Puri: Thousands of devotees today thronged the Alarnath Temple near Brahmagiri in Odisha’s Puri district as the deities of Lord Jagannath temple are away from public view after the grand bathing ritual on the occasion of Debasnana Purnima yesterday.
The Deities go on a fortnight-long hibernation known as ‘Anasara’ or ‘Anavasara’ after they fall sick following the bath with 108 pitchers of holy water. During this period, devotees seek blessings of the deities at Alarnath Temple, a 13th century shrine.
Notably, the ‘Chaturdha Murti’ (quaternity) lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra along with lord Sudarshan bathed with 108 pitchers of aromatic water at the Snana Mandap in Srimandir yesterday during Snana Yatra. The deities later donned Hati Besha and gave darshan to devotees in ‘Sahana Mela’ (free public darshan) as a part of the ritual.
It is believed that the holy trinity falls sick due to excess bath at the Snana Mandap (bathing dais) during the Snana Yatra which was held yesterday. During the stay of the deities in the secret abode, the Anasara Sudu Suar and Sudasuar servitors perform the secret nitis and ‘Pati Dians’ are worshipped in the temple during that period.
After spending 15 days in the secret abode and undergoing herbal treatment, the deities give darshan to the devotees a day before the annual sojourn Rath Yatra.
