Snana Yatra

Snana yatra in Puri 2003

Snan yatra at Soho St temple in London

A special bath of Jagannath takes place on the Purnima of Jyestha month (De asnan Purnima!" to commemorate the appearance day of Lord Jagannath# According to Skanda Purana $hen %a&a 'ndradyumna installed the $ooden deities he arranged this bathing ceremony# (his day considered to be the birth) day of Lord &agannath# *eld in the full)moon day of the month of Jyestha this

festi al is also simultaneously held in all other important Puri" it attracts thousands of isitors and pilgrims from all o er the country# +,iladri -ohadaya+" a religious te.t $ritten in /rissan (/riya! records the rituals of the festi al# Sriharsa in his +naisadhiya 0harita+ (12#34! also refers to this festi al of Purushottama# (his bathing ceremony has a speciality# As this festi al does not find mention in the early religious te.ts" it is belie ed to be a tribal ceremony# Lord#Jagannath in *is early form $as being $orshipped as ,ilamadha a by a Sa ara chief called 2is$abasu# (he story is nicely told in the drama Jagannath Priyan natakam# (ill no$ it is the Daitas and Sa ars (tribals! $ho ha e the e.clusi e right to conduct the festi al# (he tribals called Saoras (of southern /rissa! still perform a rite to bath their Deities ceremonially on the last day of the month of Jyestha# 5or this they collect $ater from remote Jungles $here it remains untouched e en by the shado$ of the animals# /n the pre ious day of Snana 6atra the images of Jagannath" 7alabhadra and Subhadra along $ith the image of Sudarshana are ceremonially brought out from the sanctum in a procession to the Snana) edi (7athing pandal!# (his special pandal in the temple precinct of Puri is called Snana -andap# 't is at such a height that isitors standing outside the temple also gate a glimpse of the Deities#
/n the fourteenth day (0haturdashi ) the day before the bathing ) Purnima! $hen the Deities are taken out in procession" the $hole process is called Pahandi or Pahandi i&ay# Scholars ha e gi en different interpretations of the term (+Pahandi+!# Some opine that it has been deri ed from the term +Praspanda+ meaning mo ement# Some others are inclined to interpret it as deri ation from Pandya i&aya# 5or the festi al the the Snana 2edi (bathing platform! is $ell decorated $ith traditional paintings of trees and gardens# 5lags and toranas (arches strung $ith mango lea es! are also put up# (he Deities are profusely decorated $ith flo$ers# All kinds of perfumes such as Dhupa (incense!" Aguru (oils! etc# are then offered# As the +Pahandi+ of the Deities takes place to the accompaniment of music and beating of arious indigenous drums# (housands of de otees &ostle and cra e for a look at the Deities in procession#

'n Puri the bathing procedure is as follo$s8 After -angala Arati" the Suaras and -ahasuaras go in a ceremonial procession to fetch $ater from Suna 9ua (:olden $ell! in one hundred and thirty" essels of copper and gold# All of them co er their mouths $ith a piece of cloth so as not to contaminate it e en $ith their breath# (hen all the essels filled $ith $ater are preser ed in the 7hoga -andap# (he Palla pandas (a class of 7rahmin priests! then purify the $ater $ith *aridra (turmeric!" Ja a ($hole rice!" 7enachera" 0handan" Aguru" flo$ers" perfumes and medicinal herbs#

(he bathing festi al takes place during the morning hours of the purnima tithi# (he filled essels are carried from 7hoga -andap to the Snana 2edi by the Suaras in a long single)line procession# (his ritual is called +Jaladhibasa+ (Jala ) $ater" abhishek ) bath!# Prior to the bathing ceremony Jagannath" 7alade a and is Subhadra" co ered in silken cloth and then smeared $ith red po$der" are taken in procession to a platform $hich is specially decorated and purified $ith $ater and incense# /ne hundred and eight gold essels are filled $ith $ater taken from a special $ell containing $aters from all the holy tirthas# Abhiseka is performed $ith this $ater" accompanied by the chanting of edic (Pa amana Sukta! mantras" kirtana and blo$ing of conch shells# Due to the amount of bathing li;uids that are offered to cool the Lord+s transcendental body at this time" bear in mind that this is the hottest time in 'ndia &ust prior to the refreshing monsoon rains" *is painted form takes a bit of a $ash)out# (he colouration of the Deity+s faces are painted on $ith natural earthly mineral paints not modern oil based paints" so $hen $ater is applied to cool (heir forms it also has the effect of $ashing a$ay the features of he former painting# As usual the Lord has a plan to make e erything go smoothly# (o bridge the episode of *is bathing and the period that *e comes out to bless e eryone for %athyatra *e organi<ed some special pastimes by $hich he de otees can ser e *im and remember *is $onderful forms# So to keep a $onderful mood of seeing the Lord in an uplifting manner the Lord arranged for the *ati 2esha festi al $here Lord Jagannatha and Lord 7alaram then puts on the elephant dress" *ati 2esha" and Lady Subhadra $ears a lotus flo$er esha#

-elbourne" Australia 200=

Jagannatha" 7alarama and Subhadra (from London+s Soho St# temple! perform *ati 2esha (elephant mask! festi al at 7hakti edanta -anor" Sunday >th June" 200?#

(he original story is told in se eral different $ays" some call *ati snan (elephant bath! some call :anesh abhishek as they identify the follo$ing story as being the original cause of the Lord to $ear this elephant esh for *is de otee8 't is said that a staunch de otee of Lord :anesh and himself a profound
scholar isited Puri during Snana 6atra# *e $as amply re$arded by the king of /rissa for his scholarship# (he king asked the scholar to accompany him to see Lord Jagannath $hich he refused under the prete.t that he $ouldn+t $orship any @:od@ other than his 'shthade ata :anesh# Someho$ he $as persuaded and brought before the Snana edi# (o the utter surprise of all" Lord Jagannath appeared $ith an elephantine form that resembled as :anesh# Since then during Snana 6atra $hen the sacred bath is performed" the Deities are dressed like like elephants ) resembling :anesh# 2arious other legends are also told and reasons assigned e.plaining the :anesh besa ( esha!#

During the sacred bath the colours painted on the images generally fade# seeing the $ooden deities in discolour de otees may not ha e the appropriate de otional attitude and in fact may feel sinful repugnance# 5or this reason" the images are immediately dressed in the *ati esha (besa! in $hich they remain mostly co ered# After the Snana 6atra" the Deities are kept a$ay from public ie$ for fifteen days and during all these days the daily rites of the temple remain suspended# As Jagannatha himself instructed" after this ceremony" he is not seen for a fortnight# (he Deities are kept on a special @sick room@ called the %atan edi inside the temple# (his period is called +Anabasara kala+ meaning improper time for $orship# 't has been said earlier that the Deities are discoloured as a result of the sacred bath ) some say look a bit off colour######## During these fifteen days the Daitas (descendants of 2is$a asu" the Sa ara! repaint and restore the Deities and Jagannath+s fine decorations# (he period of colouring and decorating the Deities is di ided into se en short periods" each of t$o days duration" and a short period of one day set apart to gi e finishing touches# (hus the period co ers the $hole fortnight# /n the =>th day the Deities in their ne$ forms after reno ation become ready for the public ie$ ) darshan# (he festi al of the first appearance of the Lord Jagannath to his de otees is called ,etrotsa a (festi al for the eyes! or ,a a 6au anotsa a (festi al of the e er ne$ youth!# According to priests of the Jagannath temple the de otee $ashes a$ay all his sins if he gets a ision of the Lord on this day# /n this occasion" therefore" great rush of people occurs in the temple# (he Shilpa Shastras and Agamas testify that the Deities become suitable for $orship only after the performance of the rite of +0hakshyu Anmilana+ (/pening of the eyes!# During +Anabasara+" the Daitas offer to the Deities only fruits and $ater mi.ed $ith cheese" and and Dasa mula medicines to cure his fe er## 'n a de otional mood the de otees accept that due to all the bathing the Lord becomes transcendentally poorly" and therefore needs to take rest# Like human beings they are considered to ha e fallen ill and are treated by the %a& 2aidya or the 9ing+s physician $ith specific medicines (Dasamulas!# (he temple)festi als $hich are held in a bigger and elaborate scale in the important shrines of Puri and 7hubanes$ar are also held simultaneously in all other small shrines of the respecti e Deities" though in modest scales# Like$ise the Snana 6atra is held in many other temples of /rissa" and no$ all o er the $orld# /ther deities may also recei e abhiseka on this day# /ne should perform pu&a and bathe the Deities $ith $ater or panca ga ya and pancamrta $hile chanting the edic mantras like purusa sukta# Snan yatra significance and festi al e.plained

Jagannath Temple

Snana Mandap

God on the Snana Mandap

Also known as : Devasnana Purnima or Bathing Festival Falls on : Full moon day of the Jyeshtha Month (11th June 2006)

Devasnana Purnima or "Snana Yatra" is exclusively a festival of Lord Jagannatha and is said to e one of the oldest! "ccording to "S#anda Purana" $hen %a&a '(ndradyumna' installed the $ooden deities he arranged this athing ceremony! This day is considered to e the irthday of Lord Jagannatha! )eld in the full*moon day of the month of 'Jyestha' this festival is also simultaneously held in all other important shrines of +rissa! )o$ever, the festival eing most ela orate and important at Puri, it attracts thousands of visitors and pilgrims from all over the country! Religious Belief '-iladri Mohadaya', a religious text $ritten in +rissa records the rituals of the festival! 'Sriharsa' in his '-aisadhiya .harita' also refers to this festival of "Purusottama"! This athing ceremony has a specialty! "s this festival does not find mention in the early religious texts, it is elieved to e a tri al ceremony, $hich later crept into the )indu rites! Jagannatha in its early form $as eing $orshipped as "-ilamadha a" y a 'Savara' chief called "/is$a asu"! Till no$ it is the 'Daitas' and 'Savaras' 0tri als1 $ho have the exclusive right to conduct the festival! The tri als called "Saoras" elonging to the southern part of +rissa still perform a rite to ath their deities ceremonially on the last day of the month of Jyestha! 2or this they collect $ater from remote &ungles $here it remains untouched even y the shado$ of the animals! Most pro a ly $hen Jagannatha $as a Savara God, this festival of the Savaras $ho tended )im $as accepted y the )indus! The Bathing Pandal +n the previous day of Snana Yatra the images of 'Jagannatha', '3ala hadra' and 'Su hadra' along $ith the image of 'Sudarshana' are ceremonially rought out from the sanctum in a procession to the "Snana*/edi" 03athing 'Pandal'1! This special pandal in the temple precinct of Puri is celled "Snana Mandapa"! (t is at such a height that visitors standing outside the temple also get a glimpse of the deities! "fter 'Mangala "lati', the 'Suaras' and 'Mahasuaras' go in a

ceremonial procession to fetch $ater from "Suna 4ua" 0Golden $ell1 in one hundred and thirty, vessels of copper! "ll of them cover their mouths $ith a piece of cloth! Then all the vessels filled $ith $ater are preserved in the "3hoga Mandapa"! The 'Palla Pandas' 0a class of '3rahms' priests1 then purify the $ater $ith ')aridra', 'Ja a', '3enachera', '.handan', '"guru', flo$ers, perfumes and medicinal her s! +n the fourteenth day 0'.haturdashi'1 $hen the idols are ta#en out in procession, the $hole process is called "Pahandi" or "Pahandi /i&aya"! Scholars have given different interpretations of the term 0'Pahandi'1! Some spea# out that it has een derived from the term 'Praspanda' meaning movement! +thers are inclined to interpret it as a derivation from Pandya /i&aya! 2or the festival the Snana /edi is $ell decorated $ith traditional paintings of trees and gardens! 2lags and 'toranas' 0arches1 are also put up! The images are profusely decorated $ith flo$ers! "ll #inds of perfumes such as 'Dhupa', '"guru' etc! are then offered! "s the 'Pahandi' of the deities ta#es place to the accompaniment of music and eating of various indigenous drums! Thousands of devotees &ostle and crave for a loo# at the deities in procession! Legend The athing festival ta#es place during the morning hours of the Purnima! The filled vessels are carried from 3hoga Mandap to the Snana /edi y the Suaras in a long single*line procession! This ritual is called "Jaladhi asa"! Prior to the athing ceremony the images are covered $ith sil#en clothes and then smeared $ith red po$der! Then $ater is poured, the rituals performed and 'Pavamana' hymns chanted! "fter the ath the deities are so dressed that together they appear li#e the image of Ganesha! This is called "Ganesha esa"! (t is said that a staunch devotee of Lord Ganesha and himself a profound scholar visited Puri during Snana Yatra, he $as amply re$arded y the #ing of +rissa for his scholarship! The #ing as#ed the scholar to accompany him to see Lord Jagannatha, $hich he refused under the pretext that he $ouldn't $orship any God other than Ganesha! Someho$ he $as persuaded and rought efore the Snana /edi! To the utter surprise of all, Lord Jagannatha appeared as Ganesha! Since, then during Snana Yatra $hen the sacred ath is performed, the deities are dressed li#e Ganesha! /arious other legends are also told and reasons assigned explaining the Ganesha esa! A Colourful Depiction Of Deities During the sacred ath the colours painted on the images generally fade! Seeing the $ooden deities in discolour devotees may not have the appropriate devotional attitude and in fact may feel sinful

repugnance! 2or this reason the images are immediately dressed as Ganesha in $hich they remain mostly covered! "fter the Snana Yatra, the images are #ept a$ay from pu lic vie$ for fifteen days and during all these days the daily rites of the temple remain suspended! The images are #ept on the '%atna /edi' inside the temple! This period is called ""na asara" meaning improper time for $orship! (t has een said earlier that the images are discoloured as a result of the sacred ath! During these fifteen days the 'Daitas' 0descendants of '/is$avasu', the Savara1 repaint the images and ma#e decorations! The period of colouring and decorating the images is divided into seven short periods, each of t$o days duration, and a short period of one*day set apart to give finishing touches! Thus the period covers the $hole fortnight! +n the sixteenth day the images in their ne$ forms after renovation ecome ready for the pu lic vie$! The festival of the first appearance of the Lord Jagannatha to his devotees is called "-etrotsa a" or "-ava Yau ana" 0ne$ youth1! "ccording to popular elief the devotee $ashes a$ay all his sins if he gets a vision of the Lord on this day! +n this occasion, therefore, great rush of people occurs in the temple! The 'Shilpa Sastras' and "gamas testify that the images ecome suita le for $orship only after the performance of the rite of '.ha#shyu 5nmilana' 0+pening of the eyes1! During '"na asara', the Daitas offer to the deities only fruits and $ater mixed $ith cheese! "ccording to them during this time the deities don't #eep $ell and therefore, ta#e rest! Li#e human eings they are considered to have fallen ill and are treated y the '%a& /aidya' or the #ing's physician $ith specific medicines! The temple*festivals, $hich are held in a igger and ela orate scale in the important shrines of Puri and 3hu anes$ar, are also held simultaneously in all other small shrines of the respective deities, though in modest scales! Li#e$ise the Snana Yatra is held in many other temples of +rissa!