By Team OFT
For most devotees of Lord Jagannath, the Mahaprasad is much more than holy food. It is an elixir, a message of the Lord and a unifier of humanity. A visit to Jagannath Temple in Puri is incomplete without partaking Mahaprasad at the sacred Anand Bazaar. “It is like eating in the presence of the divine,” devotees often say reflecting on the profound spiritual connection they feel.
What is Mahaprasad?
Mahaprasad or Abhada (in colloquial language) is the ‘prasad’ of Lord Jagannath. Every day, 56 food varieties are offered to the Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balbhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra.
All the dishes are cooked in earthern pots stacked one over the other on wood-fired hearths only, inside the temple kitchen. The steam-cooked food is offered to the Lord and then to Goddess Bimala (inside the temple premise), after which it becomes Mahaprasad.
There are two categories of Mahaprasad — Sankudi Mahaprasad and Sukhila Mahaprasad. Sankudi Mahaprasad comprises of items like rice, ghee rice, sweet rice, sweet dal, plain dal, Dalma, varieties of mixed curries, Saag, Khatta (a tangy dip), Kheeri and Besar among others. Sukhila Mahaprasad comprises of sweet and savoury treats like Khaja, Gaja, Kora, Sarapuri, Amalu, Khurma, Magaja Ladoo, Kakara.
The much-talked Odia Rasagola traces its origin to this temple food tradition of Sri Jagannath in Odisha, many centuries ago.
A Socio-Economic Unifier
Devotees from all walks of life irrespective of their socio-economic placements (a longer debatable topic) sit together to eat Mahaprasad at the ‘Ananda Bazaar’ inside the temple campus. Mahaprasad is a great socio-economic unifier.
In a way, the man-made hierarchy or walls of discrimination breaks down, and Mahaprasad works as a great unifier. It is believed that one can borrow or share prasad from devotees who are strangers. Odias often offer Mahaprasad to guests during cultural and social functions including marriage and sacred thread ceremonies.
Nirmalya
Devotees of Lord Jagannath wish to have Mahaprasad regularly to feel more connected with The Lord. When, getting access to freshly cooked one is not possible every time, devotees turn to Nirmalya/ Kaibalya. It is the dried rice (prepared using Mahaprasad rice) and its spiritual importance/usage is as much as the Mahaprasad itself.
Leave a Reply