaramindukantibadanam bahambatamspriyam, Sribatsankmudarkaustubhadharam pitambaram sundaram Chapter 38 to 89 specifies the daily rituals to be Gopinam nayanotpalarchitatanum gogopasanghabrutam undertaken by a Pujaka before proceeding to take Gobindam kalabenubadanparam dibyangbhusham bhaje.' up the puja of Sri Jagannath. He is to be compassionate; pious; righteous; peaceful; truthful Dhyana Mantra of Sri Sudarshan- and helpful. He has to maintain a pure and simple 'Sarbabyabsampurnamstabahum Sudarshanam life style without involving himself in any unethical Astayudhaparibarmastakhyarasamanwitam. matters and observe a spiritual code of conduct Astarm chakramlyugram mushalam in his personal private life. So he is the Pujaka of chankushayudham Bamtah shankhashikhinau dharayantam karambuyeih Sri Jagannath and to be respected by one and all. Raktachandanliptangam raktagadhanulepanam Raktabastraparidhanam raktamalabibhushitam. Agra pingalakonakhyam jwalamalatibhishanam Danstrakaralbadanam bhayasyapi bhayabaham Padmanabha Mahapatra is the Sri Mandira Purohit. He Sudarsanabhidhanam tam cakramadhy bichintayet. lives in Pratihari Lane, Matimandap Sahi, Puri.

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