Finance
As the Suna Besha ceremony ends and the Niladree Bije ritual begins, the stage is set for the Adhara Pana custom. This enthralling ritual takes place on Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra’s chariots, which are positioned near the Srimandir’s Lions’ Gate.
Adhar Pana is a Puri Jagannath ceremony done at the temple during the Rath Yatra festival. The Adhar Pana rite takes place on the Trayodashi tithi of the month of Ashadha, and 100 liters of pana (sweet drink) are presented to the deities in specially constructed earthen pots.
Significance
According to tradition, on the auspicious day of Aashadha Sukla Dwadashi, the Adhara Pana ritual is observed. The term ‘Adhara Pana’ originates from two Odia words: ‘Adhara’, meaning ‘lip’, and ‘Pana’, meaning ‘sweet drink’. During this ritual, a refreshing sweet drink is offered to the deities on their chariots in large, cylindrical earthen pots that reach up to their lips.
History
Going by the history, this ritual was conducted three days in a row during the Car Festival, on the 10th (Dashami), 11th (Ekadashi), and 12th (Dwadashi). Every day, nine earthen pots were filled with the sweet drink, and three pots were presented to each deity in their chariots. Currently, the Adhara Pana ritual is performed only once, the day after the Suna Besha rite.
After their nine-day journey, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra, and Sudarshan are offered the sweet drink on chariots. The sweet drink consists of nine ingredients.
Special Offering
A particular concoction of milk, cream, cheese, sugar, banana, camphor, water, black pepper, and nutmeg is served to the deities on their chariots. This delicious, tasty milk drink is delicately poured into earthen pots that are placed close to the goddesses’ lips. The Mahasuara servants, who have the honor of making this sacred tribute, precisely construct the refreshments on each chariot, imbuing the rite with reverence and dedication.
All About Ritual
After performing the daily ‘nitis’ of the deities, the Trinity dressed in new clothing for the ‘Sahana Mela’.
At the time of the offering of Adhara Pana, Bhittarachha, Taluchha, and Palia Puspalaka servitors hold a new cloth horizontally in front of the deities. Following the Sodasha Upachara Puja, the deities are offered the fragrant and sweet drink as part of the Adhara Pana ritual.
Nine enormous barrel-shaped pitchers filled with the drink were put in front of the three deities seated on the chariots. To break the fast or ekadasi, the juice is offered to the lips of the deities, symbolizing a sacred offering deified in their respective chariots. The priests recited ‘Sodasa Upachar’ before offering the refreshments to the deities. However, this enchanted drink is not intended for human consumption.
Once the Adhara Pana drink is offered to the deities, the servitors intentionally shatter the earthen pots, allowing the sacred liquid to spill over the chariots. This enchanted drink is reserved for the subsidiary deities accompanying Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, protecting and guiding them on their journey.
According to legend, malevolent spirits seek to partake in the sacred drink for salvation. The smashing of the pots ensures the drink is exclusively available to the divine entities, symbolizing the destruction of evil forces.
Who prepares the Adhar Pana ritual?
According to tradition, the Shree Jagannath Temple administration, as well as the authorities of Raghab Das Math and Badaudiya Math, arrange for clay pots to be made by local potters using three bags of soil and one bag of sand. It takes him at least a month to make three unique earthen pots for the procedure.
The ceremony of Neeladri Bije is performed the day after Adhar Pana where in a ceremonial ‘Pahandi’ procession led by Daita servitors the deities enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Rasagolla Bhog was offered to the deities on the chariots before they entered the temple.
