PURI: Cutting of the Daru (holy Neem tree) for Lord Sudarshan will begin in Gadakhuntunia, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, at 3 pm on Friday.
A release from the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Thursday stated that Swotriya Brahmins have started ‘Mahayajna’ at the site to transform the holy Daru to Mahadaru which would be used to carve the idol of Lord Sudarshan. They are offering ‘ahuti’ (oblations) to the Fire God at the yajna mandap to the chanting of Patala Narasimha mantra (invocations) by Daitapatis. Till Thursday evening, 700 ahutis had been offered.
The Mahayajna would last for 48 hours and end with ‘Purna Ahuti’ after which, the tree will be felled. The ‘Purna Ahuti’ would be conducted by Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingh Deb after Swotriya Brahmins complete 1008 ahutis in the yajna mandap and 101 ahutis near the Daru.
The Swotriya Brahmins and Daitapatis are observing ‘nirjala’ fast (abstention from food and water) since Wednesday. They will break the fast after felling of the Daru. The gold, silver and iron axes to be used for cutting of the Neem tree have been consecrated.
As per norms, Swotriya Brahmins would hand over the golden axe to Bidyapati, silver axe to Biswabasu and iron axe to Biswakarma after ‘Purna Ahuti’. Cutting will begin after the Bidyapati touches the tree with golden axe and the Biswabasu with silver axe. The Biswakarma will begin cutting the tree with the iron axe.
Gajapati Visits Koili Vaikuntha
Gajapati Maharaj Dibyasingh Deb on Thursday reviewed preparations at the Koili Vaikuntha on the Jagannath temple premises where the holy Daru would be carved. After the Neem tree for Sudarshan is felled and brought to Jagannath temple in a wooden cart, it would be kept inside the Koili Vaikuntha, located near the elephant gate on the north side of the temple. Koili means ‘burial ground’ and Vaikuntha means ‘heaven’. It is the place where the old idols of the deities will be buried and the new ones made in utmost secrecy. The remaining three Darus for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will also be brought here for construction of the idols.
Gajapati Maharaj went around the Koili Vaikuntha and reviewed the preparations put in place for construction of four new bodies of the Trinity and Sudarshan.
The temple administration has put up a covered enclosure for construction of the new bodies and a ‘Daruguha’ which is a spacious room for placing the new idols after construction till transfer of the Brahmas.
Meanwhile, Superintending Engineer of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Bhuban Bikram visited the temple to look into removal of scaffolding from the temple for free movement of Daitapatis and devotees.