Ekadasi in Jagannath Temple

Ekadasi in Jagannath Temple

Sri Madanmohan of Jagannath Temple, Puri

Apart from Daily Rituals of Lord Jagannath, some other rituals are also performed on special occasions and on festivals. Ekadasi which is the eleventh lunar day is an important day in Jagannath Temple, Puri. And some special rituals are done on this day.

Servitors for Ekadasi Rituals

 To perform the Ekadasi's special rituals servitors required are : Chandan Ghatuari(the man who makes the paste of sandalwood), PujaPanda, Pati Mohapatra, Mudirasta, Palia Pushpalaka, Vimana Badu(they carry the palanquin), Palia Pratihari, Khataseja Mekapa, Asthana Pratihari, Suda Suara, Chunara, Parva Yatra Jogania, Chatara(the man who holds the royal umberella), Ghantua, Kahalia(the man who blows the ceremonial trumpet), Dihudia(the tourch bearer, i.e he holds the flame), Bhitarcha Mohapatra, Palia Mekapa, Amania Chatara, Palia Khuntia, Akhanda Mekapa.

Ekadasi Bedha Parikrama of Sri Madanmohan

On every Ekadasi after Sandhya Arti, Mahajans carry Sri Madanmohan, from Dakshina Ghar of Sri mandir to the Ratnasinghasan and place him in front of Lord Jagannatha, Sri Madanmohan after getting the Garland of permission known as Aagyamala from Lord Jagannatha is then taken to the palanquin placed near mukti-mandap(towards the south of the main dome), and thereafter with the blowing of ceremonial trumpet, Sri Madanmohan serving as a representative idol of lord Jagannatha  is taken around the inner boundary of the temple in a procession amidst the playing of ghanta,telengi baja and bije kahali(different types of instruments), while the Chatara servitor holds the royal umbrella.

Finally, the palanquin is placed near the temple of Bata Mangala, which is inside the inner boundary(Kurma Bedha) of Jagannath Temple, where Madanmohan is carried to the Jaya Vijay dwar, The Jaya Vijaya Dwara(door) is closed from inside and Madana Mohana is placed on a stand called dambru outside the Jaya Vijaya Dwvara, then the Puja Pandas offer Bhoga and perform Arati and Vandapana, then he is taken back to the Dakshina ghar and the pratihari opens the Jaya Vijay Door.

Sarbanga Chandan Lagi Ritual

Everyday Chandan Lagi the smearing of Sandalwood paste on the body of the deities is done by the Singhari servitors but on Ekadasi an additional Chandanlagi ritual is performed after Sandhya Arti its known as Sarbanga Chandan Lagi. For this mekap gives 3 silver bowls and chandan ghatuari make the paste of the sandalwood and put it on the silver bowls and then camphor, musk, and some products  are added to it, then its taken from chandan ghatuary room by Pujapanda, Pati Mohapatra and Mudirasta in a procession with trumpet and royal umbrella.Then they get atop the Ratnasinghasan and apply the mixture of the sandalwood paste everywhere except the faces of the deities, here Mudirasta for lord balabhadra, Pati Mohapatra to devi subhadra and Pujapanda for Lord Jagannatha.Like this the ritual is processed.

Mahadeepa

On every Ekadasi night, At late night Mahadeepa Arati is performed by Pujapanda.The Chunara sevaks arrange the MahaDeepa and hand it over to the Patri servitor, who in turn hands it over to the Puja Pandas and they perform the aarti of the deities and then take it around the temple and infront of maa Bimala temple they hand over 3 kalas, along with chandan and tulsi for the neelachakra, and chuneras they climb the temple and the top first place the chandan tulsi for the Neelachakra and, circumblates the neelachakra 3 times and they light the chandra udiyas and then place the Mahadeepa at the top of the temple, while praising Gajapati Maharaja and praying for the well-being of the king of Puri.

Ekadasi on Thursday

If Ekadasi falls on Thursday special rituals are conducted apart from Thursday rituals i.e Majana of Sridevi, Bhudevi and Sri Madanmohan at Majana Mandap and at night Ekanta niti of Sri Madanmohan and Sridevi, Deities are given Mahasnan with panchamrita(mixture of yogurt, honey, ghee, milk, and jaggery) after Sandhya Dhoopa Puja, then after mailam, chandana lagi and Badasinghara a special ritual is known as Danda chatra niti is done, the Vhittarcha Mohapatra brings out a royal silver umbrella(chatra) from the Bhandara Ghara(storeroom) after the Mudirasta performs the purificatory rite for it, then Vitarccha Mohapatra climbs the ratnasinghasan and holds it near Jagannatha’s side.

The Palia Mekapa climbs on the Ratna Singhasana and kneels on the Ratna Simhasana holding the same umbrella like Hanuman. Then the Mudirasta offers the Bhoga, after which Raja Niti takes place. For the Raja Niti, the Mudirasta performs camphor Arati with a golden Arati lamp. Then the Alata and Chamara Seva are also offered with a golden alata and golden chamara. At the same time, the Khuntia offers white flowers to the Deities, while pratihari calling Manima Manima and the Akhanda Mekapa stands with a ghee Lamp. Then the bhoga is offered then after the sanskara they climbs down the Ratnasingahsan and other rituals continue.

Sambhu Ekadasi (Ekadasi on Monday)

If Ekadasi falls on Monday it is regarded as Sambhu Ekadasi and some special rituals are conducted apart from daily and Ekadasi rituals. On this day the palanquin carriers of Lokanatha bring the palanquin to the Sri Mandir and after the Gopala Vallabha bhog offering is done and Bhoga has been offered to Bhandara Lokanatha, Bhandara Lokanatha

is carried in that palinki to the Lokanath temple, where he stays for the whole day. After Madhyana Dhoopa, Sri Madanamohana receives the aagyamala from Jagannatha and

is carried around the Sri Mandira in a palinki carried by four Vimana Badus, then travels to Lokanatha temple, where he stays along with Bhandara Lokanatha in Banambar’as Gambhira and Panthi Bhoga are offered there.

 The Parva Yatra Jogania carries the Bhoga to be offered and the Sudu Suara carries the puja articles. The Pujapanda offers Bhoga and Arati, to the Deities. Then after vandapana, Sri Madanamohana and Bhandara Lokanatha are carried back to the temple in the same palanquin by the streets of baseli sahi and enters Sri Mandir from western gate, and taken to the jayavijay dwar where its closed and there the deities are offered ekadasi bhoga and Vandapana takes place and after that they return to their respective places.

(Note: Starting from Asadha Sukla pakeha Ekadasi (Hari Shayana Ekadasi) till Kartika Sukla Ekadasi (Hari Utthapana Ekadasi) during the period of chaturmasya, the Deities do not travel to the Lokanatha temple, but the Sevakas of the Lokanatha temple come to perform the rituals at the Jaya Vijaya Dwar. Also during the Chandana Yatra and Rukmini Harana Ekadasi (if the day falls on Sambhu Ekadasi), the Deities do not travel to the Lokanatha temple.