A Symphony of Service: The Diverse Sevayats of Lord Jagannath Temple

The Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri is not just a place of worship; it’s a complex ecosystem sustained by the dedicated service of its sevayats. From the preparation of offerings to the maintenance of the temple, the tasks carried out by these individuals are essential to the daily life of the temple. This post will explore the vast array of servitor roles, providing a detailed view of the seva they offer to Lord Jagannath.

The Alphabetical Journey Through Service

The following list presents the various sevayats of Shri Jagannath Temple, categorized alphabetically from “A” to “L”. Each entry offers a brief description of the role and responsibilities:

A

• Akhanda/Akhandala Mekapa: Responsible for keeping the eternal flame burning near the Ratna Singhasana.

• Anasara Sudha Suara: Servitors who work in the kitchen of the deities during the Anavasara period.

• Angarua: Removes ashes from the kitchen.

• Amalu Toli O Pura Kharada: Servitors who take care of Amalu (a type of cake) and Puri Prasad.

• Amunia Chhatra/Amonihachhatara: Carries umbrellas and canopies during processions.

• Asthan Padhiari/Asthan Pratihari: Servitors who announce events and calls out names of the servitors during festivals.

O

• Ojha Maharana: Temple blacksmith.

K

• Karatia/Karati: Cuts wood during the chariot construction.

• Kala Bethia: Pulls the chariots during Rath Yatra.

• Kahalia: Blows the kahali (a traditional horn) during processions.

• Kumbhara Bishoi: Supplies pots, vessels, and other earthenware.

• Kotha Karana: The temple’s administrative clerks.

• Kotha Bhoga Pania: The Water provider for Kotha Bhog

• Kotha Bhoga Jogania: The supplier of ingredients for Kotha Bhog.

• Kotha Suansia: Prepares and erects chamundia and temporary structures during festivals.

• Kumbhara Bishoi: Supplies pots and other earthen vessels.

Kh

• Khata Sheja Mekapa: Prepares the bed and bedding for the deities.

• Khatuli Sebak: Places the Pidhi (stool) during Avakasha Puja.

• Khadika Suansia: Sweeps the Jagamohana.

• Khuntia: Guards the deities and calls out “Manima” (a respectful term for the Lord) during rituals.
  * Palia Khuntia, Behera Khuntia, Bilei Jaga Khuntia, Rukuna Harana Khuntia

• Khuri Nayak/Khuri Ghara Nayak: Rings the bell to mark time.

G

• Garabadu: Holds the water pitcher near the Pujapanda servitors.

• Geeta Gobinda Sebak: Recites Jayadeva’s Geeta Govinda before the deities retire.

• Gunabaluia: The rope makers.

• Gochikara: A class of temple guards.

• Ghantua: Rings the bell during daily rituals and festivals.

• Ghotuari: Grinds sandalwood paste and prepares collyrium for daily rituals.

Ch

• Chaka Apsara Sebak: Oversees the preparation of clothes and adornments for the deities. The chaka is always with the deities, on Ratna Bedi, Anasar Pindi, Koili Baikuntha or Snana Mandapa. These servitors are responsible for placing the chaka, and performing the apsara. They carry the mandi and muchula during Rath Yatra.

• Chakra Dihudia: Carries the Chakra Mashal (a special torch).

• Charchaita Karana: Monitors and ensures that the daily rituals are performed as per the regulations.

• Chaula Bachha Karana/Chaula Bachha: Selects the rice for cooking.

• Chapa Dalei & Chapa Behera: Prepares and operates the chapa (boats) for the Chandan Yatra.

• Changada Karan: The record keeper of ornaments and garments of the deities.

• Changada Mekap: Arranges the deities’ garments and ornaments on a tray.

• Chitrakara/Rupakara: Paints the chariots.

• Chunara Garud Sebak/Chunara: Serves the Garud deity, and raises the Mahadeep to the temple top on Ekadashi days.

Chh

• Chhatara Sebak/Chhata Dhara: Holds white and black umbrellas during processions.

• Chhamu Dihudia: Carries the torch in front of the deities.

J

• Jagia: Stands guard during the offering of bhoga (food).

• Jaya Mangala Aarti Sebak: Servitors who perform the Aarti.

• Jyotish/Khuri Nahaka: Recites the day’s almanac in front of the deities during the Avakash Puja.

T

• Tamakia/Bajantri: The musicians.

• Dambaru Sebak: Provides the Dambaru, a musical instrument, near the Jaya Vijaya gate.

• Tarashia: Holds the tras (a type of flag) during processions.

• Tanra: Makes and repairs bronze items.

• Tadau: A type of temple official.

• Tadau Karan: Keeps a record of daily rituals in the madala panji (temple chronicle).

• Tanti Badu/Panti Badu: Servitors who wear a tiger mask while carrying offerings to the inner sanctum.

• Tatuia

• Tamara Bishoi/Tamra Bishoi: Makes and repairs copper utensils.

• Tulabati/Handi Jogania: Provides pots for the kitchen and offers lamps during Sandhya Dhupa.

• Tulabhina

• Tolabadu

• Tulasia: Supplies Tulasi (basil leaves) to the temple daily.

D

• Daraji/Siputi: Tailor.

• Daita: Servitors who conduct the pahandi bije (carrying the deities), during Snana Yatra, Nava Kalebara, Anasara, and Ratha Yatra.

• Daudibala:

• Dandia: Provides the rope for drawing water from the Bimala Well.

• Darpania: Provides a mirror for the deities during the bath and washes the utensils.

• Dalabehera: The chief of the guards.

• Dayana Patri/Dayana Mali: Supplies dayana (a special type of) leaves.

• Dajhi, Mahari, Talisewak: The dancers.

• Deul Karan: Writes the Madala Panji and maintains accounts of the temple.

• Deula Purohita: Conducts the Ratha Anukula and consecration rituals.

• Dosakha: Carries double-headed torches.

• Dwari: Gatekeepers.

Dh

• Dhwajadhara Sebak: Servitors who carry flags during processions.

• Dho Pakhali: Cleans the kitchen area with water.

N

• Nahabatawala Nagarchi:

• Nala Huruda: Cleans the water drains.

• Nagarchi:

P

• Patra Bandha:

• Pati Mahapatra

• Parba Yatra Jogania

• Palia Mahar: Sweepers of the temple premises.

• Patri Badu: Provides the puja ingredients to the priests and keeps Tulasi.

• Padhiari: The guards who protect the temple, summon people to the deity, and check the security of devotees.

  • Gochikara and Duara Nayaka

• Panti Badu/Tanti Badu: Servitors who carry food offerings to the inner sanctum, with a covering on their face.

• Pata Sheja Mekapa: Prepares the bedding for the deities.

• Pathuria: The mason.

• Paniki Pata: Cuts vegetables in the kitchen.

• Parikhya Badu: Holds the puja utensils near the Pujapanda.

• Paika: The guards that take directives from Daleis, and the temple authorities.

• Palia Mahapatra: Provides service during the Anasara period.

• Palia Mekap

• Patara Bishoi/Patara: Prepares silk threads for various rituals.

• Pania: Provides water for cooking.

• Pania Pat: Provides water for daily rituals.

• Patta Joshi Mahapatra

• Patra (Garland maker)

• Pikapa/Gandhana Nikap (sandalwood and incense servitor)

• Pushpalak/Pasupalak/Singhari: Dresses the deities, performs the Avakash ritual.

• Pujapanda: Brahmin priests who perform the daily rituals and offer naivedya.

• Purana Panda: The Brahmin who reads the Puranas in the temple.

• Pratihary

• Pradhani/Padhani: Summons the servitors, and distributes the offerings at the Mukti Mandap. They also give the golden staff to the Parichha.

• Prasadabadu: Takes the food offerings to the deities and delivers Mahaprasad to the king.

• Pharaka: Guards the treasury.

• Phula Badu: Brings flowers from the temple to the Gajapati Raja’s palace.

B

• Baithi Karan

• Bada Panda: The head of the Pujapandas.

• Badu Suara

• Badhei: Carpenters who build the chariots.

• Bania: Jewellers who craft and repair ornaments.

• Ballabha Jogania

• Balita Sebak: Provides wicks for the lamps.

• Banua: Provides fireworks during festivals.

• Bahara Deuli Suara: Cooks in the Lakshmi Rasha.

• Bahara Deuli Jogania: Carries bhog from the kitchen to the Bhoga Mandap.

• Bidia Jogania: Provides betel leaves for the deities.

• Bindhani: Same as Bania (jewellers)

• Bimana Badu: Carries the Bimana (palanquin) during processions.

• Biribata Samartha: Grinds biri (black lentils) for making pitha.

• Biribuha Suara: Provides ingredients to the suaras for cooking.

• Bidua: Makes mathmal (head decorations) and chheka (offering covers).

• Binakara: Plays the veena before the deities retire to bed.

• Benta Bindha Paika: Serves as hunters, sent to Jagannath Ballabh Math to hunt.

• Baidya: Provides medicine to the deities during Anasara.

• Baijayanti: The instrumentalists.

• Bojhia: Brings the clay pots from the potter.

• Bhandara Nayak: In charge of the storehouse.

• Bhandara Mekap: In charge of the storehouse and prepares deities’ clothing and ornaments.

• Bhitar Gauni/Bhitar Gaaani Devadasi: Sings during Pahuda and other festivals.

• Bhitarachha Mahapatra/Bhitarachhau: Opens the temple gates and supervises the offering time and the clothing of the deities.

• Bhitar Garabadu: Serves water to Lord Jagannath when required.

M

• Mandani Sebak: Ties canopies during festivals.

• Mahajana: Carries the side deities to the Narendra Tank.

• Mahabhoi: Supplies milk and yogurt to the temple kitchen.

• Mahasuara: The lead cook.

• Maha Sethi or Madhalia: Washes the garments of the deities and hands them to Changada Mekap. The Palia Mahara servitors from the past who performed the cleaning process have now become Pandas.

• Mahuria: Plays the flute.

• Madali: Plays the madal (a drum-like instrument) during festivals.

• Mapa Saita Karana/ Maha Prasasta Seva

• Malachula Sebaka Supplies hair accessories and wigs for the deities.

• Malia Suansia: Provides the wooden seats for the deities.

• Mahunta: Elephant driver. He is the only Muslim servitor at the temple.

• Mudirasta: Serves as the king’s representative.

• Mukha Singhar Datta: Paints the deities’ faces.

• Mukha Pakhala Padhiari: Provides toothbrushes and face washing water to the deities.

• Muduli: Guards the puja utensils and also the Jaya Vijaya Dwara and treasury.

• Mudra Sebak:

• Mekap
  Akhand Mekap, Changada Mekap, Palia Mekap

Y

• Jogada Maja: Cleans the deities’ utensils.

• Jogania: Delivers the raw cooking ingredients to the kitchen.

R

• Ratha Dahuka: Recites lewd songs on the chariots.

• Ratha Bhoi: Helps in building the chariots.

• Rubadia: Sweeps the temple’s kitchen area.

• Rupakara: Sculptor.

• Rosa Amin or Jagia Mahasuar: Guards the kitchen.

• Rosa Paika: Provides light in the kitchen and accompanies the offerings to the Jaya Vijaya Dwara.

• Rosa Dhopakhali: Washes the kitchen.

• Rosa Mekap: Provides ghee for cooking.

Sh

• Shankhua: Blows the shankha (conch shell) during rituals.

• Shikadhua Suara: Washes the containers used to carry the offerings.

• Shudha Suara: Collects the offering from the temple, and makes the pachana pani during the Anasara.
  S

• Samartha: Grinds lentils for cooking purposes.

• Chuna Munda Samartha, Biri Munda Samartha, Biri Buha Samartha.

• Samprada Niyoga: They are the dancers who sing during the processions.

• Sabuta Niyoga/ Sabat Niyoga: Performs special worship near the Swargadwar on every Amavasya.

• Suara/Supakara: Prepares the food offerings for Lord Jagannath.

  • Badu Suara, Pitha Suara, Tuna Suara, Thali Suara, Bindua Suara, Pagua Suara, Amalu Toli Suara, Tola Badu Suara, Tola Bati Suara.

• Suara Badu: Cleans the altar area, presents the bhoga to the deities, and prepares the temple before offerings.

• Suara Mahasuar Niyoga

• Suansia: Does general kitchen work and provides manual labor.

• Sudu Suara: Prepares the ingredients for bhog like moong and fruit.

• Suna Gosain/ Suna Goswami: Brings water from the Suna Kua (golden well) during Snana Yatra, provides alaka during Chandan Yatra, holds the deity during processions, and provide mailam bhog during Anasara.

H

• Hadapa Nayak: Serves betel leaves and spices to the Lord after meals.

• Handi Jogania: Supplies pots to the kitchen.

L

• Lugadhua Pani Kunda Seva: Wash and dry the clothes of the deities.

• Lenka: A messenger who calls for the servitors.

A Devotional Symphony

This is not an exhaustive list, but these sevayats and their roles are a testament to the devotion and order of the Shri Jagannath Temple. Each individual plays a critical role in ensuring that the divine rituals are conducted with utmost dedication and care. Their work highlights how many hands and hearts are involved in keeping the traditions of Shri Jagannath alive.

Bringing the Spirit of Service Home

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