There are certain legends that have remained alive in the minds and beliefs of people for a long time. The various rituals, festivals, and adornments (besha) of Sri Sri Jagannath Mahaprabhu are always unique and not performed in any other temple. Despite many storms and upheavals, these traditions have survived. The strong faith and belief of the Odia people have kept the Jagannath culture alive to this day.
In the month of Kartika, Lord Vishnu is worshipped by the name Damodara. This is considered the most sacred month and is very dear to Lord Vishnu. Every year, from Ashwina Shukla Ekadashi (the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Ashwina) to Kartika Shukla Dashami (the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika), the sacred ‘Radha-Damodara’ Besha of the deities is conducted on the Ratnasinghasana (Jewelled Throne) of the Srimandir.
According to the Srimandir’s Swatwalipi (Record of Rights), during the month of Kartika, the Radha Damodara Besha is performed on the deities after the Mangala Alati and Abakasha rituals are completed very early in the morning. The deities remain in this attire until the Bala Bhoga. While in this besha, rituals such as Rosha Homa, Surya Puja, Dwarapala Puja, Gopala Ballabha Bhoga, Sakala Dhupa (morning offering), and Bala Bhoga are performed. After the Bala Bhoga is offered, the Mudirastha servitor touches the sacred offerings to the deities’ bodies (Sri Anga). Once the Bala Bhoga is over, Bandapana (a ritual welcome) is performed for all three deities, and then the besha is removed (olagi).
In this besha, the deities are adorned with floral ornaments like Guna, Chita, and Adharamala, along with various gold ornaments. Sri Jagannath and Sri Balabhadra wear their clothes in the Trikachha style. Their two hands are fitted with golden Nalibhuja (arm-pieces decorated with weapon motifs). On their heads (Trimundi), they wear a Chula (hairdo) made of bamboo strips and cloth, with a silver Chandrika (crescent moon) at its tip. They are also adorned with Kundala (earrings) in their ears, an Odiani Kamarapatti (waistband) around their waists, a golden Ghagada Mali (necklace) around their necks, and various golden forehead marks like Tilaka, Chandra (moon), Surya (sun), and the Ramanandi Chita. Along with the Dadagi on their heads, they are decorated with various flower ornaments, gold jewelry, silk sarees (Patashadhi), Phuta, Shiri Kapada (head cloth), Paharana, Bala, Adharabala, and an Uttariya (upper cloth).
During this besha, the deities wear different colored silk clothes on different days of the week:
Sri Nilamadhaba at Kantilo, the original seat of Jagannath culture, is also adorned in this besha for the entire month.
There are several Puranic bases for the Rai Damodara Besha. The name of Lord Jagannath or Lord Vishnu during the Kartika month is ‘Damodara’. This is related to Sri Krishna in the Dwapara Yuga. ‘Dama’ means rope or cord. The sons of Kubera, Nalakubera and Manigriva, blinded by the pride of their wealth and intoxicated, had forgotten the difference between right and wrong. As a result, the sage Narada cursed them, and they were born on earth as two Arjuna trees. When Sri Krishna uprooted these two trees, their pride was shattered, and they were liberated from their tree forms.
According to Vyasadeva’s Sanskrit ‘Srimad Bhagavatam’, this incident is from Sri Krishna’s childhood. His mother Yashoda had tied a rope around his waist and attached the other end to a grinding mortar (dhinki). When Sri Krishna passed through the gap between the twin Arjuna trees, the mortar got stuck. When he pulled the rope tied to his waist (udara), the two trees were uprooted. Because a rope (dama) was tied to his abdomen (udara), Sri Krishna came to be known as ‘Damodara’. In this context, during the ‘Radha Damodara’ Besha on the Ratnasinghasana of the Srimandir, a golden rope or waistband is tied around the waists of Sri Krishna (Jagannath) and Balarama.
But why is it named ‘Radha-Damodara Besha’? In Bhaktacharana Das’s ‘Mathura Mangala’ and some other literary works, there are descriptions of Sri Radha dressing up Sri Krishna in various ways. It is possible that because this was a favorite attire of Sri Radha, it is named ‘Radha-Damodara Besha’. During the ‘Rai-Damodara Vrata’ observed by women this month, ‘Radha’ or ‘Rai’ is worshipped along with ‘Damodara’.
Legends Associated with the Besha
According to one mythological story, when Akrura was going to Mathura, he saw this very ‘Radha Damodara’ form of the Lord within the waters of the Yamuna river while he was bathing.
There is a tradition of giving the floral ornaments, removed from the deities after the besha, to the king and queen. It is said that once, a Taluchha servitor named Narayan Mahapatra tucked the phulaguna (a floral ornament) into the hair bun of a Devadasi named Labanyabati. Later, when the king was about to give this ornament to the queen, he noticed a strand of hair in it. Enraged, he ordered the servitor Narayan Mahapatra to show him that the Lord indeed has hair, or else he would be punished. To save his devotee, the Lord manifested hair. The next day, when the king saw the hair and pulled it, blood started to flow from it. From that day onwards, this Radha Damodara Besha of the Lord is being performed.
Another legend exists, which many people may not know. Due to old age, the Badapanda (chief priest) was no longer able to perform his duties. He felt deep sorrow that he could no longer serve the Lord. One day, standing at the foot of the Ratnasinghasana, he said, “O Lord, if there has ever been any fault in my service, O Ocean of Mercy, please forgive me.” Saying this, the priest returned home. Hearing this, something happened to Lord Jagannath, and he appeared before the Badapanda, saying, “I know you are in great pain because you cannot come to my temple from tomorrow. You have served me for so long, understanding my heart. I am extremely pleased with your service. For this happiness, I will grant you any boon you ask. Ask, what do you desire?”
Hearing this from Jagannath, the Badapanda replied, “Lord, I have seen you to my heart’s content every day. What more is there for me to ask of you?” After a moment, the Badapanda said to Jagannath, “I have a daughter named ‘Rai’. Since childhood, she has held a picture of Sri Krishna, worshipped it, and chants only His name. Could you not grant her a vision just once?” Hearing this, Jagannath told the Badapanda, “Very well. Tomorrow, I will give a vision to your daughter Rai.”
Hearing this from her father, the daughter (Rai) began to dance with joy. The next morning, Rai finished her daily chores, went to the prayer room, cleaned Sri Krishna’s picture, offered incense and lamps, and began chanting the Lord’s name without eating or drinking. Her heart was filled with an intense desire to see the Lord. At midnight, Jagannath appeared before Rai and said, “Ask for any boon you wish, and I will grant it.” Rai said, “The boon I desire is only your proximity, meaning, I want you as my husband. Grant me this boon, O Lord, I wish to marry you. You will remain my husband forever.”
Jagannath replied, “How can this be possible? I am already married; I have a wife. Her name is Lakshmi. I live with Lakshmi in the Srimandir.” Hearing this, Rai said, “I will not listen to anything you say, Lord! You have appeared before me, so I will marry you, or else I will take my own life.”
Faced with Rai’s insistence, Jagannath himself gave in and agreed to the marriage on one condition. The condition was: “After you are married, you will not go to the Srimandir, because Lakshmi will not agree to let you enter.” Rai agreed to Jagannath’s condition, and the marriage was performed that very night. As Jagannath was returning to the temple, he ran into Lakshmi.
Goddess Lakshmi asked Jagannath, “Where had you gone at night? Your feet are colored with alata (red dye), and your body carries the strong fragrance of turmeric, sandalwood, and aguru.” Startled by Lakshmi’s questions, Jagannath stammered, “In heaven, the marriage of Indra and Sachi was being performed, and I went there as a witness (Markandi).” Saying this to Mahalakshmi, Jagannath went and sat on his throne.
As per Jagannath’s words, Rai stayed at her father’s house after the marriage. After some days had passed like this, the sage Narada saw the Badapanda’s daughter and asked, “O Badapanda, you have married off your daughter, but who is the groom?” The Badapanda replied, “The groom is Sri Jagannath himself. The Lord has forbidden my daughter from going to the Srimandir because Goddess Lakshmi will not let her enter.” Hearing this, Narada said, “I will tell you a way. If you follow it, everything will be alright. The way is this: Rai should wake up early, go to the Srimandir, and do all the chores that Lakshmi does. If Lakshmi sees her and asks, you must tell the truth.”
Following Narada’s advice, Rai started doing the work. Lakshmi became suspicious and lay in wait to catch her. Finally, Lakshmi caught Rai and questioned her. Rai told the whole truth and added that she was acting on Narada’s advice. Hearing this from Rai, Lakshmi shouted loudly, causing Jagannath and Balabhadra to come rushing to her. When the elder brother (Balabhadra) asked Jagannath about the matter, he admitted to his elder brother that he had married Rai. Just then, Narada arrived there. Finding no other solution, Balabhadra asked Narada to find a way to resolve the situation.
Narada said, “There is one solution. Jagannath will stay with Rai for only 25 days a year, and for the rest of the year, he will remain Lakshmi’s husband. That period will be for 25 days starting from Ashwina Shukla Ekadashi.” According to that decision, Lord Jagannath has been adorned in the Rai Damodara Besha for 25 days every year, starting from Ashwina Shukla Ekadashi. Therefore, Lord Jagannath has two wives: the elder is Goddess Lakshmi, and the younger is “Rai”.
Narada has said that any person who observes the Kartika Vrata with devotion and worships Rai Damodara will surely attain Vaikuntha (the abode of Vishnu). For these twenty-five days, an additional offering is made to the Lord after the Sakala Dhupa. This is known as Bala Bhoga. It consists of sweetened puffed rice (khai), coconut slices (nadia paati), and grated coconut (kora). 🙏❤️
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