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Anasara darshan of Lord Alarnath has begun

Bhubaneswar:30/6/25: The Anasara darshan of Lord Alarnath has begun today, and devotees can witness the deity in the form of a four-armed Narayana for the next 15 days beginning today.

According to reports, hundreds of devotees flocked to the historic Alarnath Temple near Brahmagiri in Puri district today, as the deities of Lord Jagannath and his siblings are in seclusion following their grand bathing ritual on Deba Snana Purnima yesterday. During this 15-day Anasara period, the deities will be unavailable for public viewing, and devotees believe that worshipping Lord Alarnath, a four-armed standing, is equivalent to seeking 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.

Located just 23 km from the holy city, the temple dates back to the 9th century, with its construction attributed to King Vanudev IV’s reign. However, it was during the early 12th century that the temple gained prominence, following significant renovations and contributions made by the revered Sri Ramanujacharya, according to historical sources.

It is worth noting that after the Snana Purnima ceremony, which witnessed the bathing rituals of the four deities with 108 pots of water, the sibling deities fell sick and were taken to the Anasara Gruha. During this time, they will be worshipped as Pati deities in a special and sacred manner.

It may be mentioned here that patta paintings known as ‘Anasara patti’ or ‘Anavasara patti’ of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are worshipped in the 12th-century shrine during the anasara period. Besides, the darshan of Patitapabana—the representative image of Lord Jagannath on the rig

About Editor in chief

Ashok Palit has completed his graduation from Upendranath College Soro, Balasore and post graduation from Utkal University in Odia Language and literture.. He has also carved out a niche for himself as a scribe of eminence after joining the profession in 1988. He is also an independent media production professional. He brings loads of experience to Advanced Media, Ashok Palit as a cineaste has been active in film criticism for over three decades. As a film society activist, he soared to eminence for his profound commitment to the art film appreciation and aesthetics of cinema. His mode of discourse is often erudite but always lucid and comprehensible marked by a perfect acumen so rare in the field. A film aesthete with an immense fond of critical sensibilities, he wrote about growth and development of odia cinema in New Indian Express, The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Asian Age and Screen. He has been working as an Editor for Cine Samaya from 2002-2004.. He had made solid contribution on cinema in many odia Dailies and weekly such as Samaj, Prajatantra, Dharatri, Samaya, Satabadi, and weekly Samaya.
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