Jagannath Temple

Cuttack, July 9: A sense of mystery shrouds the age-old tradition to isolate the Jagannath, Subhadra and Balaram idols at the Puri Jagannath Temple from public view.

This year, too, the deities were shifted to Anasar Ghar (sick chamber) right after the Jaladhibasa (bathing festival) on June 30. Now the two lords and the lady are stated to be “ill” and would remain away from public view till the rath yatra on July 16.

The mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath have also not been available at the Ananda Bazaar, as cooking has been suspended for over a fortnight in the temple kitchen.

Any type of seclusion of deities in Anasar Ghar is an age-old tradition, but, this time, one knows when the ritualistic “illness” began.

The daitas (tribal priests supposed to be related to the two lords and the lady) are only prepared to reveal that the illness is “symbolic” in nature. And that a 15-day-long isolation is an “an unspoken fact” but a necessary ritual.

“The raj vaidya or the royal physician is treating the deities with a specific medicine and their diet is being restricted to fruits and water mixed with cheese,” said a cross-section of the daitas to the visiting correspondent.

But they preferred to remain tight-lipped about the exact nature of “illness” that necessitates such a long period of seclusion in the Anasar Ghar in the custody of the daitas.

On the snanapurnima day every year, the deities are brought out of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple for the bathing ritual and are offered red powder and then covered with silk clothes. Then water is poured from 108 gold and copper pots amid hymns and chants. This results in the discolouration of the deities.

“Usually a fortnight away from public view provides a time to carry out annual repairs on the idols of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath,” said temple authorities on condition if anonymity. The process is completed on the 13th day in the sick chamber. On the 14th day, the deities are painted afresh by the Chitrakaras with indigenous colours to give them their final shape before the netrautsab or the ritualistic “life-giving” painting of the eyes of the deities by a Brahmin priest. Then comes the nabayaubana or new life of the three deities before the rath yatra or the annual nine-day sojourn to the Gundicha Temple.