Puri, June 26: After the sacred Anasara period, when the Holy Trinity undergoes a 15-day period of seclusion, two spiritually significant rituals mark their symbolic rejuvenation: Nabajouban Darshan and Netrotsav.
These two rituals signify the return of vitality and divine vision to the deities—Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
Following Anasara, the first major event is Nabajouban Darshan, which allows devotees to witness the Holy Trinity in rejuvenated form. Before this public appearance, the sacred Patadevis are respectfully immersed and removed. The wooden idols, placed earlier behind a Anasara Patti-are once again revealed.
Worshipped temporarily during Anasara, seven divine figures placed on cots are ceremoniously returned to their respective places, and the screen is lifted. The deities are once again viewed in their original Daru Brahma forms, marking the auspicious Nabajouban Darshan.
After Nabajouban Darshan, the next deeply symbolic ritual is Netrotsav. This ceremony completes the deities’ restoration by painting their divine eyes.
Prior to the ritual, during the "Banakalagi", the Dutta Mahapatra servitor partially sketches the eyes of the deities, including outlines like the Netra Pitula or Puadolā. However, this artwork is left incomplete.
On Netrotsav day, the servitor prepares a special black pigment using three silver vessels and hands it over to the Pujapanda priests. The final eye detailing is then completed using three sacred sticks made from Tulsi wood, which are brought from the historic Raghav Das Mutt.
The Netrotsav ritual includes the chanting of the Tachakshuhu mantra from the Yajurveda (Verse 36.24), which is also mentioned in the ancient temple chronicle Niladri Mahodaya. Amid the sound of conch and chanting, the priests draw the divine eyes on the deities’ faces, completing their spiritual and symbolic rebirth.
The Tachakshuhu mantra prays:
“Hey Pravu! Apanankara Chakhyu heuchi sudha surjya mandala swaroopa. Ehi chakhyu debata manankara hitakari. Apanankara krupa ru sehi nitya chakhyu ra aloka dwara aame saheti barsa dekhibaku sakhyama heu. Saheti sarat sukhare jibana dharana karu. Saheti sarat bhala bhabare suniparu. Saheti sarat bhala bhabare kahiparu. Saheti sarat bina dainyare chaliparu. Saheti ba Satadhika sarat aame sehipari bhabare kriyashila o ayushman rahu.”
This mantra underscores the life-affirming power of divine vision and the hope for a long, blessed existence.
The Nabajouban Darshan and Netrotsav mark the physical and spiritual rejuvenation of the divine deities, deepening devotees’ connection with Lord Jagannath and preparing them for the grand spectacle of the annual Rath Yatra. These sacred ceremonies are not just visual spectacles, but profound spiritual metaphors for rejuvenation, health, and inner awakening.
