Puri: The Hera Panchami ritual, an important one during the Rath Yatra will be observed in Puri today. Hera Panchami depicts the scene in which Goddess Mahalaxmi gets angry with Lord Jagannath and the way she vents her anger.
Goddess Mahalaxmi also gets angry with Lord Jagannath for remaining away from Srimandir for so many days during the Rath Yatra and not taking her along with his siblings.
Going by the legends, on the day of ‘Rukmini Harana’ Ekadashi, Mahalakshmi was married to Lord Jagannath. After this, following the Mahasnana Jatra, the Lords fall sick, recover and then proceed to the Gundicha temple. Mahalakshmi has not met the Lord for a long time and is upset. She is also worried about Lord Jagannath’s health.
Slo She decides visit Him at the Gundicha temple. to As per the age-old tradition, after the completion of Maha Snana, Sarbanga, Besha and Bandapana rituals, Goddess Laxmi is carried to the Gundicha temple in a palanquin by servitors with great pomp and gaiety and a grand procession via Bada Danda.
Goddess Laxmi’s procession takes a halt near the Nandighosha chariot. She is welcomed with ceremonial offerings. Then she enters the Gundicha temple. On behalf of Lord Jagannath, she receives an ‘Agyan Mala’ (a garland of consent).
Hera Panchami Niti rituals are performed on the fifth day of Ratha Jatra. As Goddess Lakshmi is exempted from travelling with Lord Jagannath to the Gundicha Temple, she gets angry with Her husband. On a suggestion by Goddess Bimala, who is Lord Jagannath’s Tantric consort and guardian of Jagannath Tempe, Goddess Lakshmi secretly visits Gundicha Temple to catch a glimpse of the Lord.
But though Lord Jagannath is there along with his siblings, he is surrounded by devotees inside the shrine and never gets a chance to meet His wife. Annoyed at this, Goddess Lakshmi throws “Moha Churna” (a herb in powder form given to her by Goddess Bimala) on Her husband for His early return to Srimandir.
After this act, the Pati Mahapatra – a representative of Lord Jagannath – offers an “Agyan Mala” (a garland of consent) on behalf of Lord Jagannath to Goddess Lakshmi, assuring her of his return to Srimandir or Jagannath Temple after three days.
However, she feels guilty after causing damage to the Nandighosha chariot. So, she secretly returns to Srimandir without any procession and fanfare through Hera Gohiri Sahi. The Hera Panchami ritual marks the process for Bahuda Jatra (return journey) as the three chariots are turned southward called Dakhina Moda.
According to the “Ratha Chakada” scripture, Hera Panchami was introduced by King Kapilendra Deb. Earlier, the ritual was performed through chanting. But the king conducted the rituals in a grand way, with the Panchu Pandavs also taking part. On the other hand, a huge crowd of devotees was seen at Gundicha temple today amid heavy rains this morning.
