5. Daily Rituals of Lord Jagannatha Temple

The daily rituals of the main shrine of Lord Jagannatha are as old as the temple itself. The Utkala Khanda of the Skanda Purana, the Niladri Mohadaya, Vamadeva Samhita, Niladrinatha Pujabidhi and many such other texts contain the details of rituals. The daily rituals commence very early in the morning, with the braking of the seals and opening the main gate of the temple in the presence of priests of high order. From the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Asvina to the full moon day of Kartika, the doors are opened much before sunrise. Similar is the case in the month of Dhanu, according to Solar calculation, when the doors are opened quite very early. The details of the rituals of the temple are recorded in the Record of Right prepared at the time of passing a special Act for the Jagannatha Temple. The daily rituals performed in the temple are briefly given as follows: The rituals of the Jagannatha temple start with the opening of the door. at 5 AM in the early morning. The daily rituals of Jagannatha temple are viz: - 1. Mangala arati (lamp offering), 2. Mailam lagi (change of dress) 6 AM, 3. Abakasa i.e. cleaning of the teeth, bathing. 6 to 6.30 AM, 4. Mailama (dressing of deities) 6.15 AM, 5. Sahana mela (opening for darsana) 7.00 to 8.00 AM, 6. Mailama i.e. change of dress 8 to 8.30 AM, 7. Fire sacrifice in the kitchen 8.30 AM, 8. Gopala ballava bhoga (breakfast) 9. AM 9. Sakala dhupa (morning meal) 117

10.00 AM, 10. Mailama 11.00 AM, 11.bhogamandapa bhoga (bhoga for all) 11.00AM, 12. Mailama (change of dress), 13. Madhyahna dhupa b(mid day meal) - 12.30 PM to 1.00 PM, 14. Pahuda (closing of the door), 15. Sandhya arati (evening lamp offering) 6.00 PM, 16. Evening bhoga (sandhya dhupa) - 7.00 to 8.00 PM 17. Mailama (change of dress), 18. Candana lagi (sandal paste offering), 19. Bada simhar vesa (night dress)-10.00 to 10.30 PM, 20. Bada simhara dhupa (night meal) -11.15 PM, 21. Sayana of the Lord 11.45 to 12.00 PM and sealing of the door and premises. Besides these daily rituals, some rituals also performed in the temple on special occasions. On every Thursday, a special bath decoration, puja and turmeric rice and duba (grass) offering are performed to Madana Mohana and Laksmi (representative deity and Laksmi) by placing them in Marjana mandapa (a pedestal near the main temple). On Ekadasi day sandal pastes are smeared on the entire body of the deities. After evening puja on this day a Mahadipa is placed at the top of the main temple by a Sevayata who is habituated in climbing the temple. On each Wednesday the face of the deities are coloured with a local stuff made from herbal colour. During the time of painting devotees are not allowed to see the Lord. Special rituals are performed on the occasion of Solar and Lunar eclipses. During the time of eclipse, deities are bathed and special bhoga is offered to them. Besides these, other important rituals are performed in the temple during the time of Anabasara (when deities are prepared for Ratha Yatra) and Navakalevara (when deities are changing their old body and appear in new body). These rituals are confidential and are not made open to the public due to some specific reasons. From the daily rituals of the temple, it is seen that Lord Jagannatha is worshipped in the temple like a man but not like an ordinary man but like a Supreme Being i.e. Purusottama.