Finance
The Anasara darshan of Lord Alarnath began today, and devotees will be able to see the god in the guise of a four-armed Narayana for the next 15 days.
According to reports, hundreds of devotees visited the historic Alarnath Temple in Brahmagiri in Puri district today, as the deities of Lord Jagannath and his siblings are in seclusion after their major bathing ceremony on Deba Snana Purnima yesterday. During the 15-day Anasara season, the deities would be unavailable for public viewing, and devotees think that worshipping Lord Alarnath, who stands with four arms, is akin to receiving blessings from Lord Jagannath himself. The temple has become a major pilgrimage site during this time, with devotees gathering to catch a glimpse of the presiding deity and savour the temple’s signature khiri, a special rice porridge.
Historians attribute the establishment of the temple to the rulers of Alwar in Rajasthan, which is why it came to be known as Alwarnath or Alarnath Temple. Although the exact date of construction remains unclear, the temple gained prominence after Sri Chaitanya Dev’s visit in 1510 AD. During his stay, Sri Chaitanya wrote extensively about the place and the temple, claiming to have experienced a manifestation of Lord Jagannath at Alarnath. He spent considerable time worshipping the deity, further solidifying the temple’s significance.
The temple, located only 23 kilometers from the holy city, was built in the ninth century during the reign of King Vanudev IV. According to historical records, the temple rose to prominence in the early 12th century as a result of extensive repairs and contributions by the revered Sri Ramanujacharya.
It is worth noting that during the Snana Purnima ceremony, which included the four goddesses’ bathing procedures in 108 pots of water, the sister deities were ill and were carried to the Anasara Gruha. During this period, they will be revered as Pati deities in a unique and sacred way.
During the anasara period, the 12th-century temple worships Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra through patta paintings known as ‘Anasara patti’ or ‘Anavasara patti’. In addition, the darshan of Patitapabana—the emblematic figure of Lord Jagannath on the right side of the temple’s main entrance from Simha Dwara—is closed.
