Puri, June 12: With the sibling deities entering the Anasara Ghara at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri following the ceremonial Snana Purnima bath, devotees flocked to Brahmagiri in the early hours today to have darshan of Lord Alarnath.
Following the Debasnana Purnima, the deities enter a period of rest known as Anasara. During this fortnight-long period, public darshan of the wooden deities (Darubrahma) at the Jagannath Temple is suspended, and the Lord receives secret rituals inside the Anasara Gruha.
To ensure that devotees are not deprived of divine sight during this time, tradition holds that Lord Jagannath manifests in another form — as Shila Brahma (a stone idol) in the form of Chaturbhuja Narayan at the Alarnath Temple in Brahmagiri. For 14 days, thousands of devotees visit this holy shrine, considering it the "Second Srikshetra."
From early this morning, spiritual rituals commenced at Alarnath Temple. The temple doors were opened at 4:00 AM, followed by Mangala Alati at 4:15 AM. Rituals such as Tadapa Lagi, Avakash niti, Tulsi Lagi, and Gopal Ballav Bhog were performed. Public darshan officially began at 6:00 AM.
With expectations of lakhs of devotees over the next two weeks, the local administration has deployed security arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the darshan and associated rituals.
