‘Rai Damodar Besha’, ‘Kaudi Khela’ & Other Rituals At Puri Jagannath Temple On Kumar Purnima

By OB Bureau On Oct 28, 2023

Puri: With partial lunar eclipse taking place tonight, the Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s pilgrim town of Puri was opened at opened at 1.53 am.

According to sources, ‘Mangal Alati’ was performed at 3 am and devotees had darshan of the deities in Rai Damodar Besha after completion of daily rituals like Mailama, Tadapalagi and Abakasha niti. This adornment of Lord Jagannath is in consonance with the pastimes of Lord Krishna with his consort Goddess Radha.

Lord Jagannath is bedecked as Damodara with the attire of Lord Krishna and Radha adorned as Rai after due permission from Goddess Mahalaxmi. This Besha is observed from Aswina Sukla Ekadasi tithi – the 11th day of the bright fortnight in the month of Aswina – to Kartika Sukla Dasami tithi – the 10th day of the bright fortnight in Kartika. During this period, the Lords are offered ‘Bala Bhoga’.

OTHER RITUALS

After Badasinghara Dhupa, the servitors escort Mahalaxmi to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple where ‘Kaudi Khela’ is played atop the ‘Ratna Singhasan’. Conventional coins called ‘Kaudi’ (small conch cells) were used in the game. The game is played by servitors on behalf of Lord Jagannath and Mahalaxmi. As per tradition, Lord Jagannath concedes defeat in the final game following which he is imprisoned by Mahalaxmi’s servitors in the Mahalaxmi temple on Srimandir premises for a week.

No devotees are allowed to witness this unique gambling scene.

After the Madhyanna Dhupa, Shreedevi and Bhudevi are taken to Khataseja. Then Anjamala Bije ritual is performed after which Chakraraj Sudarshan, the weapon of Lord Jagannath, goes on ‘Chaudola’ and takes a tour of four Ashrams. “The deity will be carried by Daitapati servitors. After visiting the Ashrams, the Lord will be taken back to Srimandir by 3 pm. All the rituals for Kumar Purnima at the temple will be completed by 4.04 pm in view of the lunar eclipse,” said a senior servitor.

However, there will be no restriction on darshan of the deities inside the temple. “The temple will remain open all the night during the period of eclipse,” he added.