Category Archives: Articles

The whole country understands Friday as Lakshmi’s day, but why is Lakshmi’s day Thursday in Odisha? I asked such an extraordinary question in a very ordinary manner to a Sadhu (holy man/ascetic). The Sadhu, who was resting tiredly under a banyan tree outside the Gundicha Temple, got up. Brushing himself off, he said, “Son! It’s […]

Jay Jagannath, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. The third name of this Ratha Yatra is:- (3) Mahavedi Mahotsav or Janmabedi or Antarvedi Yatra: Within the Gundicha Temple lies the ‘Yajnabedi’ (sacrificial altar) or ‘Mahavedi’ (great altar) where, during the time of Indradyumna, the idols (Bigraha) were first consecrated (pratishtha) by Brahma along with the performance of a […]

The word ‘Baruth’ means armor or shield (sānju or kabacha). She who protects beings from all crises like armor is ‘Varuthini’. Thus, the Ekadashi of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight) of Vaishakha month is named ‘Varuthini Ekadashi’. This means this Ekadashi rescues beings from all dangers. Its significance is heightened because it falls in the […]

Today, on the sacred Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) in the month of Vaishakha (Varuthini Ekadashi), as it coincides with Thursday, the special ritual ‘Danda Chhatra Niti’ is being observed in the Srimandir. Today in the Srimandir, after the completion of the Sandhyadhupa Puja (evening incense offering ritual), along with the Mailam Niti […]

Jay Jagannath, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. The second name of this Ratha Yatra is:- (2) Ghosha Yatra :- It is named Ghosha Yatra because Jagat ra Nath Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu, the Lord of the Universe, travels seated on the Nandighosha chariot with the purpose of proclaiming (ghoshana) the welfare (mangal) of the world. Additionally, because the […]

Jay Jagannath, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. Mahaprabhu’s world-famous Shri Gundicha Yatra is held every year from Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya (2nd day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha) until Ashadha Shukla Trayodashi (13th day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha) (Niladri Bije – the final return to the temple). This Ratha Yatra is known by various […]

Jay Jagannath, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya. Various Gundicha Yatras are observed in Srimandir. These are:- (1) Shakta Gundicha(2) Saura Gundicha(3) Shaiva Gundicha(4) Shri Gundicha (3) Shaiva Gundicha :- The ‘Shaiva Gundicha’ ritual (niti) is observed on the sacred Chaitra Shukla Ashtami tithi (8th day of the bright fortnight of the Chaitra month). The Mahajana servitors take […]

In the year when Vaishakha Shukla Navami (9th day of the bright fortnight of the Vaishakha month) falls on a Thursday coinciding with Shravana Nakshatra and Makara Rashi (Capricorn constellation), Shri Jagannath’s Raghunath Besha takes place. Shri Ramanujacharya introduced this Besha (attire/decoration). Gajapati Ramachandra Deb, in the 11th Anka (regnal year) of his reign, on […]

Brahman (the Absolute Reality) is the sole truth, and Mahaprabhu Jagannath is the embodiment of Brahman. The Paita or Upavita (sacred thread) is the identity marker of a Brahmin. This thread (sutra or suta), after being imbued with and consecrated (abhimantrita) with the essence of Brahmanhood, is wornby Brahmin men. It extends from the left […]

The whole country understands Friday as Lakshmi’s day, but why is Lakshmi’s day Thursday in Odisha? I asked such an extraordinary question in a very ordinary manner to a Sadhu (holy man/ascetic). The Sadhu, who was resting tiredly under a banyan tree outside the Gundicha Temple, got up. Brushing himself off, he said, “Son! It’s […]