Bhubaneswar: Rath Yatra attracts millions every year to the holy city of Puri to have darshan of the Lord Jagannath, the only god on earth, who comes out of the temple to give darshan to his devotees, irrespective of the religions and castes they belong to. During the Rath Yatra which is also known as Gundicha Yatra, the deities Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and his sister Subhadra are carried on wooden chariots from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple in Puri. Also known as Gundicha Ghar, the temple plays a vital role in the annual Jagannath Yatra, despite remaining largely empty throughout the year.
Set up in the 16th century, Gundicha temple is situated on the north-eastern side of the Jagannath Temple. Gundicha temple is believed to be the home of Lord Krishna’s aunt Goddess Gundicha, the deity of Gundicha temple.
Located about two miles north of the Jagannath temple in Puri, it is considered a destination of Lord Jagannath and his siblings during the festival. As the presiding deities of the Jagannath temple have left for their aunt’s house, Ommcom Media explores the importance of the Gundicha temple.
In a vibrant and sacred procession, the deities of Jagannath temple – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, accompanied by Sudarshan – were ceremoniously carried out of the temple premises and onto their ornate chariots on Sunday. The massive, colourfully decorated chariots were pulled by lakhs of devotees on Bada Danda. On Monday, the three chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath reached Saradhabali, in front of the Gundicha Temple.
The deities accompanied by Sudarsan will spend seven days at Gundicha temple. During this period the temple becomes the hub of all activities marking a joyous and sacred reunion between the divine aunt and nephew.
Facts About Gundicha Temple
The Gundicha Temple is named after Queen Gundicha, the wife of King Indradyumna. Locals believe that the temple is dedicated to Lord Gundicha, an incarnation of Goddess Durga, who is revered as the maternal aunt of Lord Jagannath.
This temple has two gates such as the western gate and the eastern gate. The western gate is the main gate from where the deities of Jagannath enter the temple during the Rath Yatra. The eastern gate, also known as Nakachana gate, is used for the departure of the deities.
According to a myth, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu mysteriously disappeared forever after walking alone to the Gundicha Temple, evading his followers and servants.
On Hera Panchami, a significant ceremony takes place at Gundicha temple during Rath Yatra, where Goddess Lakshmi, in the form of Subarna Mahalakshmi, reunites with her husband, Lord Jagannath. As part of the ritual, Goddess Lakshmi gets angry with Lord Jagannath and vents her anger by causing damage to Nandighosha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath. Getting angry with husbands for leaving alone for a long period is common with all women. So is the case with Goddess Lakshmi.
The Dakshina Moda ceremony takes place a day after Hera Panchami, where the chariots are reoriented to face the main temple in the south and then parked near the Nakachana gate, marking a significant ritual in the Rath Yatra celebrations.
