Puri: The sacred Phuluri Tela seva of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra will be performed at Puri Srimandir on Friday as part of secret rituals being observed during Anasara (fortnight-long hibernation of the Trinity).
On this occasion, the Phuluri Tela (a herbal oil) will be applied to the sreeanga (bodies) of the deities for their speedy recovery from illness.
Lord Jagannath and his siblings go into Anasara when Mahaprabhu sufferers from high fever after the divine shower on the occasion of Deba Snana held on Snana Purnima on the Jestha Ekadashi. Following this, the deities undergo treatment with herbal medicines. After massages with Phuluri oil, the deities will recover from illness and will give darshan to devotees in Nabajoubana Besha on the Anasara Bedi a day before Ratha Jatra, which is scheduled on June 20 this year.
According to tradition, the successors of Biswabasu and Bidyapati servitors are entitled to massage herbal oil on the bodies of Chaturdha Murti (Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadhra along with Sudharshan) before removing the pastes made from herbs that are applied on the ailing deities.
The Phuluri Tela is made and provided by Bada Odia mutt. This herbal oil is prepared with pure sesame oil, roots of Bena, and fragrant flowers like Jasmine, Jui, and Malli.
The sesame oil mixed with other herbal ingredients is kept in an earthen pot. The pot is sealed with clay and kept underground for a year. The pot is buried under the ground on Hera Panchami and the mutt hands over it to the servitors of Puri Srimandir servitors during Anansara for the treatment of deities.
