Puri: Lord Jagannath adopts several forms according to the necessities of his devotees. In Jagannath Temple Puri, 32 Beshas (forms) which Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.
Suna Besha is one of the most looked upon by the Devotees as it is done in the great chariots. It is done on the 11th bright fortnight in Asadha.
Suna Besha is a special event of Jagannath rath yatra; when the Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra Devi are decorated with gold jewellery. Suna Besha is also known as Rajadhiraja Bhesha or Raja Besha. It observed on the day after the return of the Deities from Gundicha Temple.
On the day of the 11th day of the bright fortnight in Asadha; the deities, on their chariots itself done the golden attire or the Suna Besha, with hands, arms and crown made of solid gold.
This form of God is put into action when the deities return from their visit to their aunt’s place. The chariots of the three Gods are kept in front of the Lion Gate of the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri and there they are made to wear these ornaments.
The deities are adorned with gold jewellery five times in a year. While four such events take place inside the temple, one Suna Besha is held while the celestial siblings are on the gigantic wooden chariots in front of the Shrimandir.
It is believed that whoever sees the Lord in Suna Besha gets free of all his bad Karmas. A huge number of the crowd can be seen in front of the temple to feel the power of the Lord on this day.
As per the temple records, the ''Suna Besha'' of the Lords is being held since the reign of King Kapilendra Deb in 1430. The deities wear glittering gold jewellery weighing nearly three quintals.
The ornaments are stored at Srimandir’s treasury called Ratna Bhandar. The king had earned the gold after defeating other kingdoms and deposited them with the temple. During Suna Besha ritual, Lord Jagannath is adorned with a Chakra made of gold in his right hand and a silver conch in his right hand. Lord Balabhadra is decorated with a gold plough in his left hand and silver mace in the right hand. Goddess Subhadra is decorated with an Emerald.
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The sibling deities are adorned with different varieties of gold ornaments from head till the toe.
"Suna Besha is considered to be the most spectacular rituals of the Jagannath Yatra. The ritual, which is also called Rajadhiraja Besha, involves adorning the idols of the Holy Trinity with gold ornaments. The idols assume a resplendent look during Suna Besha. Whoever sees the Lord in Suna Besha gets free of all his bad Karmas," said, Gouri Shankar Mishra, Servitor.
"Decorated with quintals of gold, diamonds, jewels, gemstones and costumes on their bodies, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra exhibited themselves on the occasion of Suna Besha. During Suna Besha ritual, Lord Jagannath is adorned with a Chakra made of gold in his right hand and a silver conch in his right hand. Lord Balabhadra is decorated with a gold plough in his left hand and silver mace in the right hand. Goddess Subhadra is decorated with an Emerald," he said.
Normally, lakhs of devotees, many of them from far off places throng the pilgrim town to witness the grand event, but this time the Grand Road wore an empty look as the sea of devotees was missing because of the pandemic.
Unlike yesteryears, the rituals were performed without the gathering of devotees on the Grand Road facing the 12th-century shrine due to the restrictions imposed by the Supreme Court in view of coronavirus pandemic.
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