About the tree that is used to make the new murti of Jagannath during Nabakalebara at Puri Jagannath Temple in Orissa
The tree that is used to make the new murti (idol) of
Jagannath during Nabakalebara at Puri Jagannath Temple
The selection of daru is made as per the instructions
mentioned in the pothi (manuscript) which is with the Daitapatis.
Darus are no ordinary neem trees. Since Jagannath is dark,
the tree from which his murti is to be carved has to be dark. The tree should
have four principal branches, symbolizing the four arms of Narayana.
However, as Jagannath’s siblings are fair, the wood for
their idols are lighter in colour. The Jagannath tree should have four
principal branches, symbolizing the four arms of Narayana.
The daru will be collected from the Neem tree having the
symbols of Sankha, Chakra, Gada and Padma on it.
The Neem tree should be close to a riverbank or a pond and
there must be a termite mound or a crematorium near it.
The tree should be located near a three way fork on a road
or human path or should be surrounded by three mountains.
There should be no bird nest on the tree.
No branch should be broken or cut.
The tree must not have any branch lying below 12 feet from
the ground level.
No creepers must have grown on the tree
There should be Varuna, Sahada or Bilva trees (these trees
are not very common) close by.
There has to be a Shiva temple in the vicinity.
Once the tree is found it is chopped by chanting mantras.
Symbolically an axe made of gold makes the first cut.
The leaves, branches and unused part of the tree are buried
nearby.
The murtis of Subhadra, Balabhadra and Sudarshana Chakra are
carved out of lighter color neem trees.
Related
Banajaga
Yatra – In Search of the Neem Tree to Carve the Puri Jagannath Murti (idols) in
Orissa Puri Jagannath
Temple to have New Idols (Murtis) of Presiding Deities in 2015