Puri: Though Janmashtami, the birth day of Lord Krishna is being organized in all major religious places including Vrindavan, Mathura, Dwaraka and other prominent places across India, the observance of the same is totally different in Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Lord Krishna is considered as the 8th incarnation of the Lord Vishnu. Here in Puri though Lord Jagannath is considered as the Lord Krishna, actually, He is the mother of all incarnations.
Shree Jagannath is Avatari from whom all the Avatars take birth, according to puranas.
Therefore, Lord Krishna is also born from Lord Jagannath. The special ritual at the 12th century shrine, continued the age-old tradition.
A day before the Janmashtami, when Lord Krishna takes birth, Lord Jagannath is offered the “Jeuda Bhog”, a medicinal package given to the pregnant women for safe and painless delivery of the child.
It is believed that ‘Jeuda Bhoga’ provides relief to the deity from labour pain. Twenty-four hours later, Lord Jagannath gives birth to Lord Krishna and Lord Rama.
The Jeuda Bhog is offered to Lord Jagannath before the ceremonial Sandhya Alati ritual was held on Sunday. Following which, the deities were adorned with different ornaments and doors remained closed during which the Puri Lord is offered Jeuda Bhog.
This time also, the same practice was followed as the administration closed the temple for the entire day to avoid congregation to avoid spread of coronavirus.
Nowhere in India including Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, such practice is seen when Lord Krishna takes birth from the womb of Lord Jagannath, said a researcher in Shree Jagannath Culture.
Meanwhile, people across Odisha celebrated Janmashtami in their homes this time due to the pandemic while Mutts and temples have been decorated for the occasion.
According to Hindu Vaishnab tradition, Janmashtami was celebrated at Bayababa Matha on Monday. Special pujas were also held in ISKCON Temple here, but devotees were not allowed inside the temples and mutts.