Odisha Review July - 2013

Significance of in Car festival

Bhagaban Mahapatra

Gundicha temple is a , popularly of chlorite stone called Ratnavedi where deities known as GARDEN HOUSE of Lord , are placed and worshipped for seven days. Rest situated in town of . It lies at a distance of the days of the year, the Ratnavedi and the of about 3 K.M. from the main temple of Lord temple remain vacant. This Ratnavedi is regarded Jagannath (Srimandira). The two temples are as most holy place as narrated in Skanda Purana located at two ends of Bada Danda (Grand and Narad Purana. The temple has three gates. Road) which is the pathway of Rath . The The western gate is the main gate of the temple temple is built in Kalinga called lion’s gate through temple style. The complex of which deities enter the temple the temple comprises Viman during . The (sanctum), Jagamohan, eastern gate of the temple is Natamandira and known as NAKACHANA Bhogamandap. There is also GATE which is used for a kitchen hall. The temple is departure of deities. There is set within a garden and is also another gate towards known as God’s Summer north which is known as Garden Retreat. In the north gate. garden there are Coconut, There are many Mango, Neem, Bael trees interesting legends behind the and other favourite plants of Gundicha temple and annual Lord like Tulasi, rose and Ratha Yatra. One legend Jasmine flowers etc. The says that Gundicha, queen of entire complex of the temple king of including garden is Yuga was a great devotee of surrounded by a wall of 430 Lord Jagannath. It is ft length, 320ft breadth with explained in many 20ft height. that Lord Jagannath Inside the temple, the sanctum features a surrenders Himself near His real devotees. plain raised platform 4ft height and 19ft long made Because of her (Gundicha) deep devotion, Lord

76 July - 2013 Odisha Review

Jagannath promises her to come to her house journey. That wounded the sentiment of mother during Ratha Yatra. Another legend says that . She was so perplexed because of Gundicha temple is Yagnya Vedi which is the birth absence of Lord Jagannath and finding no place of Chaturddha Murtty (Lord Jagannath, alternative, She went to Vimala, wife of Lord Lord Balabhadra, Maa and Sudarsan). Balabhadra and wife of Lord Jagannath Every year Lord with His brother and sister makes to seek their advice. Both of them shared the visit for seven days to the Gundicha temple on feelings of Lakshmi. Vimala is the goddess of this occasion. Tantric. Consoling Lakshmi, goddess Vimala has The Ratha Yatra starts on the second lunar advised Her to excite Lord Jagannath through day (Dwitiya), the bright fortnight (Sukla ) Tantric application that is Moha Churna, so that of the Hindu month Asadha. One day before the His mind will be diverted and immediately He will Ratha Yatra, the Gundicha Temple is religiously return to Srimandir. Lakshmi has accepted the cleansed for housing of Lords. On the day of proposal and on 5th day of popularly Ratha Yatra, three wooden chariots magnificently known as Hera Panchami, Lakshmi visits the built with wooden and beautifully decorated with Gundicha Temple in a beautifully decorated flowers and clothes are kept ready at the main Palanquin through Her servitors in the evening. Jagannath temple for transportation of deities. The She is then welcomed into the temple. Both chariot carrying Lord Jagannath is called husband and wife (Lord Jagannath and Lakshmi) Nandighosh, the chariot carrying Balabhadra is seat face to face on the porch in the sanctum of called Taladhwaja and the chariot carrying the Gundicha Temple. Goddess Lakshmi secretly Subhadra is called Darpadalan. All the deities start applies that Moha Churna on Lord Jagannath their nine days journey from the temple with a and requests Him to return to Srimandir. Jagannath grand procession called Pahandi ceremony with gives His consent by offering Agyan Mala (a servitors, Vedadhai and devotees. The garland of consent) which goddess accepts and procession is a most thrilling and spectacular after certain rituals She returns to Srimandir. incident. After the deities are kept in their Before returning to vent Her self-concealed anger respective chariots, the traditional Chherapanhara She orders one of Her attendants to damage a work is done by the Gajapati (King) of Puri who portion of the chariot of Lord Jagannath. A large is regarded as first servitor of Lord Jagannath. number of devotees congregate to see this event. All devotees anxiously wait to see this event. After Goddess Lakshmi then returns to Srimandira this event, chariots are drawn by lakhs of devotees through a separate path known as Heragohari to the Gundicha temple. The deities remain in the Lane. chariots on the first day and enter Gundicha temple on the second day. They reside at the Gundicha On the next day of Hera Panchami, three temple for the subsequent seven days. During this chariots stand facing to Gundicha temple (western seven days sojourn, a major ceremony celebrated gate) prepare the Dakhinamoda ceremony for in the Gundicha temple is Hera Panchami (on the return car festival (Bahuda Yatra). It takes three 5th day of Ratha Yatra). While Jagannath visits days to turn the face of chariots in south direction Gundicha temple with His brother and sister, His from main gate of the temple and park the same wife Lakshmi is left behind in the main temple (Sri at eastern gate (Nakachana Gate) through which Mandira) and also not even informed before His deities leave the temple.

77 Odisha Review July - 2013

The day before the Bahuda Ratha Yatra The deities are taken to the same chariots in which (Return Car Festival), is a most auspicious day they were brought and after some rituals for devotees in Gundicha temple. This day is particularly the traditional Chherapanhara known as Sandhya Darshan or Navami Darshan. (sweeping of the chariots) by the Gajapati of Puri, Some say it as Adap Mandap Darshan. In side the chariots are pulled by devotees back to the the temple where deities are worshipped is known main temple. It is considered auspicious to get a as Adap Mandap and also Mahabedi. It is said glimpse of the deities on their chariots. The and also narrated in Skanda Puran that those who colorful dance of devotees and other religious get the opportunity of seeing the deities at evening groups surcharge the entire atmosphere into a state time on this day, the auspiciousness and virtuous of excitement and the individual self merges into are ten times more than the day time. an inexplicable ecstasy. “Dibatad darshanam punyam ratrau There is no comparable God in the world dasagunam vabet” pantheon with intense human appeal, like Lord (Skanda Puran Ch.34 Sloka 10) Jagannath Who has become a humanized God, crossing all barriers of caste, creed and colour As per tradition on this day thousands of under the gigantic wheels of His chariot. The most devotees throng the temple to have darshan of distinctive feature of Rath Yatra of Puri is the close deities and partake of Mahaprasad with their and peculiar religious linkage of Gajapati of Puri family and offer to Brahmins for getting blessings. with Lord Jagannath. Sweeping of the chariots After spending seven days in the Gundicha temple, by the king before the multitude of devotees is the return journey of Jagannatha, Balabhadra, the height of religious devotion and greatness. Subhadra and Chakraraj Sudarshan starts on Besides such a grand festival of Lord Jagannath ninth day of car festival which is known as Bahuda suggests equality of human beings before the God. Yatra (Return Car Festival). The images of deities are brought from the temple through Nakachana Gate in a grand procession of Pahandi ceremony to the accompaniment of enchanting and Stotras by Brahmins and of the beats of cymbals Bhagaban Mahapatra, Sri Gundicha Vihar, Sarbodaya and gongs, the sounds of conches being blown. Nagar, Puri-752002.

78