Jagannath Temple, Puri – Veshas (Dresses)
Daily Dresses:
Cemedi Vesha:
Every morning for Mangala Arati, Lord Jagannatha is dressed in a cotton sari.
This is called Cemedi Vesha.
Tadapa Vesha:
For taking his morning bath, Lord Jagannatha is dressed
in a 16’ long by 4’ wide orange and white cotton cloth. This is called Tadapa Vesha.
Utari Vesha:
Utari means chadar or wrapper. After his morning Darshan, Lord Jagannatha wears a 24’
long silk cloth as a chadar.
Makhamala Vesha: After the Bada Shringara Vesha,
Lord Jagannatha is dressed in a special white cloth for sayanalila, his pastime
of taking rest. This is called Makhamala Vesha.
Special
Dresses:
In addition to different daily dresses offered to Lord
Jagannatha, His servant offers him special dresses at different special time of
the year. Some of them are listed below;
Month of Vaisakha (April – May):
Chandan
Vesha:
Chandan Vesha is done for 42 days, every third bright
day of the month Vaisakha (April-May) starting from Akshaya Tritiya day.
Faring, sandal paste oil on the body of deity and decoration of flowers (Chula,
Alaka, and Topar) is known as Chandan Vesha. First 21 days from Akshaya Tritiya
are known as outer Chandan yatra and second 21 days are known as inner Chandan
yatra. In first 21 days beginning from Akshaya Tritiya, the Lord Madan Mohan,
representative of Lord Jagannath along with Sreedevi (Lakshmi) and Bhudevi (Saraswathi)
ascending on Biman, Ram and Krishna in a palki along with local Sivas
(Jameswar, Lokanath, Kapala Mochan, Markandeswar and Neelkanth) goes in
procession to Narendra Tank for bath and boat journey.
Month of Jyestha (May – June):
Rukmini Harana
Vesha:
The tenth canto of Shrimad Bhagavatam describes how
Krishna kidnapped Rukmini and accepted her as his wife. At that time, he came
dressed as a powerful king. To commemorate this story, on the Sukla Ekadasi of
the month of Jyestha Sri Madan Mohan dresses as an opulent ruler.
Hati
Vesha:
Hati means elephant. The full moon day of the month of
Jyestha is the occasion of Lord Jagannatha’s Snana Yatra, when the
Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Deities are bathed. Snana means
bathing. This is done on Jyestha Purnima. The main deities along with Sudarsana disc
are bought to the snana mandapa (a platform in front of the temple).
Around mid-day 108 pots of water are poured on the deities from a sacred well
which is dear to the goddess Sitala. An emissary of the king of Orissa
ceremonially sweeps the platform. Then elephant-head masks are put on the deities.
This is their Hati Vesha (Elephant dress). The deities are then offered
cooked food and an arati is performed. This is the only time in a year
that the public can see a food offering to the deities.
Month of Asadha (June – July):
Suna
Vesha:
The Suna Vesha consists of many solid gold
ornaments. The 11th day of
the bright fortnight in the month of Ashadha is known in Orissa
as Bahuda Ekadasi, when the deities return from the Gundicha temple on
their chariots; they appear in the Suna (Gold) Vesha when they have arrived in their
cars near the Lion Gate of Jagannatha Temple. They are decorated
with golden ornaments and wear gold crowns. Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra
appear with hands and feet made of gold. Lord Jagannath holds a golden chakra
in his right hand and a silver conch shell in his left. Lord Balabhadra holds a
golden club in his right hand and a golden plough in his left.
Month of Sravana (July – August):
Chita Lagi
Vesha:
In Orissa the new moon day in the month of
Sravana is known as Chita Lagi Amavasya. Lord Jagannatha for
most of the year wears a golden flower ornament on his forehead known as Chita.
On the Snana Purnima day this ornament is removed. On the Chita
Lagi Amavasya it is again put on the forehead of Lord Jagannatha.
Rahurekha
Lagi Vesha:
On Snana Yatra day in the karna patra or
golden earring of lord Jagannatha are removed. On the fifth day of the bright
moon of the month of Sravana they are again put on the Deities. This is known
as the Rahurekha Lagi Vesha.
Month of Bhadrapada (August – September):
During the month of Bhadrapada Jagannatha is offered
several special dresses. After Janmashtami, from the Dasami to
the Dwadasi, three different dresses, all relating to Krishna’s pastimes
in Vraja, are worn by Lord Jagannatha, Vanabhojana Vesha, Kaliya
Damana Vesha and Pralamba Vadha Vesha. The King of Puri takes
charge of all these dresses.
Vanabhojana
Vesha:
The Vanabhojana Vesha is offered to the deities
on the tenth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada. Lords
are dressed like cowherd boys going on a picnic in the forest with their
friends. Many Gopis, Gopas, Cows, Birds and Peacocks made of Sola are
placed on the altar to create the mood of Vrindavana. Vana means
forest, and Bhojana means to take one’s meal.
Kaliya
Damana Vesha:
This Besha is being celebrated to commemorate how
Krishna controlled the proud Kaliya, the multi hooded snake residing
in Kalandi, lake at the bank of river Yamuna and forced him to
quit the lake along with his family. A huge snake is built (30 feet) long for
the Besha purpose. The hood of the snake placed at the feet of Sri Jagannath at
the time Besha. Everything is made of Sola. This Besha is continued
till completion of Sandhya Dhupa. (Evening dhupa).
Pralamba
Sura Vesha:
On the 12th day dark fortnight of the month of the
month of Bhadraba Jagannatha is offered the Vesha known as Pralamba
Sura or Pralamba Vadha. In the Krishna Lila (Dwapar yuga) to
celebrate the killing of a demon named Pralamba Sura by Lord
Balarama, Lord Balaram (Baladeva) wears this decoration known as the Pralamba
Vadha Vesha. This Besha is made on Baladeva only while Jagannath & Subhadra
remain in general form.
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