We celebrate Jyesthabhishek and Snaan Yatra on the Poornima which coincides with the Jyestha Nakshatra in the month of Jyestha in Tirupati, Puri and Pushti Marg too. The essence is the same everywhere but the rituals are very interesting and worth reflecting upon.
Jyesthabhishek in Tirupati
Lord Venkateshwara manifests with an indestructible armour (Kavacham) called “Abhidhyeyakam” to protect us during the Kaliyuga. A fortnight before we celebrate the three-day festival of Jyesthabhishekam, we remove the Kavachams from the utsav murtis of lord Malayappa and his consorts Shri Devi and Bhu Devi. We appoint qualified traditional jewellers to repair the Kavachams.
We also believe that the ancient utsav murtis of lord Malayappa and his consorts Sri Devi and Bhu devi may have suffered some damage when we take them out for processions or when we bathe them all through the year. These swaroops are made of pancha loha – an alloy of brass, gold, copper, silver and lead and are over 88 years old.
So, during the three-day Jyesthabhishekam festival, we bring these utsav murtis to the Kalyana Mandapam. At the auspicious time, we perform all the rituals prescribed by sage Brighu.
Tirumanjanam
First, we perform a special Abhishekam to the Abhidhyeyakams. We cleanse and purify them by chanting Vedic mantras and adorning them with flowers.
We then perform the Abhishekam of the utsav murtis with 108 silver pots. We fill these pots with dravyas like Kushodakam, Ratnodakam, Haridrodakam, Ksheerodakam et al and recite the Panchasuktas during the Abhishekam.
Then we anoint the utsav murtis with a specially formulated herbal concoction called Vishesha Sugandhi Tailam. We call this entire ceremony as the Ashtottara Shata Kalasha Snapana Tirumanjanam. We then replace the Kavachams on the utsav murtis very carefully. During this Tirumanjanam ceremony alone we get the darshan of lord Malayappa in His truest form.
Snana Yatra of lord Jagannath in Puri
Devasnana Purnima or Snana Yatra is one of the oldest festivals of lord Jagannath. When Indradumnya enshrined the wooden deities of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra in Puri, he organized a bathing ceremony. The Snana Yatra is the birthday of lord Jagannath.
On the day of Snana Yatra, huge images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra along with the image of Sudarshana are ceremonially brought out from the sanctum in a ritual procession to the Snana-Bedi (Bathing pandal) in the morning hours.
After the deities are seated on the bathing platform, 108 pitchers of holy water collected from the sacred wells in the precincts of the temple, are poured on them. The filled vessels are carried from Bhoga Mandap to the Snana Bedi by the Suaras in a long single-line procession. This ritual is called ‘Jaladhibasa’.
Before the bathing ceremony, the images are covered with silken clothes and then smeared with red powder. Then water is poured, the rituals performed and ‘Pavamana’ hymns chanted. After the bath, the deities are so dressed that together they appear like the image of Ganesha. This is called Ganesha Besa.
Ganesha Besa folk tale
Once a staunch devotee of Lord Ganesha who was a profound scholar visited Puri during Snana Yatra. The king of Orissa rewards him amply for his scholarship. The king then asks the scholar to accompany him to see Lord Jagannath. But the scholar refuses saying that he worships no other God except Ganesha. The king persuades the scholar and brings him to the Snana Bedi. To everyone’s surprise, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra appear as Ganesha. That is why even today, we dress these deities like Ganesha after the Snana Yatra.
Some say, “When we give the deities a sacred bath, the painted colors on the images fade. So, we dress these deities immediately in Ganesha Besa to cover the deities completely.”
After the Snaan Yatra, the gods suffer from cold and fever. So, we isolate the deities and keep them away from public view for fifteen days. This period of isolation is called ‘Anabasara’ or ‘Anasara’ meaning improper time for worship. We suspend the daily rites of the temple. And perform specific rituals, give herbal medicines, and ensure that the Gods get ample rest so that they recover completely.
After they recover, we give the deities a fresh coat of paint. And on the 16th day, we worship our deities in their new appearance. We call this first darshan after Snaan Yatra as Netrotsaba or Nava Yaubana Darshana (view of new youth). We believe that if we do the darshan of the lord on this day, we can cleanse ourselves of all our sins.
Adhivasan, Snaan Yatra and Jyesthabhishek in Pushti Marg
Adhivasan
In Pushti Marg, we perform a small ritual called Adhivasan to protect our Bal Swaroops. Adhivasan wards off external evil forces dwelling in the elements dispels the negative vibrations around our Nidhi swaroops and purifies the ambience in our shrines.
Usually, we perform the Adhivasan ceremony when we buy something, like a new boat or Rath for our Nidhi Swaroops. But we also perform Adhivasan on 6 festive occasions. We first take a Sankalp. And depending on the occasion, we worship Jal/Vayu/Agni/Prakriti/Kama Deva or Akash with Haldi, Kumkum, Chandan, flowers and Tulsi. We then offer bhog, dhoop, deep and finally perform the arti.
We perform Adhivasan to the Vasant Kalash on Vasant Panchami and request Kama Deva to protect our Nidhi swaroop’s love. On Dol Utsav, we request Vayu Deva to protect our Nidhi swaroops from evil spirits that dwell in air. On Akshay Trittiya and Chandan Yatra, we ask Agni Deva to protect our Nidhi Swaroops from the searing heat. On Hindola Utsav we perform the Adhivasan of the Hindola and request Prakriti to protect the love that Krishna shares with Radha and Her sakhis. And on Pavitra Ekadashi we perform the Adhivasan of the Pavitra and ask Akaasha to protect our lord from evil forces that dwell in space.
Snaan Yatra
The Vraj bhaktas are Krishna’s “Jyeshtha” bhaktas. These “Jyestha” bhaktas engage in Jal Kreeda (water sports) with their dear Krishna for one whole month of Jyeshtha in the waters of Yamunaji. And on the Poornima of Jyeshtha, Yamunaji quietly fulfils the manorath of the Vraj bhaktas whose only desire is to be with Krishna. Always.
Yamunaji brings the Vraj bhaktas closer to Krishna. And when Krishna surrenders helplessly to the unconditional love of His Vraj bhaktas, they are overwhelmed with Ananda. The Vraj bhaktas thank Yamunaji for fulfilling their only wish. That is why, we sing Yamunaji’s padas during the entire month of Jyestha.
Jal Yatra
A day before Jyesthabhishekam, we collect the water for Krishna’s bath from a holy place and perform the Adhivasan of this Jal. We call this ceremony as the Jal Yatra.
Jyesthabhishek
In Pushti Marg, we celebrate Jyeshthabhishek with two bhaavs. We believe Nanda performs the Rajyabhishek of Krishna and crowns Him the king of Vraj on this day. So, all the Vrajbhaktas assemble in Nandalaya and gift him mangoes.
After the 30-day Snaan yatra gets over, Yamunaji fulfils the manorath of the Vraj bhaktas on Jyesthabhishek.
On Jyesthabhishek, we awaken Krishna before sunrise and bathe Krishna with the sanctified Jal. We chant the Purushasuktas (Vedic mantras) and sing the glory of Krishna while performing the Jyesthabhishek.
Yes, all our rituals have been designed to bring us closer to God. So, let’s perform them with awareness. And hope that someday, if not in this life, in the next one or the one after that at least, Yamunaji helps us cleanse our sins so that we too become one of Krishna’s “Jyeshtha” bhaktas.
Jyesthabhishek pictures (Tirupati) given by Shri. Purushotham bhai.
Please click here to read about other Indian rituals.