Finance
The much-awaited Suna Besha, also known as Rajarajeswara Besha, take place at Puri’s Jagannath Temple. On this holy Asadha Sukla Ekadasi Tithi, the deities — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra — are decorated with exquisite golden jewels, creating a divine spectacle for lakhs of devotees.
The atmosphere is already packed with devotion and excitement as lakhs of devotees travel to Puri to witness the great Suna Besha. The golden embellishment of the deities is one of the most spectacular and renowned ceremonies in the Jagannath tradition, attracting devotees from all over the country.
With the temple administration working tirelessly to ensure the major event runs well, we digs into the rich history and lesser-known facts surrounding this magnificent festival.
History
According to the Madala Panji, an ancient chronicle of the Jagannath began during the reign of Gajapati King Kapilendra Deba. After winning a spectacular victory over the Deccan rulers in 1460 with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Maa Jayadurga, the king returned with vast wealth, including gold heaped onto 16 elephants. In an unusual act of devotion, he dedicated his entire riches to Lord Jagannath and stated his wish to make exquisite golden decorations for the deities. The assignment was assigned to Tadhau Karana, the royal gold custodian, who carried out the king’s vision.
However, Tadhau Karana humbly approached Gajapati Kapilendra Deba with a heartfelt request. He pointed out that a huge number of devotees were unable to enter the temple and see the deities in their magnificent attire. To address this issue, he proposed that the Suna Besha be brought out and displayed on the chariots on Bada Ekadashi. This would enable devotees from all walks of life to witness the beautiful golden splendor of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. The king enthusiastically approved the suggestion, establishing the yearly public Suna Besha event.
During this grand occasion, the deities are dressed with about 208 kg of gold, creating a breathtaking spectacle. According to legend, during Kapilendra Deba’s reign, the deities were decorated with an astounding 138 designs of gold jewelry. Although the number of patterns has diminished with time, the deities remain beautifully decorated with 20 to 30 different types of gold jewels, demonstrating Kapilendra Deba’s enduring love.
Ornaments Used in Suna Besha
The priceless gold ornaments are carefully preserved in the outer chamber of the Ratna Bhandar. Escorted by armed policemen and senior temple officials, the Bhandara Mekap priests bring out the jewellery and formally hand them over to the Puspalaka and Daitapati priests, who then adorn the deities. The following is the list of ornaments used during the Suna Besha.
- Suna Hasta – Golden Hand
- Suna Payar – Golden Feet
- Suna Mukuta – Golden Crown
- Suna Hasta – Golden Hand
- Suna Mayur Chandrika – A Golden Peacock Feather Used By Shri Jagannath
- Suna Chulapati – A Golden Ornament Worn Traditionally On The Forehead
- Suna Kundal – Golden Earring Of Hanging Round Ball Type
- Suna Rahurekha – A Half-Square-Shaped Golden Aura Around The Deities
- Suna Mala – Necklaces With Several Designs Made Of Gold. These include:
- Padma Mala –Necklace Of Lotus Flower
- Sevati Mala – Necklace Of Chrysanthemum Flower
- Agasti Mala – Necklace Of Moon Shaped Flower Design
- Kadamba Mala – Necklace Of Kadamba Flower
- Kante Mala –Necklace Big Gold Beads
- Mayur Mala – Necklace Shaped As Peacock Feathers
- Champa Mala –Necklace Of Champak Flower
- Suna Chakra – Golden Wheel
- Suna Gada – Golden Bludgeon
- Suna Padma – Golden Lotus
- Rupa Sankha – A Silver Conch
