Jagannath Temple, Puri – Pooja Timings
Jagannatha is regarded as the
supreme god and the sovereign monarch of the Odishan empire. The entire ritual
pattern of Jagannatha has been conceived keeping such twin aspects in view. The
ritual system of the temple is very elaborate and complex involving a multitude
of functionaries above one thousand spread over one hundred categories. The
rituals of Jagannatha can broadly be divided into three parts - the daily, the
occasional and the festive. In Jagannatha temple these rituals assume the term
'niti'.
Daily
Rituals:
1. “Dwarpitha and Mangal
Aarati” at 5 a.m:
Dwara means door or entrance and Dwarpitha means opening
of doors and Mangala Aarati refers to auspicious lamp offerings to the deities
early in the morning. The door opens early in the morning in the presence of
five specific Sevayats namely (1) Bhitarachha Mahapatra, (2) Pratihari, (3)
Muduli, (4) Akhanda Mekapa and (5) Palia Mekapa after verification of the
“seal” given by a particular sevayet known as Taluchha Mahapatra in the last
night. Soon after the opening of the door, Mangal Aarati is performed.
2. “Mailam” at 6 a.m:
This means removal or taking off the clothes, dress,
flowers, Tulasi etc. of the previous night. The schedule time of this niti is
about 6.00 am in the morning. But it depends on the time taken for Mangala Arati.
The sevakas associated with this niti are (1) three Pushpalakas, (2) Khuntia,
(3) Changda Mekapa and (4) Dhoba. Pushpalaka sevakas change the clothes,
flowers and Tulasi leaves of the deities worn on the previous night. After
removal of clothes, the deities wear another set of clean and washed clothes.
It is known as tadapalagi. The clothes are called “Tadapa” and “Uttariya” like
towels. These are made of cotton worn by the deities for morning bath. As per
the tradition, these clothes are washed by the Dhoba sevaka in the kunda (water
tank) near Bata Ganesa. This Dhoba sevaka is actually Brahmin by caste.
3. “Abakash” – 6 a.m. to 6.30
a.m:
Purificatory rites like brushing of teeth and bath is
known as “Abakash”. At this time, Temple Jyotish (Astrologer) reads out the
tithi (day and date) and other astrological details of the day and according to
that, that day’s rituals are performed.
4. “Mailam” 6.45 a.m:
At this time deities change their clothes (Tadap and
Uttariya) and wear another set of clothes. A sevak known as “Akhanda Mekap”
keeps in the sanctum Akhanda Baitha i.e. one lamp which burns till “Pahuda” or
the time of the retirement of the deities to bed.
5. “Sahanamela” – 7 a.m. to 8
a.m:
Though this is not a part of the rituals, but about one
hour is spent to facilitate pilgrims to go up to “Ratnavedi” or inner sanctums
to have a Darshan, without paying fees for it. On certain festive days,
Sahanamela is held after “Sandhya dhupa” (Evening Puja or Sandhya Aarati in the
month of Kartik and after Sakaldhupa in the month of Pausha). Sometimes this
darshan is not allowed for some special rituals of the deities
6. “Beshalagi” – 8 a.m:
After Sahanamela the deities are again dressed up which
can be witnessed from a little distance i.e. “Bhitara Katha”. At this time,
Deities are also adorned with gold and precious stones to suit different
festive occasions.
7. Rosha Homa Surya Puja and
Dwarapal – 8 a.m. to 8.30 a.m:
At this time, puja is performed by three Pujapandas with
16 Upachars or Sodasha Upachars. Three Pujapandas used to sit on Ratnasimhasana
to worship three deities Shri Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath. The
Pujapanda who worships Lord Jagannath also worships Sri Devi, Bhudevi, and
Sudarshan. The morning bhoga or food offered to the deities contains Rice,
Kanika, Khechudi, Green leaves, Cakes etc. The local names of the Bhog are
Pitha Puli, Hansakeli, Kanti, Enduri, Matha Puli, Kakatua Jhili, Bundia, Kadali
Bhaja, Ada Pachedi (ginger tonic) etc. The cost of the dhoop Pujas and Ballavs
are borne by the temple administration. Previously, Raja-Superintendent of the
temple, used to bear the cost of materials for preparation of Bhoga. So, these
Bhogas are also called “Raja Bhoga” or “Kotha Bhoga”.
8. Gopala Ballava Puja – 9 a.m:
The prescribed time is 9 A.M. This is the time for
breakfast of the deities. At this time sweet popcorn (Khai), Khualadus, Coconut
sweets (Kora), Ripe banana, Curd, and chipped coconuts etc. are offered as
bhogas. Puja is performed in a brief manner with pancha upachar only.
9. Sakala Dhupa (Morning food
offering) 10 a.m:
At this time puja is performed by three Pujapandas with
16 Upachars or Sodasha Upachars. Three Pujapandas used to sit on Ratnasinhasana
to worship three deities Shri Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath. The
Pujapanda who worships Lord Jagannath also worships Sri Devi, Bhudevi, and
Sudarshan. The morning bhoga or food offered to the deities contains Rice,
Kanika, Khechudi, Green leaves, Cakes etc. The local names of the Bhog are
Pitha Puli, Hansakeli, Kanti, Enduri, Matha Puli, Kakatua Jhili, Bundia, Kadali
Bhaja, Ada Pachedi (ginger tonic) etc. The cost of the dhoop Pujas and Ballavs
are borne by the Temple Administration. Previously Raja-Superintendent of the
temple born the cost of materials for preparation of Bhoga. So, these Bhogas
are also called “Raja Bhoga” or “Kotha Bhoga”.
10. Mailam and Bhoga
Mandap:
After Morning Dhupa or Puja the Deities change their
clothes and again Puja takes places in “Bhoga Mandap”, a place behind the Garuda
pillar of Jagamohan. Huge quantity of Bhogas such as Rice, Dal, Curries, Saga
and Cakes of different kinds etc. are offered to the Deities. Pujapandas
worship this bhog with Pancha Upacharas. The cost of Bhoga Mandap offerings are
not borne by the state or temple administration. This bhoga is mainly prepared
to meet the need of different mathas and for sale to the general public.
According to the demand, Bhogamandap Puja is made twice or thrice a day i.e.
after “Madhyanha Dhoop” and “Sandhya Dhup” also.
11. Madhyanha (Afternoon food
offering) 11 A.M. to 1 P.M:
Like Sakal Dhupa, this puja is also performed with
Shodasha Upachar in the afternoon. The Bhoga items are more in number than that
of Morning Dhupa. One can go near to the “Ratna Simhasan” for darshan by paying
special Darshan fee of Rs. 10/- after Madhyanha Dhupa and Sakal Dhupa.
12. Madhyanha Pahudha – 1 p.m.
to 1.30 p.m:
If rituals have been performed in time and if time
permits, the Deities retire for the afternoon.
13. Sandhya Aarati:
In the evening again aaratis are performed after
Madhyana Dhupa Mailam. On Ekadashi day, the deities change their clothes and
wear another set after “Aarati” is over.
14. Sandhya Dhupa – 7 p.m. to
8 p.m:
After “Sandhya Aarati” again Bhogas are offered to the
deities in the same manner as Sakala and Madhyanha Dhupa but this time Bhoga
amount is less in quantity and number. After Puja again lamp offering is made
which is called as “Jaya Mangala Aarati”.
15. Mailam and Chandana Lagi:
After “Sandhya Dhoopa” deities change their clothes and
are annointed with Sandal paste mixed with camphor, keshar and Kasturi. One can
witness this ritual by paying special Darshan fees of Rs. 10/-.
16. Badashringar Vesha:
After chandanalagi, the deities are dressed up again
which is known as Badasinghara besa. This time they wear Baralagi pata (silken
robes). Some portion of the Gitagovinda of Jayadeva is woven into the texture
of these robes. The deities wear flower, flower garlands and floral headgear. This
besa is very attractive to look at. It is worth mentioning that Jagannath
Ballabha Matha supplies flower ornaments like Tilaka and Jhumpa for this besa
of the deities. Similarly, the Emar Matha supplies Chandrika and Chausara, made
of flowers for this besa of the deities.
17. Badashringara Bhog:
This is the last bhoga of the day offered around 11.00
pm at night. For this, bhoga puja is performed by the Pujapanda sevakas
following the principle of Pancha upacharas, sitting on the floor down the
Ratnavedi. This time the quantity of bhoga is much less and the items are
Pakhala and Kanji, some fries like Kadalibada and sweets like khiri.
Thereafter, the Badasinghara Dhupa arati is offered to the deities by the
Pujapanda sevakas.
18. Khata Seja Lagi and Pahuda
12.00 a.m:
The bedsteads of the deities are arranged. The Deity of
“Sayan Thakura” is carried from Bhandarghar to Ratnavedi or Ratnasimhasana and
place the deity near Lord Jagannath. Then follows offering of green coconut,
betels and camphor Aarati and then deities retire to their beds. The door is
sealed then by the Sevayat (Talichha Mohapatra). Temple is closed, and no
visitors or outsiders are allowed to remain inside.
This is in brief the daily rituals observed in the
temple. It is generally not possible to follow the time prescribed for each
ritual on account of various practical difficulties. On the specific festive
days, additional rituals are performed. As a result, changes in timings and
alterations in the routine rituals are made.
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