Puri: Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri town has many unique rituals with ‘Badi Nrusingha Bije’ being one of them. An annual affair, it is observed with the belief that Badi Nrusingha would keep natural disasters and pandemic at bay.
This ritual is held on ‘Charturthi Tithi’ in the month of Chaitra. After performing the rituals, mahajan/puspalak servitors carry Badi Nrusingha through Singhadwara (Lion’s Gate) of the 12th-century temple in a decorated a biman (palanquin) to the streets. The deity also visits four ashrams named after sages Markand Angira, Kandu and Bhrugu in the Pilgrim Town.
On Sunday, servitors brought the deity from ‘Dakshina Ghara’ to the ‘biman’, which was kept at Jhulan Mandap, after completion of ‘Madhyana Dhoopa’ ritual. The servitors solemnised Shital Bhoga ritual once the procession arrived at the ashrams, following which began the homeward journey. It was a divine assurance that any hard time would pass, sources said.
The significance and origin of this unique ritual is linked with outbreak of pandemic in 1903-05 when people died in large numbers. The temple commander then consulted some pundits, who sought divine help of the deities. The Lord then came out of the temple into the town in the form of Badi Nrusingha, to protect his devotees, according to scriptures on Jagannath culture. ‘Badi’ in Odia means disease.
