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By: Shree1news, 22 JUL 2021
Adhar Pana, the sibling deities were offered special drinks on their respective chariots throughout Adhara Pana Niti (ritual) on Tuesday. … This drink is made of a mixture of milk cream, cheese, sugar, banana, camphor, nuts, blackpepper and other ingredients. Each deity is offered three pots each.
A day after Suna Besha, on Asadha Sukla Pakhya Dwadashi, the three deities are offered a refreshing drink named as ‘Adhara Pana’. In local language ‘Adhara’ means ‘Lip’ and ‘Pana’ is a sweet scented drink made of milk, sugar, cheese, banana, camphor, nuts, black pepper and so on. Apart from these ingredients, other herbal plant extracts like tulasi (holy basil) are also blended into the drink. The deities are offered Adhara Pana on huge cylindrical earthen pots reaching up to their lips. The drink was filled in 9 earthen pots and each of the deities was offered three pots each on their respective chariot.
THE RITUAL
Pania Apata Sevakas bring water from a well near Chhauni Matha near Singhadwara. The Supakaras then put together the Pana with milk cream, cheese, sugar, banana, camphor, nutmeg, black pepper and other such spices. Patribadu, Suarabadu, Garabadu Palia Sevaka and Pujapanda Sevaka offer it to the deities.
These are then broken to liberate the souls/spirits and other invisible beings residing on the chariots.
The refreshment is only for the Gods and Goddesses, who stayed on the chariots throughout Rath Yatra to guard Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra which is why they are known as ‘Rath Rakhyak’. Devotees are forbidden to partake of it.
The priests offer the drink to the deities by performing “Sodosha Upachara Pooja”. As soon as the Puja gets over the earthen pots are broken by the servitors and the Pana spreads all around the chariot. It is believed that several evil spirits, ghostly bodies and dissatisfied souls trail the deities during the Car Competition. As per the ritual, the Adhara Pana is not for the devotees and servitors however it is only for these evil spirits and the minor deities present on the three chariots (Parsva Devatas) to guard the chariots throughout Ratha Yatra. The smashing of these earthen pots on the chariots is purposefully done because the drink isn’t for the consumption by the devotees and also to ensure that all these invisible forces and Parsva Devatas consume the Adhara Pana and get satisfied.
“JAY JAGANNATH”
Source:A-N, DD Odia
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