Bhubaneswar: The Shree Jagannath Temple is renowned for its intricate rituals and traditions, particularly during the Rath Yatra festival. Among these, the Senapata Lagi ritual holds great importance, where Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are adorned with sacred armour made from the wood of the Moulsari tree, also known as the Baula tree.
But what lies behind this tradition?
According to mythological tales, the use of Moulsari wood for the Senapata has its roots in two fascinating stories. One legend recounts the incident where Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra were caught stealing nuts in the Bakula forest by Siddha Balaram, who tied them to a Moulsari tree. Since then, the tradition of using Moulsari wood for the Senapata has been followed, symbolising the binding of the deities to the protective adornment during Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra.
Another mythological tale behind the Senapata preparation reveals that Kamadeva shot Lord Shiva with a bow and arrow of flowers (Puspa Dhanu). Shiva incinerated him with the fire of his third eye. At that time, he threw his bow on the ground, which divided into five parts and took the form of five flower plants. One of them is the Maulsari tree or Baula tree. Since the bow broke into parts suitable for tying, the tradition dictates that the idols be tied with a Senapata made of wood from this tree.
The Senapata Lagi ritual is a crucial ceremony, performed ahead of the grand Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra festivals. The protective adornments are made from the wood of the Moulsari tree, sent from the Sakshigopal’s Siddha Bakula Mutt to the Shrimandir temple. This tradition has been followed for centuries, highlighting the significance of the Senapata during Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings.
The Senapata Lagi ritual is a vital ceremony in the Shree Jagannath Temple, marking an essential step in preparing the deities for the upcoming Snana Yatra festival. During this ritual, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra are adorned with Senapata Bastra, a distinctive ceremonial attire crafted from sacred Baula wood. This divine armour serves as a symbolic protector of the deities, safeguarding them as they participate in the public rituals that follow.
As the temple prepares for the Snana Yatra celebrations, the Senapata Lagi ritual takes on great significance.
