Puri, June 15 : The Puri Gajapati was informed about the recovery of the presiding deities of Sri Jagannath temple from sickness on Thursday.
As per the tradition, a team of senior Daita servitors including Patimahapatra on the Dwadasi tithi (Thursday) went to the royal palace in a ceremonial procession called “Rajprasad Bije” and appraised the Gajapati king about the recovery of deities from fever lying in the Anasar (sick room) in the temple.
Gajapati is considered the foremost servitor of Lord Jagannath.
The servitors informed the Gajapati king that deities would be ready for the Nabajouban darshan scheduled for June 19, a day prior to the car festival which will commence on June 20.
After the grand bath on the Snan Purnima, the deities were escorted to Anasarghar(sick room) located in the temple supposedly suffering from fever.
During their fortnight stay in the Anasarghar temple Vaidya (physician) administers herbal medicines and keeps them on fruit diet while Daita servitors carry out (Gupta seva) some secret services in the Anasarghar.
After recovery from fever, a special set of servitors would perform “Banaklagi seva” to give a youthful look to deities.
On the Nabajouban Darshan day devotees will be allowed to have Pramanik darshan of one hour (ticketed darshan from 8 am to 9 am )and Sahana Mella (free darshan) of the deities will begin from 9 am till 11 am for about two hours.
The Gajapati told servitors that since Daitapatis play a vital role in the Yatra they should work dedicatedly and perform nitees and rituals of the deities on time for smooth conduct of the fete.
He too advised them not to stand in front of deities on the rathas blocking the full view of the deities.
The Gajapati said the forest department should create a database of all the Sri Jagannath Banaprakalpas (projects) regarding their status.
The Odisha government created Sri Jagannath Bana prakalp about two decades ago to create the Scarce Phasi, Asan and Dhaura trees to meet the future needs for chariot construction
Reacting on the untimely observance of Rath Yatra at various places of the country and abroad, the Gajapati said he has taken up the issue with ISKON chief.
He insisted that the Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu should be observed on the prescribed tithee in the religious text.
The administration meanwhile, has opened up the twenty-metre outer access passage of Srimandir Parikrama for public use from Thursday.