Purnima/Dev Snan Purnima/Lunar Eclipse on 15th June, 2011 !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

Jyeshta Purnima  and Lunar Eclipse  ( From 11.53 PM To 3.33 AM) falls on 15^th June, 2011. 

On this auspicious day of Deva Snana Purnima, fasting and worship of Lord Shiva  brings abundance of virtues.  The performance of sacred bath (Abhisehkam) to Lord Shiva is part of the austerity.   Holy dip in the sacred river before sun rise or at home,   visiting holy places on this day, take holy dip on the theerthas and provide alms to Brahmins are treated as auspicious.  The worshipper observes fast on this day and worship Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva with the Bhog (Kheer).  Worship of Lord Chandra and Lord Surya also takes place on this day.     On the next day, the invited Brahmins are offered with food and  alms.

On this day of Deva Snana Purnamia,  the sacred bathing ceremony of Lord Jagannatha is performed with hundred and eight pitcher of water.  The sacred water brought from the well near Sitala Temple in the vicinity of Purushothama Kshetram (Puri Jagannatha ).  The idol  of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabadra and Subhadra along with Sudarsana brought into the Snan Mandap for the ceremonial bath .  After the ceremonial bathe Lord Jagannatha gives His appearance as Lord Ganesha.  The legend has that, once an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha and a renowned scholar visited Puri Jagannatha on Jyeshta Purnima day.  The King of Orissa provided him with ample rewards for his scholarly skills and advised him to visit Lord Jagannatha on his way back.   The scholar refused to visit Puri Jagannatha or worship any other deities other than Lord Ganesha and wanted to remain as an ardent devotee of Lord Ganesha.  After continuous persuasion of the people accompanied, the scholar moved towards the Snana Vedi of Lord Jagannatha.  Alas ! sheer to his dismay Lord Jagannatha gave dharshan as Lord Ganesha.  Ever since, after the ceremonial bath Lord Jagannatha gives dharshan to His devotees as Lord Ganesha.

After the ceremonial bath on the Purnima day, the deities are placed on the Ratna Vedi and continued to be there for fifteen days.  During these fifteen days, the dharshan of Lord Jagannatha remains closed for grand reveal.  On the 16^th day Lord Jagannatha gives His majestic Dharshan to his devotees, it is believed that whoever gets dharshan of Lord Jagannatha on this day; all their sins are washed off.

Jai Sriman Narayana !!