Snana Yatra

Compiled by Lila Sundari Devi Dasi from ISKCON Desire Tree, GRS Website, Mayapur.com and Raghunandan Das

A special bath of Jagannath takes place on the Purnima of Jyestha month (Devasnan Purnima), to commemorate the appearance day of Lord Jagannath. It is popularly known as the Deba Snana Purnima, or Snana Yatra. We will see how the Snana Yatra is conducted in Jagannath Puri, and how it will be done today, at the Gauranga Center.

Jagannath Puri This is the first occasion in the year when the deities, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra along with Sudarshan and Madanmohan are brought out from the Jagannath Temple. They are taken in procession to Snana Bedi located in the North-Eastern corner of the outer compound. The Snana Bedi is a stone platform where the Deities are placed for Snana Yatra. The deities are bathed there with a hundred and eight pitchers of water from a well near the Northern Gate.

According to Skanda Purana, when Indradyumna Maharaj installed the wooden deities, he arranged this bathing ceremony. This day is considered to be the birthday of Lord Jagannath. Held in the full-moon day of the month of Jyestha, it attracts thousands of visitors and pilgrims from all over India to Jagannath Puri.

In Puri, the bathing procedure is as follows: After Mangala Arati, the Suaras and Mahasuaras (different categories of persons entrusted with the services of the Deities) go in a ceremonial procession to fetch water from Suna Kua (Golden well) in one hundred and thirty vessels of copper and gold. All of them cover their mouths with a piece of cloth so as not to contaminate it even with their breath. Then all the vessels filled with water are preserved in the Bhoga Mandap, which is the hall where offerings are made. The Palla pandas (a class of Brahmin priests) then purify the water with Haridra (turmeric), Java (whole rice), Benachera, Chandan, Aguru, flowers, perfumes and medicinal herbs.

The bathing festival takes place during the morning hours of the purnima tithi. The filled vessels are carried from the Bhoga Mandap to the Snana Bedi by the Suaras in a long single-line procession. This ritual is called ‘Jaladhibasa’ (Jala - water, abhishek - bath).

Prior to the bathing ceremony Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra, covered in silken cloth and then smeared with red powder, are taken in procession to a platform, Snana Bedi, which is specially decorated and purified with water and incense. One hundred and eight gold vessels are filled with water taken from a special well containing waters from all the holy tirthas. Abhiseka is performed with this water, accompanied by the chanting of Vedic Mantras (Pavamana Sukta), kirtana and blowing of conch shells.

This is the hottest time in India just prior to the refreshing monsoon rains. Due to the amount of bathing liquids that are offered to cool the Lord’s transcendental body at this time, His painted form takes a bit of a wash-out. The Deity’s faces are Snana Yatra painted on with natural earthly mineral paints and not modern oil-based paints, so when water is applied to cool Their forms it also has the effect of washing away the features of the former painting. As usual the Lord has a plan to make everything go smoothly. To bridge the episode of His bathing and the period that He comes out to bless everyone for Rathyatra, He has some special pastimes by which the devotees can serve Him and remember His wonderful forms.

In order to keep a wonderful mood of seeing the Lord in an uplifting manner, the Lord arranged the Hati Vesha festival where Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balaram put on the elephant dress, Hati Vesha, and Lady Subhadra wears a lotus flower vesha.

Lord Jagannatha’s pastimes are such that after Snana Yatra, Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra become “sick”, and, so, must take “medicines” and “take rest” until they become “rejuvenated” enough to go for Ratha-yatra. When they are “sick”, they are offered bhoga containing medicinal herbs without the usual offerings. During this time the Daitas (descendants of Viswavasu, the Savara) repaint and restore the Deities and Jagannath’s fine decorations. On the 16th day the Deities in their new forms after renovation become ready for the public view - darshan. The festival of the first appearance of the Lord Jagannath to his devotees is called Netrotsava (festival for the eyes) or Nava Yauvanotsava (festival of the ever new youth). According to priests of the Jagannath temple the devotee washes away all his sins if he gets a vision of the Lord on this day. On this occasion, therefore, great rush of people occurs in the temple. Now we see how Snana Yatra will be performed in Gauranga Center.

Gauranga Center

Snana Yatra will be celebrated at Gauranga Center today, for which we are all gathered here. Abhishek will be performed for Lords Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra. The Abhishek will be done using a mirror, and juices will not be poured on them. The Abhishek will be accompanied by kirtan. After the Abhishek, Their Lordships will be moved to the back of the altar and a picture of Their Lordships will be placed instead on the altar till Ratha Yatra. We will have a lecture on the glories and significance of the Snana Yatra, followed by kirtan.