What could be a better way to celebrate love and intimacy than with Konark honeymoon holidays? The romantic weather and beautiful landscape of this place will perfectly compliment your celebratory mood. You can visit the beautiful tourist attractions and enjoy quality time with your better half with Konark honeymoon packages available on Toshali Sands. From booking a warm and cozy honeymoon suits to arranging comfortable means of transport, Toshali Sands’ travel desk offers various services designed according to your needs. Stay at honeymoon special rooms at Toshali Sands, one of the best four-star hotels in Puri. Enjoy amazing foods at its multi-cuisine restaurant and savor delicious local cuisine or head to the fascinating shopping destinations here with Puri Konark honeymoon tour packages. Honeymoon is the time to firm the bond and honor the intimacy. Continue reading Give Surprise Your Better half with Toshali Konark Honeymoon Packages
Tag: Puri
Jagannath Temple All Set to Welcome the World with Its New 2020 Look
Every new year brings enthusiasm in people to opt new resolutions and provoked them to bring some changes in their lives. Suchthing happened with Odisha this time in 2020. The biggest change of Odisha is its world-famous Jagannath temple in Puri. Not only the temple but also the entire city is welcoming its guests with its new impressive look. Continue reading Jagannath Temple All Set to Welcome the World with Its New 2020 Look
Bahuda Yatra of This Year- 2019
If you are a great devotee of Lord Jagannath then definitely not going to miss Rath yatra and Bahuda yatra of this year, which are happening on 4th July and 12th July of this year. The return journey or Lords from Gundicha temple to Puri temple is called as Bahuda Yatra. Continue reading Bahuda Yatra of This Year- 2019
Lords’ Home Coming- Bahuda Yatra 2019
Only attending Rath Yatra won’t seem to be complete your religious tour package in Puri, must see the Bahuda Yatra also which completes the process or Rath Yatra festival. If you are a great devotee of Lord Jagannath then definitely not going to miss Rath yatra and Bahuda yatra of this year, which are happening on 4th July and 12th July of this year. The return journey or Lords from Gundicha temple to Puri temple is called as Bahuda Yatra. Continue reading Lords’ Home Coming- Bahuda Yatra 2019
Bahuda Yatra-End of Lords’ Nine Days’ Journey
If you have missed Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath then still have chance to see some celebrations like Bahuda Yatra and SunaBesha. This year, these are happening on 3rd July and 4th July of this year. The return journey or Lords from Gundicha temple to Puri temple is called as Bahuda Yatra. Continue reading Bahuda Yatra-End of Lords’ Nine Days’ Journey
Different Special Rath Yatra 2017 Tour Packages
June/July is the month of the festival of Odisha people. Rath Yatra Puri and thousands flock to the heritage site of this divine city, which Odisha is going to witness this grand occasion. Continue reading Different Special Rath Yatra 2017 Tour Packages
Reasons that Compel You for a Puri Rath Yatra Visit
Rath Yatra festival of Odisha is exclusively dedicated to Lord Jagannath, who is believed as the Lord of the Universe by Hindu devotees. Visiting the Jagannath Temple at Puri during the occasion of Rath Yatra is considered to be extremely auspicious. Here are few things that let you understand, why going to Rath Yatra is good for you: Continue reading Reasons that Compel You for a Puri Rath Yatra Visit
Golden Attire – Suna Besha of Lord Sree Jagannath, Puri dham
The Suna bhesa or Bada Tadau bhesa or Raja bhesa happens the day after the return of the Lords from Gundicha. On the day of Bada Ekadasi, the 11th day of the bright fortnight in Asadha. The deities, on their chariots itself don the golden attire or the suna besa, with hands, arms and crown made of solid gold. They are decorated with gold diadems, hands and feet made of gold. Lord Jagannath holds a gold Chakra (Disc) in his right hand and Silver Sankha (Conch) in his left hand. Lord Balabhadra holds a gold Hala (plough) in his left hand and a golden Gada (mace) in his right hand. The dress reportedly weighs one ton. They are also offered sweet drinks, adhara pana, on huge cylindrical earthen pots reaching up to their lips. They are taken down from the chariots in a ritual descent to enter the temple.
Golden attire – Suna Besha of Lord Sree Jagannath, Puri Dham Orissa
Other than the Rath Yatra, the Lord Sree Jagannath is dressed in this regal attire on festivals like Dasahara, Kartika Purnima and Pousa Purnima (Pushyabhiseka Besha).
After this the very human and amusing feud takes place between the Lord and Goddess Laxmi in the main gate of SreeMandir, Puri dham. Ultimately the humility of the Lord prevails and he is allowed entrance to his abode. There is great ullulation and fanfare and in his stately ‘Pahundi’ style the Lord returns to his seat – marking an end to the grand spectacle of Rath Yatra. It is said that a ardshan of the Lords Sree Jagannath in “Suna Bhesa” frees one from the cycle of rebirth.
This year you can see the Lords in their golden attire, popularly known as Suna Bhesa on July 22 and after the symbolic Laxmi-Narayan feud the Lords will enter SreeMandir on July 23’ 2010 bringing to an end the grand festival of Rath Yatra – The Car Festival.
To take part in the conclusive part of ‘Rath Yatra” – The “Suna Bhesa” Festival on 22nd July 19, 2010, Toshali Sands, Puri has exclusive arrangement to take you on visit to the “Sree Mandir” Bada Danda – The Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri Orissa ‘now called as Odisha”. To Know more, leave your comment or contact travel desk ‘metu@toshali.in, we will get back to you.
I would be glad to hear more about the Holy Ritual Costume or Attires or Bhesas, please post if you feel any information’s in the blog is missing. And would be gald to have you as their guest at Toshali Sands, Puri
I trust you enjoyed this post, I would appreciate, if you share it on Twitter, Facebook, Orkut and other Social Networking sites.
SreeMandir Traditional Holy Attires or Bhesa of Sree Lord Jagannath, Puri
In Hindu mythologies and rituals Gods and Goddesses are revered and loved just as family. Probably belonging to the bhakti yoga culture popularized by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – they wake up to strains of music, are offered prasadas, bathed, anointed with fragrances, dressed in finery and jewelry and fall asleep to lullabies. You can either view it as humanization of a deity or the acknowledgement of the Lord’s omnipresence.
In the Sree Mandir tradition of Sree Lord Jagannath, Puri there are altogether 24 beshas or Holy Attires or Ritual Costumes or the Vastra Shringar of which 22 are used regularly while two beshas are used rarely. The Nagarjuna and Raghunath Besha. In all the attires or bhesas, Sree Lord Jagannath is the focal point except for the Pralambasurabadha Besha used to commemorate slaying of a demon of same name by Sree Lord Balabhadra.
The bhesas or the holy attires are:
- Abakasha or Tadapa Uttari Bhesa
This is done daily, after mangala arati. Abakash is the tooth brushing and bathing ritual.
- Badasrunghara Bhesa
It is the nightly retirement dress. This is mostly made of different kinds of flowers and silk clothes.
- Chandana Bhesa
This bhesa is done for 42 days, beginning on Akshaya Trutiya.
- Hati Bhesa or Gajanana Bhesa
On the full moon day of the month of Jyestha, after the bathing ceremony is over, the Deities are dressed to resemble Lord Ganesha.
- Suna Bhesa
When the Deities return from the Gundicha Mandir on their chariots, they appear in the Golden dress. It is said that a darshan of the lord in Suna Bhesa frees one from the cycle of rebirth.
- Raja Bhesa
The Lord dresses up in this attire on the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Aswina, the full moon of Pousa and the full moon of Phalguna.
- Banabhoji Bhesa
On the 10th day of the dark fortnight in Bhadra, the Lords are dressed for a picnic, like the cowherds.
- Kaliyadalana Bhesa
On the 11th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra the Lord is dressed as Krishna the slayer of serpent Kaliya.
- Pralambasura Badha Bhesa
On the following day, the 12th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra the Lords are dressed to commemorate Lord Balaram’s slaying of the demon Prahlamba. his is the only beshas when Lord Jagannath’s elder brother Lord Balabhadra occupied the central place.
- Krishna-Balarama Bhesa
On the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, the Lords are dressed as Krishna and Balarama.
- Bali Vamana Bhesa
On the 12th day of the bright fortnight Bhadra, the Lord is dressed in the image of his reincarnation as Vamana, the slayer of demon Bali.
- Radha-Damodara Bhesa
From the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Ashwina to the 10th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, the Lords are dressed with a rope around his waist in reminiscence of his bal-leela with mother Yashoda.
- Thiakia or Laxmi-Narayana Bhesa
This bhesa is used on the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.
- Bankachuda Bhesa
The curly haired make-up. Used on the 12th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.
- Adakia or Trivikrama Bhesa
Attire used on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.
- Dalikia Bhesa or Laxmi Nrisimha Bhesa
Used on the 14th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika.
- Raja Rajeswari Bhesa
Attire on the full moon of Kartika.
- Chacheri Bhesa
From the 9th day of the bright fortnight to the full moon of Jyestha except the 14th day, this dress is used.
- Nagarjuna Bhesa
In honor of Parasurama. It is used only occasionally – during the month of Kartika, when there are six days of Panchaka. This was done six times in the last 30 years on 11/3/95, 11/16/94, 11/26/93, 11/3/68, 11/16/67 and 11/26/66.
- Ghodalagi and Jamalagi Bhesa
From the 6th day of the bright fortnight of Margasira (Odhan Sasthi) to the 5th day of the bright fortnight of Magha (Basanta Panchami) to Dol Purnima – the Deities wear winter clothes.
- Padma Bhesa
On Saturdays or Wednesdays between the new moon of Magha and Basanta Panchami. The dresses are made from lotus, sola lace and paper.
- Gaja Uddharana Bhesa
On the full moon day of the month of Magha. It commemorates the story of Gajendra, the king of the elephants, and the alligator.
Toshali Sands, Puri has exclusive arrangement to take you on visit to the “Sree Mandir” – The Lord Jagannath Temple, Puri Orissa ‘now called as Odisha”. To Know more, leave your comment or contact travel desk ‘metu@toshali.in, we will get back to you.
I would be glad to hear more about the Holy Ritual Costume or Attires or Bhesas, please post if you feel any information’s in the blog is missing. And would be gald to have you as their guest at Toshali Sands.
I trust you enjoyed this post, I would appreciate, if you share it on Twitter, Facebook, Orkut and other Social Networking sites.
“Shankha Khyetram”: The Holy Conch Shell Province of Lord Jagannath, Puri
The holy land of Orissa is divided into four kshetras. These kshetras are named after the four names of weapons of Lord Vishnu such as Shankha (conch shell), chakra (disc), gada (mace) and padma (lotus). Puri Dham is known as Shankha Kshetra. Bhubaneswar is Chakra Kshetra, Jajpura is Gada Kshetra, and Konark is Padma Kshetra (sometimes Ark Kshetra after the sun god)
The geographical size of Puri resembles a right oriented conch shell, the ‘Dakshinavarta Shankha’, which is why the name. The sacred section of puri looks like a conch shell and it is in this section that all the sacred centres like temples, mathas (English word for this), sacred tanks, trees and various other sacred sites are located. The Shankha Kshetra covers an area of roughly 10 square miles, out of which nearly 40% is submerged under the sea.
Tantric layout of Shankha Kshetra
Shankha Kshetra of Puri includes the Temple of Lord Jagannath and its huge compound circumscribed by a wall called Meghanada Pacheri. The temple complex is surrounded by streets or sahi, running in all directions from the temple. The sebakas (English word) live in the streets, which are close to the temple and monasteries, temples of several gods and goddesses, sacred tanks and trees, recreational and gymnastic centres (Jegaghar and Akhada (english word)) are located in different places scattered throughout the town.
The shape of the sacred section of Puri resembles a conch shell (Shankha) and, therefore, it is also known as the Shankha Kshetra. Like the other names, that is, Shri Khetra and Purusottam Khetra, which have bearing on the Lord Jagannath, the paramount deity of Puri, Shankha Kshetra has equal ritual and symbolic significance. The name Shankha Kshetra is the most significant because Shankha is one of the Aiyudhas or weapons of Lord Vishnu who resides in the navel or the central part of the shell in the form of Lord Jagannath. Shankha Kshetra is about 10 miles in extent, of which nearly two koshas are submerged in the sea and the remaining three koshas are above water.
In the centre of the Kshetra lies the hillock called Nilagiri where the famous temple of the Lord Jagannath stands. The broad end of the Shankha Kshetra lies to the west where the temple of Lokanath, one of the eight noted Shiva Temples of Puri is located and on the apical end or the cone in the east, is located another Shiva Temple called the Nilakantha. The area between the two temples is two miles and is the most sacred.
According to the Tantric philosophy, the Shankha Kshetra is made up of seven concentric folds.
- The innermost or first fold, which forms the navel, or the Kshetra, is the seat of the divine platform on which the Lord Jagannath with his elder brother Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra are presiding.
- The second fold, which is the outer layer of the first or the innermost fold, is hexagonal in shape and in this are located four goddesses of power, two tirthas, two sacred trees, Garuda (vehicle of Lord Vishnu) and the top of the Nilgiri hill which is convex like the back of a tortoise. The goddesses are Bimala, Kamala, Sarbamangala and Uttaral. The sacred trees are Kalpapadapa and Salmalitaru. The tirthas are Rohinikunda and Pranitodakakunda.
- The third fold, is the central part of the lotus-like structure having eight petals, each inlaid with an idol of Lord Shiva and a goddess. The eight Shivas are Agneswar, Bateswar, Khetrapaleswar, Chakreswar, Baikuntheswar, Pataleswar, Isaneswar, and Lokeswar. The eight goddesses are Dwarabasini, Mahabajreswari, Swanabhairabi, Bhadrakali, Bhubaneswari, Mahakaliaghorea, Sitala, and Jagnyeswari. These deities are responsible for watching and guarding the firstfold having the Supreme Lord at the centre of the sacred complex.
- The fourth fold, forms the convex surface of the temple precinct (Mahakurma) and the inner compound wall.
- The fifth fold, which is the outer layer of the fourth fold, is again the seat of another eight Shivas and eight goddesses. The Shivas are Bisweswar, Markandeswar, Mahakaleswar, Karnameswar, Mukteswar, Ugreswar, Kapilalochana and Agreswer. The goddesses are Bisweswari, Saptamatrika, Dakshinkali, Charchika, Alameswari, Barahi, Banadurgeswari and Basulikeswari. These deities are also in charge of watch and ward functions of the sacred complex.
- In the sixth fold of the sacred space there are four ashrams. They are Angirs in the east, Pandu in the west, Markandeya in the north, and Bhrigu in the south.
- The seventh fold which is the outermost zone consists of the sentries of the Shankha Kshetra and two pilgrim centres. That’s all or is it? Theres another legend. This place is named after demon Shankhasura who was killed by Lord Vishnu. Shankhasura was born from the sweat of demon Madhu. Vishnu killed Madhu when he was on the verge of killing Brahma. Shankhasura wanted to avenge Madhu’s death. He pleased Shiva by his penance and learned Tantra from him. While he was learning Tantra he could hear the recitation of veda. Rishi Yagnavalkya was learning Yajur veda from Brahma at the moment. Shankhasura wanted to learn the recitation and he asked Shiva for the source. Shiva instructed him to go to Brahma to learn the Vedamantra. But Brahma had already distributed the four Vedas among his disciples, so Brahma refused to teach him Vedamantra. Shankhasura was enraged and he took away the four Vedas from the disciples forcibly and hid them in the sea. Lord Vishnu took on the incarnation of “Meen” to search for the demon. The demon hid in the Kalpa Vriksha inside the present temple. Lord Vishnu tried to kill the demon. The demon hid in a conch. Vishnu used teh Sudarshan chakra but the hard conch diverted the chakra.
- Finally Vishnu killed the demon with his Brahmastra. Shiva was furious at the death of his disciple. The assembled gods pleased Shiva by singing “Vedasara Staba” (glories of Shiva). He requested Vishnu to name the place as Shankha kshetra after the name of Shankhasura. The proposal was accepted and the place was named as “Shankha kshetra”.
Toshali Sands has exclusive arrangement to take you to places of your interest in the “SHANKHA KHYETRAM” and “RATH YATRA” – THE CAR FESTIVAL. To Know more, contact Toshali Sands, Puri travel desk or leave your comment, we wil get back to you.
I would be glad to hear more about Shankha Khetram, please post if you feel any informations in the blog is missing. And would be gald to have you as their guest at Toshali Sands.
If you enjoyed this post, I would appreciate, if you share it on Twitter, Facebook, Orkut and other Social Networking sites.