Royalty in
the service of Lord Jagannath
By Prasant Kumar Mishra
Nowhere else but in Puri, started the unique
tradition of a king himself sweeping the chariots of the
deities. Every year during Rath Yatra thousands of people gather
in Puri to witness it before they pull the chariots. Among all
other sevas the king does, this seva named Chera Pahara
[sweeping of the chariots] has been the most important seva done
in front of millions watching it.
As mentioned in the Swatwalipi, [record of
rights] once the three deities are installed on the three
chariots, both before Sri Gundicha Yatra and Bahuda
Yatra, the next ritual Chera Pahara is to be performed by
the Gajapati [king] himself who arrives at the place with his
entourage. It’s an ancient practice to perform a ritual similar
to Chera Pahara, on the Snana Vedi during Deva-Snana Purnima, on
the Dola Vedi during Dola Purnima and on the Chapa [swan shaped
boat] during the first and last days of Chandan Yatra. The
practice of such a ritual was perhaps conceived to inculcate in
the minds of the devotees that God has created us equal and does
not discriminate between a king and a sweeper.
In addition to this most popular seva there are
some other sevas of Lord Jagannath, performed by the Gajapati
both in and out of the temple. Here is a list of some of the
sevas with a short explanation on them.
Gajapati takes an important role in Lakshmi
Narayana Bheta [reuniting Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Jagannath]
during the Bahuda Yatra [return journey of Lord Jagannath].
During the time of Nava Kalevara, he performs Gua
Teka Niti by handing over the Holy Betel nut to the group of
Banajaga Dala [A group of Daita and Brahmin Sevayats in search
of Holy Daru1].
In the month of Aswina, the Gajapati invites
Brahmins to perform rituals in the Vimala temple.
On the day of Champaka Dwadashi, the king
performs Rajaneeti [welcoming the representative idol of Lord
Jagannath and Goddess Rukmini into his palace].
In addition to these rites and rituals there are
certain other rituals namely Doralagi, Puspanjali etc which are
also performed as Rajaneeti. But now a days Mudiratha, the
representative servitor of the Gajapati performs these rituals.
During Anavasara, when the rituals Rajaprasad
Bije and Khadiprasad Bije are carried out in his palace, he
performs Saree Bandha ceremony [tying of saree on the heads of
the servitors].
He performs Poornahuti [ritually ends the yajna]
in the Yajna intended for finding the Holy Daru1.
The above mentioned sevas are collectively known
as ‘Gajapati Maharaja Seva’ and will continue to be performed by
his successors. However, in the absence of Gajapati, his
representative servitor known as Mudiratha or Mudirasta is
entitled to perform the sevas.
-
Daru: - It refers to the log of Neem wood from
which the idols of the deities are carved out during
Navakalebara.
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