PURI: The process for carving the new idols of Jagannath temple here began on Friday with the Daitapatis shifting four trunks of holy neem trees (Darus) from Darugruha to the construction yard in Koili Baikuntha on the temple premises.
As per tradition, Gajapati Dibyasingha Dev handed over the ‘gua’ (holy betelnut) to the chief Purohit of Swotriya Brahmins through Rajguru giving them the permission to conduct the yajna at the Koili Baikuntha close to the idol construction site.
As part of the ‘Antah Banajaga’, 75 Swotriya Brahmins would perform the yajna that would continue till construction of the idols of four deities ends.
During the first phase of ‘Anasara’, 10 Biswakarmas would carve the images of all three deities and Lord Sudarshan as per the instruction of senior Daitapatis. After the idols are completed, the Gajapati would offer Purnahuti on Chaturdashi day of the Hindu calendar on June 15. The new idols would then be placed facing the old ones in the ‘Anasara Gruha’.
On June 15 midnight, senior Daitapatis would transfer the Holy Brahma from the old idols to the new idols and the old idols would be buried in Koili Baikuntha. The new idols would be taken out during the annual Rath Yatra scheduled on July 18.