Lord Absent, but His Abode Still Crowded

BY: SUN STAFF CORRESPONDENT

A devotee offers prayer to Lord Jagannath in front of Gundicha temple
[Photos: Sampradaya Sun]

Jul 16, 2010 — JAGANNATHA PURI, ORISSA — Lord Jagannath and his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra are holidaying at Gundicha Temple since Tuesday (Rath Yatra). But Their absence in the sanctum sanctorum at Jagannath Temple has not stopped pilgrims from visiting the real abode. The shrine is still bustling with activity.

Contrary to general perception that the Jagannath Temple would carry a desolate look due to the Lord's outing during the nine-day Rath Yatra, hundreds of pilgrims are still flocking to the 12th century shrine everyday.

On a normal day, around 50,000 pilgrims visit Jagannath Temple everyday. On a festive day, the figure almost becomes double.

"Unlike any given day, the inflow of visitors to Jagannath Temple might have seen a slide since Tuesday (Rath Yatra), but the visibility of pilgrims is very much felt notwithstanding the absence of Deities in temple," said Laxmidhar Pujapanda.

After having a glimpse of the Deities at Gundicha Temple, pilgrims have been taking the route to Jagannath Temple to move around the sanctum sanctorum and other sub-shrines in the temple precinct.

"The Lord might be spending vacation at Gundicha Temple, but the real abode of Jagannath Temple holds much significance for our pilgrimage. We cannot think of returning from Puri by not visiting Jagannath Temple," said Sampadsri Burma, a resident of Nimapara in Puri district.

"The Lord's absence as of now hardly makes any difference for us. We felt the same kind of spiritualism today as we had felt during our previous visits to the temple on normal as well as festive occasions," said P K Chhatoi, a pilgrim from Cuttack.

ASI experts inspect condition of Nilachakra atop Jagannath Temple

The Ananda Bazar, where the Lord's Mahaprasad is sold in temple, however, bore a deserted look ever since the Deities headed towards Gundicha Temple. Since the Lord is not present here, no Mahaprasad is cooked in the temple's kitchen.

Meanwhile, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the custodian of Jagannath Temple, is busy inspecting the condition of the sanctum sanctorum, temple walls, sub-shrines and Nilachakra (installed at the pinnacle of temple) to make repairs, if needed.

A 15-member team of experts from ASI, led by state superintending archaeologist Ashok Kumar Patel, climbed atop the temple to oversee the condition of Nilachakra on Thursday.

"The sanctum sanctorum and temple walls are fully intact. No corrosion occurred around the Nilachakra," Patel told.

On the other hand, the Sri Jagannath Temple administration today was scheduled to decorate the wooden frames of Kalahata Dwar (entrance point of the sanctum sanctorum) with exquisite handiwork on silver.

"Nearly 300 kg silver has been used at a cost of Rs 85 lakh to decorate the Kalahat Dwar. The silver was donated by a private company of Orissa. Nearly 20 artisans from Banaras had been working on the art since last three months," said Laxmidhar Pujapanda, Public Relations Officer for the temple.

Meanwhile, the boys of NCC have been carrying out cleaning activities in and around the temple. "Cleaning of the temple and its surrounding is our routine job since last few years. We have been doing it when the Deities go on leave. Nearly 450 boys were engaged in the drive," said an official of NCC group of Puri.

Artisans give finishing touch to silver handiwork