Costumes of Lord Jagannatha

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The Veshas of Lord Jagannath

 

The word 'vesha' means outfit or costume, in English.

The deities on the ratnavedi are dressed in different

outfits beginning with mangala arati, the first arati

of the day, and ending with ratri pahuda. The dresses

are made of cotton and silk, and are adorned with gold

ornaments, precious stones, different kinds of

flowers, peacock feathers, tulasi leaves and so on.

Sandalwood paste, camphor and occasionally musk are

used in the daily and periodic rituals. A few of the

major veshas are listed below.

 

 

Abakasha Vesha or Tadapa Uttari Vesha

This is done daily, after mangala arati, for the

abakash rituals. Abakash is the tooth brushing and

bathing ritual. The clothes that are worn by the

deities are called 'Tadapa' and 'Uttariya.'

 

Badasrunghara Vesha

This is a very beautiful vesha. It is done before the

night time 'pahuda', when the deities are allowed to

take rest. It is therefore the vesha the deities

appear in the following morning, for mangala arati.

This vesha is mostly made of different kinds of

flowers. The Lords are decorated with flowered

ornaments known locally in Puri as adhara, jhumpa,

gava, chandrika, tilak, alaka, guna, hruda pallava,

karapallava and tadaki among others. The Deities also

wear many flower garlands, some with tulasi leaves,

and silk clothes called khandua.

 

Chandana Vesha

This vesha is done for 42 days, beginning on Akshaya

Trutiya.

 

Ganapati Vesha or Hati Vesha

On the full moon day of the month of Jyestha, after

the bathing ceremony is over, the Deities are dressed

in elephant costumes. Lord Jagannath and Lord

Balabhadra are made to look like Ganapati (Ganesh, the

eldest son of Shiva and Parvati).

 

Suna Vesha or Bada Tadhau Vesha

On the 11th day of the bright fortnight in the month

of Ashada, when the Deities return from the Gundicha

Mandir on their chariots, they appear in the Suna

(Gold) Vesha. They are are decorated with golden

ornaments and wear gold crowns. Lord Jagannath and

Lord Balabhada appear with hands and feet made of

gold. Lord Jagannath holds a golden chakra in His

right hand and a silver conch shell in His left. Lord

Balabhadra holds a golden club in His right hand and a

golden plough in His left.

 

Raja Vesha

The same outfit as Suna Vesha, but it is performed on

Dussera, Kartik Purnima and Pousa Purnim.

 

Banabhoji Vesha

On the 10th day of the dark fortnight in the month of

Bhadra, the Deities are dressed for a picnic, like the

cowherd boys.

 

Kaliyadalana Vesha

On the 1th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, Lord

Jagannath is dressed as Krishna in His pastime of

killing the serpent Kaliya.

 

Pralambasura Badha Vesha

On the following day, the 12th day of the dark

fortnight of Bhadra, the Deities are dressed to

commemorate Lord Balabhadra's pastime of killing the

demon Prahlamba.

 

Krishna-Balarama Vesha

On the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadra, Lord

Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are dressed very

attractively as Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama.

 

Bali Vamana Vesha

On the 12th day of the bright fortnight Bhadra, Lord

Jagannath is dressed like the dwarf brahmin Vamana,

who defeated the demon Bali. Vamanadeva was one of the

das avatars, the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

 

Radha-Damodara Vesha

For an entire lunar month, from the 11th day of the

bright fortnight of Ashwina to the 10th day of the

bright fortnight of Kartika, the Deities are dressed

in this vesha. Damodara refers to the lord with a rope

tied around His waist, which relates to Krishna's

pastimes with Mother Yashoda.

 

Thiakia Vesha or Laxmi-Narayana Vesha

This vesha is used on the 11th day of the bright

fortnight of Kartika.

 

Bankachula Vesha

Used on the 12th day of the bright fortnight of

Kartika.

 

Adakia Vesha or Trivikrama Vesha

Used on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of

Kartika.

 

Dalikia Vesha or Laxmi Nrisimha Vesha

Used on the 14th day of the bright fortnight of

Kartika.

 

Nagarjuna Vesha

This vesha honors Parasurama, the warrior incarnation.

It is used only occasionally. It happens during the

month of Kartika, when there are six days of Panchaka.

This was done six times in the last 30 years on

11/3/95, 11/16/94, 11/26/93, 11/3/68, 11/16/67 and

11/26/66.

 

Ghodalagi Vesha

During the period from the 6th day of the bright

fortnight of Margasira to the 5th day of the bright

fortnight of Magha (Basanta Panchami) the Deities wear

winter clothes.

 

Jamalagi Vesha

>From Basanta Panchami to Dola Purnima the Deities wear

modified ghoda (winter clothes).

 

Padma Vesha

It is done on Saturdays or Wednesdays between the new

moon day of Magha and Basanta Panchami. 'Padma' means

'lotus,' and the Deities' dresses are made from lotus,

sola lace and paper. These dresses are traditionally

supplierd by the Badachhata Matha. Halva is offered to

the Deities when They are in this vesha.

 

Gaja Uddharana Vesha

This vesha is done on the full moon day of the month

of Magha. It commemorates the story of Gajendra, the

king of the elephants, and the alligator.

 

 

website : http://www.neonblue.com/tfs/nathvesh.htm

 

 

 

 

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