Why do Mahabahu give darshan in Gajanana Besha on Snana Purnima? What is the legend?

Why do Mahabahu give darshan in Gajanana Besha on Snana Purnima? What is the legend?
Lord Shri Jagannath is bathed with 35 pots of fragrant water, Lord Balabhadra with 33 pots, Goddess Subhadra with 22 pots, and Chakraraj Lord Shri Sudarshan with 18 pots of fragrant water, and on this day, the Lord gives darshan to devotees in Gajanana Besha.

Snana Purnima is one of the great public bathing observances of Lord Jagannath in Puri. The tradition described here connects Snana Purnima with the sacred bathing on Snanavedi, the Gajanana Besha darshan and the legend of Ganapati Bhatta. Explore more Jagannath traditions at JustKalinga.

Today is the holy Jyeshtha Purnima or Devasnana Purnima. The jewel of millions of Odias, Shri Ji, will descend from the Ratnavedi and reside on the Snanavedi. The Daitapati servitors will bring the deities to the bathing platform in a line of procession. After residing on the platform, worship will be performed according to the rituals. According to the rules, the Mahasnana is performed after the Pahandi Bije of the deities. However, this water is stored for a year. It is said that the place from which this water comes is called ‘Suna Kua’ (golden well). It is from here that water goes for the deities. Lord Shri Jagannath is bathed with 35 pots of fragrant water, Lord Balabhadra with 33 pots, and Goddess Subhadra with 22 pots, and Chakraraj Lord Shri Sudarshan with 18 pots of fragrant water, and on this day, the Lord gives darshan to devotees in Gajanana Besha.

Why is the Gajanana or elephant attire on this day?

There is also a beautiful story behind the Gajanana Besha of Mahaprabhu, which captivates the mind. According to legend, in the fifteenth century, a Brahmin Pandit Shri Ganapati Bhatta of the Maratha Mahaganapatya sect came to Shrikhetra to have darshan of Mahaprabhu. He had darshan of the Chaturdha Murti on Snana Purnima, but his mind was not satisfied. He remembered Mahabahu in his mind and said, “I wished to see Jagannath in the attire of my adored deity, but that did not happen.” Ganapati Bhatta wanted to see Mahaprabhu in Ganapati Besha. While returning in sorrow, he heard a divine voice, and since that day, Lord Jagannath has been giving darshan as Krishna Ganapati and Lord Balabhadra as Dhabala Ganapati.

Since that day, this attire has been a memorial to Shri Ganapati Bhatta’s ‘Ganapati Besha’. On this day, after the Mahasnana, bhoga is offered to the elder deity. After this, the general public is allowed for darshan. However, even today, there is a tradition of Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb performing Chhera Pahanra near the deities. The human play of Mahaprabhu begins from the Snana Yatra itself. According to tradition, Shri Ji becomes ill after the Snana Yatra. Under the supervision of the royal physician, Mahaprabhu is kept in a room called ‘Anasara’ for recovery. During Anasara, devotees cannot have darshan of Mahabahu. During this time, the Patidion Patachitra of Mahaprabhu is worshiped for the purpose of the devotees’ darshan.