Puri: As Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra remain away from public view during the sacred Anasara period following the grand Debasnana Purnima ritual, thousands of devotees are visiting the revered Alarnath Temple near Brahmagiri in Odisha’s Puri district.
According to tradition, the deities of the Shree Jagannath Temple enter a fortnight-long period of rest and recuperation after being ceremonially bathed with 108 pitchers of holy water. During this time, devotees cannot have their regular darshan at Puri and instead seek blessings at the historic Alarnath Temple.
The temple witnessed a large influx of pilgrims from the early hours of the day, with the administration making special arrangements to ensure smooth darshan for visitors. Apart from offering prayers, devotees eagerly queue up to taste the temple’s famous khiri (sweet rice porridge), a cherished offering associated with the shrine.
The 13th-century Alarnath Temple is renowned for its unique black chlorite idol of four-armed Lord Vishnu. During the Anasara period, it becomes a major spiritual destination for Jagannath devotees.
Local belief connects the temple’s significance to the visit of Saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is said to have come to Alarnath after being unable to see Lord Jagannath during Anasara. Since then, the temple has held special importance for devotees during this period.
Another popular legend links the temple’s name to the Alwar royal dynasty of Rajasthan. It is believed that one of the Alwar rulers established the shrine, originally known as Alwarnath, which gradually evolved into Alarnath.
The temple’s celebrated khiri also carries a fascinating legend. According to tradition, a priest once forgot to offer the prepared khiri to the deity. When he later returned to make the offering, he reportedly found traces of the porridge on the idol’s face, leading devotees to believe that the Lord Himself had accepted and tasted the offering.
