Hinduism 2000 years ago which were highly abstract and only restricted only to the Brahmns. So,Hinduism sort of redefined itself from the vedic way to the Puranic way and started presenting itself through stories.And there were three major groups of stories the Shaivaite,the Vaishnavite, and the Shakta,And this particular temple of Jagannath Puri is with in the Vaishnav frame work. And the Vaishnav frame work typically is about celebration of life.So,the deity lives like a King. He lives a full life.He gets up in the morning ,he is bathed he wears different kinds of clothes. Every day, the God is served food syx times. We have a belief that in Hinduism when Lord Vishnu descends on Earth every day. He bathes in Rameshwaram then goes to Dwarka where he is adorned before he rules. In the afternoon, he comes to puri to feast. It's a place where not only Brahmins but evens Gods yearns to feast. It's an abode for food.
In one of the largest temple kitchens in the world about 100 feet long 150 feet broad it looks like a fortress from the outside. Only Vegetables indigenous to the region are used for cooking the meal for Lord Jagannath . It's a 1000-year-old market called "Laxmi Bazar". Vegetables come from near by Villages. Vegetables like Pototoes and Tomatoes,Cauliflowers ,Okra,Green chillies are not used. Pumpkin is used it is a traditional Vegetable. Daily Lord Jagannath enjoys 56 varieties of food items seems like a Lord who loves to feast . Over 1,000 pots 600 cooks and only the ancient technique of using wood goes into making special dishes for the Lord . All the food is cooked in a traditional wood fire stove.
- It is about 3.5 feet in height . It can accommodate about 9 to 12 earthen pots. The earthen pots are used only once.They break them after use. Reputed to be one of the largest kitchen in the world there are about 600 cooks who prepare what is called the Mahaprasad the food is first served to Lord Jagannath then to Goddess Vimala after which it is deemed the Mahaprasad. One of the most spiritual experiences for the visitors who have poured into Puri is the partaking of this Mahaprasad. It is an integral part of the visit to the temple . The kitchen feeds nearly 25,000 people everyday. But, with the yatra around the corner it needs to gear up for double that number.
Centuries of myths legends and history have woven themselves into a rich culture of traditions and beliefs around Lord Jagannath one of the most unique gods in the Hindu pantheon. It is June, and an important ritual is taking place Snana Purnima or the bathing ceremony. Every year , the idols of Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Balabhadra and Subhadra are brought out and bathed with 108 pitchers of water . Traditionally, after this ritual the gods fall ill and take 15 days to recover.During this time, the main temple remains shut only to reopen again at the time of the Ratha Yatra .What is most fascinating about the legend of Lord Jagannath isthat he dies like mortals.
He along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are given new bodies, the ceremonial process is called "NabKalebar", Nab means new, and Kalebar means body the transition from the old wooden body to a new one . This is one message that death is inevitable for anybody . So, we live ego,we live with pride, arrogance , stubbornness but here the Lord is telling "look, I came , Iam going, get ready." As per tradition, the ritual of re-embodiment and replacing of old wooden idols with new ones takes place every 8,12 or 19 years. The millennium's first NabKalebar is in 2015. Which is being celebrated after a gap of 19 years. Soon after Snana Purnima the engravings of the new idols begin. According to the legend King Indradyumna impatiently stormed in and interrupted the artisan's work. But in current date nobody is allowed to disturb the artisans . They work incomplete seclusion, and not even the King is allowed.
Kings of Odisha had this responsibility or obligation of serving Lord Jagannath. They were known as the first sevaks or servants of the Lord. And this tradition continued through centuries . And it is not one dynasty but many dynasties which succeeded to this tradition during Ratha Yatra , all the three Lords are seated on their respective chariots. The King has to go and perform the first seva the first service..And that also involves sweeping of the floor around the throne on the chariot, which is very unique and makes them wonder. Why the King is doing something which normally they find someone very low down in our social hierarchy do sweeping the floor . So, that is very amazing . This is in their opinion, to say that before the Lord , there is nothing high or low and everything we do even the smallest of our actions should be dedicated at his feet.
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