As a part of the rituals during the ‘Anasara’ stay of Lord Jagannath and his siblings Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, the deities will get ‘Phuluri oil’ (a special herbal oil) treatment at Srimandir in Puri on the occasion of Anasara Panchami today.
The special ritual, which is carried out to cure the deities of fever caused by excess bathing during ‘Snana Yatra’, will help the Trinity prepare for the world famous annual sojurn ‘Ratha Yatra’.
As per the practice, the ‘Phuluri oil’ is prepared by the Bada Odia Matha every year. The oil is prepared by mixing oil, several fragrant flowers and other herbs. The preparation of the special oil starts before a year.
After being stored under the ground for almost a year, it becomes ready for use during Deva Snana purnima and is handed over to the temple administration.
The deities are currently on a 15-day long ‘Anasara’ stay in the temple.
Following the ‘Phuluri oil’ treatment, the deities will recover from sickness a day before Rath Yatra on the occasion of ‘Naba Jaubana Darshan’ to appear before their devotees.
Notably, after the retirement of the ailing deities to the Anasara chamber in Srimandir following the royal customary bath on the Snana Purnima, the devotees rush to Brahmagiri in large numbers for the darshan of Lord Alarnath.
Legend has it that the darshan of Lord Alarnath in the attire of Lord Narayan during the Anasara period is equal to the darshan of Lord Jagannath.