The Divine Tradition of Ghoda Adhibas

The sacred land of Puri, Odisha, resonates with devotion, even as winter’s chill descends. At the heart of it all, Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu, seated upon the Ratna Simhasana (the jeweled throne), remains a radiant beacon of warmth and grace. Today, we delve into a unique tradition that beautifully illustrates this: the Ghoda Adhibas, a ceremony of infusing the Lord’s winter attire with divine sanctity.

The Dialogue Between Lord and Winter

The text you provided beautifully captures the essence of this sacred event. It begins with a poignant scene: even as the cold season makes its presence known, Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu, in his Bada Singhar Besha (nighttime attire), chooses not the usual Khandua Pata (thick silk) but a light garment. This prompts the personified winter to plead with the Lord, expressing concern about its very existence:

“O Mahaprabhu! O my creator, if you deny my existence, then why would the earth’s inhabitants accept me? What will remain of my essence!”

The Lord, in his infinite compassion, reassures winter and, recognizing its essence, ordains the Ghoda Adhibas. He decrees that to protect from the winter’s harshness, he will wear the Ghoda (winter coverings):

“Listen to my words, O winter. If you don’t trouble the ascetics, the poor, the destitute, and the helpless, then I will wear the Ghoda. Otherwise, I acknowledge my defeat before you in all times.”

The Significance of Adhibas

In the culture of Shri Jagannath, the Adhibas holds immense importance. This is a preparatory ritual where any special attire, ablution with water, or anointment with sandalwood for the Lord is sanctified, infusing it with divine energy. The Adhibas serves as a prelude to a significant festival or event, a way of announcing the upcoming celebration to the Lord.

The Ceremony of Ghoda Adhibas

Today, after the evening offering, the Bhog Mandap (offering hall) is purified. Three Ashtadala Padma (eight-petaled lotuses) are drawn on the floor, and on these, bamboo baskets are placed. In these baskets are carefully placed the Ghoda, Khandua (winter cloth), and Topara (head covering) of the Lord. Baskets are also prepared for Balabhadra, Subhadra, Jagannath, Madanmohan, Krishna, Sridevi, Bhudevi, Madhava, and Sudarshan with their respective Ghoda.

The Pujapanda (priest) sanctifies these articles with sacred mantras, preparing them for the Ghoda Lagi (adorning with winter coverings), which commences tomorrow from the Odhan Sashti. Following this, Chandana Lagi (sandalwood paste), Bada Singhar Besha, and Bada Singhar Bhoga (night offering) takes place. Afterwards, the deities are bathed and adorned with light clothing before finally being prepared for bed, however, because of the Ghoda Adhibas, the usual Dambaru Bije (Shayan) ritual does not occur today.

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