Prabhu Sudarshan in Banajaga Yatra

During the Banajaga rituals, Sudarshan, along with Prabhu Shree Nrusimha, guides the search for the Daru trees. He is placed on the left of Maa Mangala during her consecration and later at the base of the selected Daru tree before the Yagna for Daru Chhedan (cutting) begins. Astra Puja (worship of cutting tools) is performed, involving three axes (gold, silver, and iron) and an iron billhook. These tools are sanctified with the Astra Mantra, of which Sudarshan is the deity.

After the Yagna, the Acharyas sacrifice a watermelon with the billhook, chanting the Sudarshan Mantra, and then use the sanctified axes to cut the Daru tree. This process is repeated for each Daru. The Daru logs, covered in silk, are then transported to Koili Baikuntha in the Sri Mandir on hand-pulled carts. Sudarshan leads the cart carrying Jagannath’s Daru, tied to its front. This marks the end of the Bahirbanajaga rituals. Sudarshan, representing the Chakras in our backbone, is not just a weapon but a symbol of consciousness and the destroyer of evils, playing a crucial role in the renewal of the divine forms.

                         Sudarshan: The Divine Guide of Nabakalebara’s Sacred Journey