Lord Jagannath’s secret ‘Brahma Paribartan’

The countdown for Lord Jagannath’s most secret ritual of Brahma Paribartan (Changing the soul) of deities in the 12th century shrine here has started as the temple administration and priests have made all arrangements for the sacred activities.
As on Monday’s ritual is most secret and unique, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has removed all the 16 CCTV camera’s from the temple premises in order to maintain secrecy, said SJTA chief administrator S C Mohapatra.
Mohapatra said instructions have also been issued to electricity department to disconnect power supply to the temple and nearby areas as the ritual of Brahma Paribartan is conducted in dark night silently.
“All the temple employees and priests barring some will remain present inside the temple when the Brahma Paribartan takes place tomorrow night,” he said.
The Brahma Paribartan of Lord Jagannath’s present idol will take place on June 15 night as the day is both an “amabashya” and a “Sankranti”, said Dr Naresh Dash, a researcher in the Jagannath cult.
During the Brahma Paribartan, the old Pati Mohapatra priest of the temple shifts the Brahma from old idol to the new ones. After Brahma Paribartan, the new idols get ?lives? and are adorned with Pata Bastra and gold ornaments known as Saptabharan or Banaklagi. ‘Brahma Paribartan’ is the most important ritual of Nabakalebara Festival which is being held after a gap of 19 years.
The old idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan will be buried inside the ‘Koeli Baikuntha’ within the temple premises on the same night.
Meanwhile, Maharana (carpenter) servitors are busy constructing the new idols of Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra, Lord Jagannath and Lord Sudarshan. The work for carving out of new idols has reached final stage, source said.
The Bidyapati priest will administer oath of secrecy to four “Badagrahis” (incharge of idols).
The ‘Naba Jaubana Darshan’ (Juvenile youth of the Lords) for the devotees will be held on July 17. The world-famous Ratha Yatra will be organised on July 18.