Jagannath Temple, Puri – Veshas (Dresses)

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.

Bada Shringara Vesha:

For brief details, please refer below link;

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 11^th 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.