Lords Enter Adapa Mandap in Srigundicha Temple, Marking New Phase of Rath Yatra
Regarded as the abode of the Lords' aunt, the Srigundicha Temple becomes the temporary residence of the Holy Trinity during their annual sojourn
Bhubaneswar: The annual Rath Yatra entered a significant phase on Saturday evening with the solemn Adapa Mandap Bije ritual, during which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were ceremonially escorted into the sanctum of the Srigundicha Temple in Puri after spending two days on their respective chariots.
Regarded as the abode of the Lords' aunt, the Srigundicha Temple becomes the temporary residence of the Holy Trinity during their annual sojourn. The deities had begun their nine-day journey on July 16, and their chariots reached the temple after being pulled over two days by thousands of devotees.
Ahead of the ceremonial entry, servitors performed a series of traditional rituals, including Simhasana Majana and Sandhya Dhupa. Wooden ramps known as charamalas, fashioned from coconut tree trunks, were then placed to facilitate the transfer of the deities from the chariots to the temple.
The Mudirasta, representing Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, offered floral tributes to the deities and performed customary rituals such as Dora Lagi and Pushpanjali. The deities were also adorned with elaborate tahias, the traditional floral headgear, before the commencement of the sacred Pahandi procession.
The ritual procession began with the ceremonial transfer of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna from the Taladhwaja chariot, followed by Lord Madanmohan from the Nandighosa chariot. Thereafter, Lord Sudarshan, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and finally Lord Jagannath were carried one after another in the traditional Goti Pahandi style to the Adapa Mandap, also revered as the Janma Bedi, where the deities are believed to have first manifested.
Thousands of devotees thronged the temple precincts to witness the spiritually significant ceremony, one of the most revered rituals of the world-famous Rath Yatra.
During their stay at the Srigundicha Temple, all daily rituals performed at the Jagannath Temple will be conducted at the Adapa Mandap. Devotees will also be offered Adapa Abhada, the sacred food prepared at the Gundicha Temple, akin to the Mahaprasad served at the Srimandir.
According to Hindu belief, darshan of the Holy Trinity at the Adapa Mandap is considered especially auspicious and is believed to absolve devotees of sins accumulated over a hundred lifetimes.
The deities will remain at the Srigundicha Temple until the Bahuda Yatra, when they will begin their ceremonial return journey to the Jagannath Temple, marking the concluding phase of the annual chariot festival.
