Category Archives: Articles

In the sacred city of Srikshetra Puri, where the flag of a sky-touching temple flutters in the ocean breeze, resides the Lord of the Universe, Sri Jagannath. He is the single source of all major philosophies—Advaita, Dvaita, and more. Yet, a profound mystery surrounds Him. While deities across the world are carved from eternal stone […]

Among the Panchasakha (the five friends/saints of the Bhakti movement in Odisha), the great soul Matta Balaram Das was one of the foremost. He was the crest-jewel of devotees, a supremely accomplished and great saint from the soil of Odisha, who considered Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath his everything and had completely surrendered himself at His divine […]

On the day of Karkata Sankranti, after the Sakala Dhupa (morning offering) and the Bhoga Mandapa Dhupa (offering at the Hall of Offerings) of the deities are completed, the Mailama (removal of old clothes and flowers) is performed, water is sprinkled inside, and the Mahasnana (great ceremonial bath) takes place. The deities on the three altars are then adorned with Boirani robes. The Pujapanda, Pati Mahapatra, and Mudirastha (types […]

================ In the Naimisharanya forest, amidst the great sages, Suta Muni was narrating the Sri Padma Purana. In the context of the Kartika Mahatmya (The Glory of the Month of Kartika), he explained how, due to a curse from Parvati, the three great gods (the Trideva) were born on earth as the Banyan, Peepal, and Palash trees, […]

The Ratha Yatra of 1972 An Experience of His Majesty Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb, the First Servitor of Lord Sri Jagannath At that time, the present Gajapati Maharaja, His Majesty Dibyasingha Deb, had only recently ascended the throne (in 1970). On that day, the Pahandi (ceremonial procession) of the deities to ascend their respective chariots began with great […]

Deceitful Kalia 🥺🌺 The chariot moves, its wheels rolling. Devotees are pulling the ropes—Basuki, Swarna Chuda, Shankha Chuda—dragging them along the Bada Danda (the Grand Road). A fountain of joy overflows in all directions. Srikhetra (the holy city of Puri) resounds with the sounds of bells, conches, bugles, and trumpets. The devotees are overwhelmed with […]

In view of the preliminary preparations and the multitude of rituals for the holy Bahuda Yatra of the Lord, public entry through the Simhadwara (Lion’s Gate) of the Shree Gundicha Temple will be closed for the general public from 6:00 PM onwards on 04.07.2025 (Friday), the day of “Sandhya Darshan”. After the ‘Shodha’ (cleansing ritual) […]

👉 Today, on the sacred Pratipada tithi (the first day of the waxing moon) of the holy month of Ashadha, after a long interval of 15 days, the Shribigrahas (the holy deities) grant their first darshan (sacred viewing) to the devotees in their Nabajouban besha (attire of renewed youth). 👉 The form or attire in which the Chaturdha Bigraha (the fourfold deities) of […]

Today is Anasara Trayodashi. After the secret rituals in the Anavasara chamber (seclusion room), the ailing Mahaprabhu has recovered. The servitors have already conveyed this news to the Gajapati Maharaja. They have also requested him to begin preparations for the Ratha Jatra. Today, the Ghanalagi Niti is being performed at the Srimandir. According to the tradition of […]

In the ‘Sri Jagannathashtakam’ composed by Sri Shankaracharya, the Ratha Jatra (Chariot Festival) is described as follows: Ratharudho gachhan pathimilita bhudevapatalaihStuti pradurbhavam pratipadamupakarnya sadayahDayasindhurbandhuh sakalajagatam sindhu sutayaJagannathah swami nayana patha gami bhavatu me {5} Meaning: He who, while proceeding on His chariot, becomes filled with compassion upon hearing the hymns of praise offered at every step […]