Puri, Jul 11: The sacred town of Puri will be witnessed one of the most significant rituals of the annual Anasara period on Ekadashi as Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan will be administered the sacred Dasamula Modaka, a traditional Ayurvedic herbal preparation believed to restore their health after the ceremonial Snana Purnima.

According to centuries-old Jagannath Temple traditions, the deities fall ill after the grand Snana Purnima ritual, during which they are ceremonially bathed with 108 pots of scented water. They are then taken into seclusion at the Anasara Ghara, where the Daitapati servitors conduct confidential healing rituals away from public view.

On the eleventh day of the Anasara period, observed as Anasara Ekadashi, the deities will receive the sacred Dasamula Modaka, prepared with ritual purity by the temple's Raj Vaidya. The herbal medicine, made from a blend of ten medicinal roots and other Ayurvedic herbs, is regarded as the most important stage of the deities' traditional healing process.

The ritual also included the application of fragrant sandalwood paste to the deities, symbolising cooling, comfort, and complete rejuvenation. Adorned in Rakta Bastra, the sibling deities will ceremonially be offered the sacred medicine, marking the final phase of their recovery during the Anasara observances.

Temple tradition holds that the Dasamula Modaka completely restores the health of the deities, preparing them for their return to public view. On Dwadashi, the temple will observe the Raja Prasad Bije procession, during which the deities' recovery is ceremonially conveyed to the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri, reaffirming the centuries-old spiritual bond between the Lord and the erstwhile king.

The completion of the healing rituals paves the way for the eagerly awaited Nabajaubana Darshan, when the rejuvenated deities make their first public appearance after the Anasara period. The occasion also signals the final countdown to the world-famous Rath Yatra, drawing millions of devotees to Puri to witness the annual chariot festival.