Vesas At Lord Jagannath Temple - Puri
The three deities of the Jagannath Temple of Puri (Sri Mandir) are
adorned with specific ceremonial costumes on various occasions. These are
called as “Vesas” of the Lord. These Vesas are related to divine
activities of Lord Krishna (as described in Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana), Lord
Rama (as described in Ramayana) and also to the five cults of Hinduism (Shaiva,
Shakta, Vaishnava, Saura and Ganapatya).
Here is a list of important vesas of the Lord observed in
different times of the year.
Name
of the Vesa
|
When
celebrated
|
Description
|
Chandan
Vesa
|
Vaishakha(April-May)
|
Scented
sandalwood paste is smeared on the body of the Deities
|
Gajanan
Vesa
|
Full
moon day of Jyeshtha(May-June)
|
Deities
are dressed like Elephant on the Snana Vedi(Bathing Platform)
|
Navajauvan
Vesa
|
Ashaadha(June-July)
|
Deities
are dressed to look like individuals at the commencement of their youth
|
Suna
Vesa
|
i)
11th day of the bright fortnight of Ashaadha
(June-July)
on the Chariot
ii)
10th day of the bright fortnight of Ashwina
(September-October)
iii)
Full moon day of Kartika(October-November)
iv)
Full moon day of Phalguna(February-March)
|
The
Deities are decorated with various types of gold ornaments like gold diadems,
golden hands & feet
|
Chitalagi
Vesa
|
15th day
of the dark fortnight of Shravana
(July-August)
|
The
Deities wear Chita(ornaments of forehead) made of gold, diamond and precious
stones
|
Vanabhoji
Vesa
|
10th day
of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapad
(August-September)
|
Deities
are dressed like cowherd boys, as if they are going to attend a picnic
|
Kaliya
Dalan Vesa
|
11th day
of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapad
(August-September)
|
Lord
jagannath is dressed like Krishna killing the Kaliya serpent
|
Pralambasura
Badha Vesa
|
12th day
of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapad
(August-September)
|
Lord
Balabhadra is dressed like Balaram killing the demon Pralamba
|
Krishna
Balaram Vesa
|
13th day
of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapad
(August-September)
|
Lord
Jagannath and Balabhadra are dressed likeKrishna and Balaram
|
Bali
Vamana Vesa
|
12th day
of the bright fortnight of Bhadrapad
(August-September)
|
Lord
Jagannath is dressed like Vamana, the 5thincarnation of Vishnu
|
Raja
Vesa
|
i)
10th day of the bright fortnight of Ashwina
(September-October)
ii)
Full moon day of Pausha(December-January)
|
Lord
Jagannath was regarded as the King of Odisha since the rule of Ganga Dynasty.
This Vesa of the Lord continues from those days.
|
Radha
Damodar Vesa
|
from
10th bright day of Ashwina(September-October) to 10th bright
day of Kartika
(October-November)
|
This
vesa highlights the Radha-Krishna episode and its religious integration with
Sri Jagannath culture
|
Trivikrama
Vesa
|
11th day
of the bright fortnight of Kartika(October-November)
|
This
vesa was started by five celebrated devotees known as Panchasakha. Lord
Jagannath is dressed as Trivikrama, who is master of three spheres- heaven,
hell and earth
|
Bankachuda
Vesa
|
12th day
of the bright fortnight of Kartika(October-November)
|
Lord
Jagannath wears a special golden head gear
|
Nrusimha
Vesa
|
13th day
of the bright fortnight of Kartika(October-November)
|
Lord
Jagannath is dressed like Nrusimha
|
Rajarajeswar
Vesa
|
Full
moon day of Kartika(October-November)
|
Lord
Jagannath is dressed in gorgeous attire like a King of Kings
|
Nagarjuna
Vesa
|
13th-14th day
of the bright fortnight of Kartika(October-November)
|
Lord
Jagannath and Balabhadra are dressed like Nagarjuna(a military general)
|
Ghodalagi
Vesa
|
From
6th day of the bright fortnight of
Margasira(November-December) to Vasant Panchami- 5th day of
the bright fortnight of Magha(January-February)
|
Deities
wear specially designed winter dresses
|
Jamalagi
Vesa
|
From
Vasant Panchami to full moon day of Chaitra(March-April)
|
Deities
wear modified winter dress
|
Shradhha
Vesa
|
i)
13th day of the dark fortnight of Margasira
(November-December)
ii)
14th day of the dark fortnight of Margasira
(November-December)
iii)
15th day of the dark fortnight of Margasira
(November-December)
|
Deities
wear white robes to offer Shradhha to their ancestors
|
Padma
Vesa
|
Any
Saturday or Wednesday between the new moon day of Magha(January-February) and
Vasant Panchami
|
Big
petals of lotusadorn the faces of the deities in the shape of a disc. Three
triangular crowns made up of lace(crepe) and cloth are decorated with innumerable
lotus flowers.
|
Gaja
Uddharana Vesa
|
Full
moon day of Magha
|
This
vesa celebrates the saving of an Elephant who prayed to Lord Vishnu while
being attacked by a Crocodile
|
Chacheri
Vesa
|
From
the 9th day of the bright fortnight of
Phalguna(February-March) to full moon day of Phalguna
|
Lord
Jagannath is dressed to share the experiences of playing with
colour(Phagu/Abira-a rosy red powder)
|
Raghunath
Vesa
|
9th day
of the bright fortnight of Chaitra
(March-April)
|
Lord
Jagannth, Balabhadra and Subhadra are dressed like Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.
This vesa is observed in remembrance of Sri Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu.
This vesa has been discontinued and was last held in the year 1905.
|
Apart from the above vesas, the deities wear daily vesas as a part
of the daily rituals. They are-
1. Abakasa or
Tadapa Uttari Vesa- This vesa is done every day immediately after Mangal Arati.
2. Sadha Vesa-
Every day the deities wear dresses of different colours.
3. Bada Singhar
Vesa- It is done every night before the last ritual of the day. It is usually
made up of different types of floral ornaments and silken cloth set(Gita
Govinda Khandua Pata).
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