Sarala Temple Daru for Lord Balabhadra

JAGATSINGHPUR:The ‘Daru’ (holy Neem tree) for carving the new idol of Lord Balabhadra has been identified near the Sarala temple at Kanakpur under Tirtol block of Jagatsinghpur district. This was announced by the Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Friday morning.

The Neem tree is over a century old and was being worshipped by servitors of the temple.

As soon as the news spread, a mammoth gathering of devotees was witnessed near the temple to offer prayer to the ‘Daru’. As per the Nabakalebara manual, the ‘Daru’ for Lord Balabhadra should have seven branches, white timber and symbols of ‘Sankha’, ‘Chakra’, ‘Gada’, ‘Padma’ and ‘Sarpa’.

The tree is located just outside the Sarala temple and there is a water tank nearby, but there is no graveyard near it. Temple servitors said presence of a graveyard is not necessary as the tree lies close to a Devi temple. There is no nest of birds on the tree and none of the branches has been damaged over the years.

Dalapati of Banajaga Yatra team Haldar Das Mohapatra said there are several other internal signs in the tree that qualify for its selection as ‘Daru’ for idol of Lord Balabhadra.

After identification of the ‘Daru’, Jagatsinghpur administration raised barricades around it. Sabar Palli (temporary home) and Yajnashalla will be constructed to facilitate stay of Daitapatis for performing various rituals and cutting the tree. Makeshift shops near the site will be removed for smooth conduct of the rituals.

The tree would be consecrated by Swotriya Brahmins of the Banajaga team. Before cutting the ‘Daru’, they would perform yajna amidst chanting of Vedic hymns and the Daitapatis would pour 108 pots for divine bath of the tree.

Early in the morning, SJTA Chief Administrator Suresh Chandra Mohapatra accompanied by Inspector General (eastern range) of Police Asit Panigrahi, Collector Satya Kumar Mallick and SP Sudha Singh visited the spot and took stock of the available facilities. Mohapatra asked the administration to make arrangements for adequate health services, road development and round-the-clock electricity supply at the site.

The Collector informed that 15 platoons of police force have been deployed near the site to maintain law and order and protection of the Daru. Two ASPs, 53 SIs and nine inspectors will oversee security arrangements at the site. “The Banajaga Yatra team members are expected to reach the Sarala temple from Gadakhuntunia by Sunday or Monday to start the rituals,” he added.
Source ;-http://www.newindianexpress.com