।। Best wishes for the Sacred Snan Purnima ।।

Today is the auspicious Janmashtami Purnima day, or Snan Purnima, or the great Janmashtami bathing festival. Today, the Great Lord will take a bath on the pilgrimage. In the world, there are no such pilgrims whose journey is for bathing. They bathe every day, but instead of bathing, a mirror is kept in front of them and their reflection falls in it. That mirror is called Bimba Snan (bathing in the image). But today, the bathing is called Pratyek Snan (direct bathing).

This bathing festival is a play based on a Vedic foundation. When the Great Lord manifested, this bathing occurred first, therefore it is called the first play of Daru Brahma (wooden Brahma). After the Great Lord took the form of Daru Brahma, this bathing play was performed in an auspicious time by Maharaja Indradyaumna. At that time, there was no bathing platform, so a wooden platform was constructed and the bathing ritual was completed on it. Therefore, in the scriptures, it is mentioned as Manchasnaan (bathing on a platform). According to the scriptures, the first play of Daru Brahma was completed in 108 Snan Kalashas (pots) filled with consecrated holy water. Following that Vedic tradition, the Snan Yatra is being conducted in the same way today.

The day before Purnima, the priests enter the temple of the Deva Jan in the temple complex, and the four-cornered boundary is tied. The Sena Pata (war banner) and Bahuti (umbrella) of the Lord are adorned. The precious throne is adorned with Mangalarpan. The Snan Mandap (bathing platform) becomes anxious as the Great Lord will come, and the devotees are eager for the arrival of the dear Lord. When He arrives, His name is Dhadi Pahanidi (the leading priest). He comes with a Dhadi (procession) and the Chhatra (umbrella) sways with the ringing of the Ganta (bell), and the devotees welcome Him in the Snan Mandap. The Madan Mohan (the beloved) is greeted by the humble devotees. And the Aarti (worship) ceremony begins.

According to the prescribed ritual, 35 Garas (decorated vessels) are for Jagannath, 33 for Balabhadra, 22 for Subhadra, and 18 for Sudarsana. In this order, the Chaturdhamurti (four deities) bathe in auspicious water. After the Snan ritual, the Chera Pahara (a specific ritual) will be performed. This time, the representative of Gajapati (the ruler) will perform the Chera Pahara ritual of the Mudirasta.

South-facing, in Vishnu Snan Kala, the best of kings.
Those who see Vishnuornirajanaviddhi, they see with devotion.
The result of the meditation on each step, it becomes the Lord’s abode.
The fulfillment of all desires occurs at that very moment.
Finally, they go to the abode of Vaikuntha, O humans.

(Skanda Purana, Utkala Khand)

Those who behold the South-facing Sri Jagannath and others in the Snan Mandap. Those who see the Aarti with devotion achieve the fruits of the Ashwamedha Yajna. Their all desires are fulfilled. At the end of the day, they go to the Vaikuntha abode. On this day, Gajanan (elephant-headed) attire is donned. On the initiative of the Raghavadas Matha, Devi Subhadra is adorned with a flower garland, Chandrika (moon-like ornament), and a Chhatri (umbrella). And by the Gopaltirth Matha, Sri Balabhadra and Sri Jagannath are adorned with Gajanan attire, and Sudarsana is adorned with a Chakra (discus). On this day, instead of three Dhupas (incense sticks), only one Dhupa is offered.

।। The Gajanan Attire ।।

Once, Brahmachari Ganapati Bhat of Maharashtra, having heard about the glory of Srikshetra, came to see the Lord Sri Jagannath. He was a devotee of Lord Ganesha. Therefore, seeing the wooden idol, not seeing the form of Gaja (elephant), he refused to acknowledge him as Parambrahma (supreme being) and left the temple in distress. The next day was Snan Purnima. On the order of the chief priest, Ganapati Bhat was invited to witness the bathing journey. Before his eyes, the wooden idol transformed into the form of Ganesha. Seeing this miraculous event, he attained enlightenment and understood his mistake. In response to his prayer, the Lord granted him a boon. Every year, on the Chaturdhamurti Snan Purnima, the Lord dons the Gajabesh (elephant attire).

After the besha (attire) and olagi (procession), the Thakura (deities) return to the Sri Mandir in one Pahandi. After the Thakura are adorned in the Ansar Pindi (a mound of earth) inside, the Potti Murti (temporary idol) is installed. Then, this Chaturdhamurti remains feverish for a long 15 days from Snan Purnima to Netrotsav (the day of the eyes). During this time, devotees are deprived of seeing the Chaturdhamurti. At this time, the devotees behold Alarnath, who is worshipped in Brahmagiri.

Today on Snana Purnima, the Lord of the Universe emerges for a divine spectacle—the sacred bathing festival. This isn’t a symbolic bath; it’s the Pratyek Snan, a direct bathing ceremony with 108 pots of consecrated water, just as it was first performed for the Daru Brahma by Maharaja Indradyumna.