Puri: Sunday saw Chaka Bije ritual of the Lords of Jagannath Temple in Puri. It a special ritual that marks recovery of the deities.
The ‘Baidyas’ (physicians) will administer herbal medicines to the sibling deities, who are now recuperating at ‘Anasara Ghara’ (sick room) after Snana Purnima, the following day.
According to the traditions, priests had bathed the four deities with 108 pitchers of aromatic water on June 27. Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb then performed ‘Chhera Pahanra,’ following which they were offered bhog and decked up in ‘Hati Besha’ (incarnation of Lord Ganesh).
The servitors then escorted them to ‘Anasara Ghar’, where the deities rest for a fortnight. During this period, the physicians of the temple treat them with herbal medicines. The deities are also served fruit diet by Daita servitors.
The temple physicians prepare the special medicine by mixing 10 types of herbs. The medicine is mixed with ghee, sugar, honey and cooked over fire for a long time, before being administered to the four deities.
“Basil leaf will also be offered to deities from tomorrow,” informed servitor Binayak Das Mohapatra.
After taking the medicine, the deities will be cured, he added.
Following their recovery, the deities would be moved to ‘Ratna Singhasan’ of the temple for ‘Nabajouban Darshan’. Rath Yatra is slated for July 14.
