Nandighosa ratha: This chariot is of Lord Jagannatha, it is 45ft (13.71 m) high and has sixteen wheels. The fabric of the roof is in red and yellow colour. A wheel is placed on the top of the chariot.Taladhvaja ratha: This chariot belongs to Balabhadra. The height of this chariot is 44ft (13.2 m) and consists of fourteen wheels. The fabric colour of the roof is red and green. Tala fruit is placed on top of the chariot.Padmadhvaja ratha: Lady Subhadra's chariot is 43ft (12.9 m) in height and consist of twelve wheels. The fabric of roof is in red and black colour.There are side Deities on each of the chariot. Sudarsana is seated by the side of Lady Subhadra in Her chariot, Madanamohana sits in the Lord Jagannatha's chariot, and small Deities of Lord Rama and Krisna take their seats in the Balabhadra chariot. Thus total seven Deities are seated on the three chariots and are pulled by the devotees by the ropes tied to the chariots and taken to the Gundica temple which is about 3 km away from the main temple.Before Rathayatra begins some ceremonies are held in main temple:(1) Snana yatra festival: This ceremony is held on "Jyestha Purnima", when the main Deities along the Sudarsana are brought to the Snana Mandapa (a platform for 'snana', bathing) and are bathed around midday. One hundred and eight pots of water are poured on the Deities. The water is brought from a sacred well which is dear to the goddess Sitala. After bathing the Deities get elephant masks, which is called as Ganesa Vesa. Then the Deities are offered bhoga (cooked food) and arati. The Deities are then taken back to the temple in a procession and stay in retirement for fifteen days. The Deities are placed in the hallway between the inner and outer shrine in a semi-horizontal position. Here in this ceremony the general public can see the food offerings to the Deities, which is not possible any time in the year.(2) Anavasara festival: After Snana yatra Lord Jagannatha become 'sick' and suffers from fever. He is therefore moved to His private stay, there He is offered drugs which are prepared by the fruit juice. The dayitas (servants of Lord Jagannatha) take care of Lord. They sleep and stay there with the Deity. The word Anavasara is used when Lord Jagannatha is not seen in the temple.(3) Nibhrita festival: The fifteen-day period of resting and renovation is called Nibhrita. Honoring the isolation of His wife, goddess Laksmi, Lord Jagannatha lives there in privacy enjoying svakiya rasa. Then by taking Her (goddess Laksmi's) permission Lord Jagannatha comes out for His Rathayatra.(4) Anga-raga or Nava Yauvana festival: These festivals are held for the purpose of renovation of the Lord Jagannatha's body. After being washed the body of Lord Jagannatha needs repainting, This work is done by the dayitas, which takes two weeks to complete. Then the Deities are fully restored to youth (nava yauvana).(5) Netrotsava: This ceremony is performed in the inner shrine where the Deities are placed in semi-horizontal position. They have been fully painted, except their eyes. In this ceremony the eyes of the Deities are painted by their respected pujaris and the puja (worship) is started in the temple. The Deities are still in the same position.After completing the above ceremonies the Deities are taken out from the temple and placed in Their respective chariots on the Rathayatra day.The procession of the Deities from the temple to the chariot is the most colorful aspect of the Rathayatra. The chariots are brought and kept at front of the Simha Dvara facing north side before Rathayatra begins. In a traditional ceremonial manner first Sudarsana is brought from the temple and put on to the chariot of Lady Subhadra. Balabhadra as elder in the family is placed in His chariot first, followed by Lady Subhadra and Lord Jagannatha.While bringing the Deities of Balabhadra and Lord Jagannatha out of the temple they are made to swing forward and backward in a manner called "pahandi". As the Deities are extremely heavy they need many strong men to move them. Each Deity is provided with thick soften ropes around their body. By taking assistance from the pujaris who hold the ropes, the dayitas move the Deities. As the main Deities arrive on Their respective chariots ,the small Deities of Lord Rama and Krisna are placed on the Balabhadra's chariot and Madanamohana Deity is placed on Lord Jagannatha's chariot. All Deities are then refreshed and offered fresh garlands. At this time in a palanquin the king of Jagannatha Puri arrives and sweeps the street in front of the chariots with a golden handled broom-stick and sprinkles the ground with fragrant waters.After all these rituals completed the Rathayatra begins with the Balabhadra chariot going first as He is elder. Then follows chariot of Subhadra and then follows chariot of Lord Jagannatha. The chariots of Lady Subhadra and Balabhadra reach directly the Gundica temple, whereas the chariot of Lord Jagannatha stops at his mausima (aunt's) goddess Ardhamsini temple. Here the Lord is offered poda pitha (fried cheese cake). Then the chariot of Lord Jagannatha proceeds towards the Gundica temple and usually reaches it next day. After reaching the Gundica temple the Deities take rest on their chariots for another day, then They are taken into the sanctum of the Gundica temple. While staying in the Gundica temple for seven days the Deities receive all the routine rituals as in the main temple.On the 10th day, fortnight of Ashadha, the Deities are brought back on their respective chariots and pulled back to the main temple. This is known as Bahuda yatra. While returning to the main temple Lord Jagannatha stops again at His mausima (goddess Ardhamsini) temple and receives bhoga (poda pitha). He then proceeds towards the king's palace where He has a meeting with goddess Laksmi and continues his Yatra. The Rathayatra reaches an end in Jagannatha temple at night and the Deities spend Their night in Their rathas till morning.Next day in the morning on Bada Ekadasi the Deities are dressed in the Suna Vesa (golden dress). Arms and feet made of pure gold are attached to the Deities and are decorated by putting on Them golden ornaments and golden crowns. This day is considered to be the most auspicious day of the festival. The devotees make pradaksina of the ratha (moving around the chariots). After a few hours the golden ornaments are removed from the Deities and brought back to the temple. As usual first comes Balabhadra, then Subhadra and then Lord Jagannatha in a traditional procession among huge assembly of thousands of devotees.Lord Jagannatha faces a tough time when He tries to enter into the temple, as goddess Laksmi is angry with Lord Jagannatha because He went to Rathayatra along with His brother and sister. She also expresses Her anger by going to the Gundica temple on 5th day of the festival. The devadasis (servants of goddess Laksmi) close the Simha Dvara and ultimately open it again but close the Jaya Vijaya Dvara, hear songs comprising of dialogues exchanged between devadasis and dayitas. Then Lord Jagannatha tells goddess Laksmi if He is allowed to enter into the temple. He will present her many gifts. Listening to this, goddess Laksmi allows Lord Jagannatha to enter into the temple. Thus Rathayatra is completed.
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