Purusottama kshetra or Puri is regarded as one of most important Shakti Pithas. The Bimala Temple is one of Adi Shakti Pithas. According to the Devi Purana out of the fifty-two places sacred to the worshippers of the mother principle, the very first one is Puri where the feet of Goddess Sati incarnation of Durga fell on earth. That is why this place is considered as one of the important Sakti pithas in India. It is also said that before Lord Jagannath was installed in the temple, goddess Bimala was enshrined there. It is believed that she emerged as the Pithadevi of Nilachal, Puri even before the emergence of Lord Jagannath at this place. Bimala is no different from Vishnu. It is said in the scriptures that Lord Vishnu assumes Devi Shakti when he embarks upon an adventurous operation to vanquish evil and restore righteousness on the earth. Bimala and Durga are one. Bimala is evidently a Shakta deity but with a Vaishnavite inclination. She is the earliest Shakta deity of Purusottama Srikshetra. But her Vaishnavi character is more conspicuous on account of her infatuation about the Prasad of Lord Jagannath. In the worship pattern of Jagannath Temple at Puri a combination of Vaishnavite and Shakta rites are followed.
Goddess Bimala is thecelestial amalgamation of both Vaishnabi andBhairabi Tatwa and in this sense; Bimala is believed to be the nourisher of the world and bestower of happiness and well being of mankind. She is addressed and worshipped in different names and although a Shakta deity, she enjoys a dignified place in the Vaishnavite cult. In Jagannath-centric traditions, while Lakshmi is the orthodox consort of Jagannath in the temple complex, Bimala is the Tantric (heterodox) consort and guardian goddess of the temple complex. Bimala is identified with the goddesses Katyayini, Durga, Bhairavi, Bhuvaneshvari and Ekanamsha in various texts and rituals. The Oddiyana or Uddiyana (now clearly identified as Orissa) in the west hosts the temple of Katyayini (identified with Bimala) and her consort Jagannath. The Hevajara Tantra, which has a similar list, also mentions Katyayini as the Bhairabi and Jagannath as the Bhairava in the Pitha of Udra (Odra, identified with Orissa).
She is considered the Shakti of Vishnu as well as Shiva in the climactic Durga Puja festivities in the Jagannath temple. She appears as Mahishasuramardini (Durga as slayer of the demon Mahishasura) or Vijayalakshmi (the warrior form of Lakshmi).
Bimala is worshipped as Durga during Dashahara Puja in the Temple of Lord Jagannath.
Goddess Bimala is associated with Durgamadhab Puja, which is unique of its kind in Hindu mythology. Durgamadhab Puja has originated from Udradesha i.e Utkal.According to the ritual of Durgamadhab worship; both Bhairabi and Madhab are worshipped at one place two times in a year in the Temple of Lord Jagannath. The first ritual of this order falls in the month of Chaitra (March-April). This ritual is celebrated for nine days starting from the first day of the bright fortnight of Chaitra. The second one falls in the month of Aswina (Sept.-Oct.). This is celebrated for sixteen days starting from the 8th day of the dark fortnight of Aswina. Goddess Durga and Lord Madhab are the presiding deities of this ritual. According to the practice being followed in this connection, the golden idol of Durga is consecrated on the stone platform of the temple. Thereafter the idol of Durga, after a formal customary rite, is taken to Majana mandap and installed there on a special divan. The image of Madhab is then brought to this place and placed by the side of goddess Durga. After completion of all the rituals over here, the deities, Druga and Madhab, a rare combination in the Pantheon order of the Temple, are taken to Bimala temple and seated in a palanquin for ritualistic worship.
Goddess Bimala is worshipped as a peaceful form of Shakti. Food offered to Jagannath does not become Mahaprasad until it is offered to Bimala.
It is believed that Narada Muni once went to Vaikuntha and served Mother Lakshmi very sincerely. Srimati Laxmi Devi was very pleased and requested Narada Muni to ask for any boon. Lakshmi Devi vowed that she would gladly fulfill his desire. The great saint revealed his wish: Narada Muni requested Laxmi Devi to give him the Mahaprasad remnants of Lord Narayana. Suddenly Lakshmi Devi’s mood changed and her face became clenched with worry. “Please ask me for anything else except for the Lord’s prasada,” she begged. “A few days ago the Lord instructed me not to give His prasada to anyone. You must understand that I cannot disobey my husband’s order. My dear son, I cannot give you prasada.” Narada was very adamant and reminded Devi of her promise. “You are the dear wife of Lord Narayana,” Narada Muni said. “You must grant me this boon. Somehow or another you must give me the Lord’s Maha-prasada.”. She told Narada Muni to wait and that she would look into what could be done to satisfy his desire.
At noon Lakshmi Devi lovingly served lunch to her husband Lord Narayana. Even though Devi performed her duties with attention and expertise, still the Lord marked that his wife was very unhappy. Lord Narayana gently asked her the reason for her distress. Taking shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet, Lakshmi explained her predicament.
Lord Narayana mercifully comforted His crying wife and said, “Just for today I will cancel this restriction. You may take my plate of remnants and give it to Narada. But you must deliver the prasada in such a way that I do not see. When I turn my face to the side you may take the plate away as if I do not know.” The goddess became joyful. Following her beloved husbands instruction, she deftly removed His plate of remnants when He was not looking.
Lakshmi immediately took the Maha-prasada plate and happily presented it to Narada Muni. Narada Muni, dancing in ecstasy, eagerly honored the Lord’s remnants. He relished Lord Narayana’s prasada, and did not cease for second from chanting, the Lord’s holy name and dancing in great bliss: As his ecstatic emotions increased, he could not control himself. Narada-Muni with his vina in tow started running all over the universe like a madman. Chanting and dancing without stopping, he ran from planet to planet.
Finally he reached Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was surprised to see Narada Muni chanting and dancing in such a state of ecstasy. Narada Muni, swimming in the waves of Vishnu-bhakti did not notice Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva pacified Narada Muni. “Narada, I know you are always in ecstasy because you constantly chant the name of Lord Narayana. But I have never seen you in such a condition! What happened to you?” Then Narada Muni cooled down and explained everything. “I got so much pleasure and ecstasy after honoring the Lord’s Maha-prasada that I can’t stop dancing and chanting,” Narada breathlessly exclaimed. Lord Shiva, folding his palms replied, “Oh Narada! You are so fortunate that you have tasted the Mahaprasad of Lord Narayana.” Lord Shiva smiled hopefully. “Dear Narada, have you brought any prasada for me?”Narad Muni saw that a morsel of prasada had stuck to his fingernail. Narada gasped, “Oh yes! Here is some prasada! Prasada kanika mantra. A morsel of prasada just for you.”
As soon as that small morsel of Maha-prasada touched the tongue of Mahadeva, He started to chant and dance. His dancing increased as his ecstasy intensified. His dancing became so vigorous that he manifested the Tandava, the dance indicating the time of annihilation. The whole universe started to shake. Everyone became frightened, thinking “What happened? No one was brave enough to stop Lord Shiva from dancing the annihilation dance. The devas begged Mother Parvati to pacify the lord, otherwise the whole universe would be destroyed. Mother Parvati arrived on the scene and saw Lord Shiva dancing in uncontrollable ecstasy. Mother Parvati humbly approached Lord Shiva, and when he came to his external senses, she inquired, “My dear husband! What happened to you? What has caused you to dance in such ecstasy?” Lord Shiva explained that he had received Lord Narayana’s Maha-prasada from Narada Muni. Parvati Devi became astonished. “My dear husband, have you kept any Maha-prasada for me?” Lord Shiva could not answer. He had managed to get only one morsel of prasada from Narada. How could he have saved any? Parvati was angry that she did not get Maha-prasada. “I am deprived of Lord Narayana’s prasada. ”She was so furious that the fire of her anger started to burn the whole universe. From the lower planets to the higher planets, everyone felt the burning heat. The sages and saints understood that everything was going to be finished by the anger of Mother Parvati. No one could pacify her.
Finally all of the demigods headed by Lord Brahma rushed to Vaikuntha to inform Lord Vishnu. Hearing the situation, Lord Vishnu traveled to Kailash riding on the back of Garuda. As soon as Parvati Devi saw Lord Narayana, she came forward to offer her obeisance’s. ‘Lord Narayana blessed his devotee and told her, “I will give you as much Maha-prasada you want. Please be pacified and give up your anger. Otherwise, all your children will be finished.” But Mother Parvati protested. “I will not be satisfied if you give your Maha-prasada only to me. I request you to give your Maha-prasada to all my children, to all the living entities.
My dear Parvati, to fulfill your desire I will appear in Nila-chala-dham. My temple will be famous for distributing My prasada. Whoever takes my prasada will be liberated. All of my prasada will be offered to you first. Then only will the remnants become Maha-prasada. This Maha-prasada will be distributed to everyone without consideration. I will keep you next to Me. You will have your temple just behind Mine in the inner courtyard. The Lord appeared in Puri as Jagannath. Parvati Devi is there in the name of Bimala. All of Jagannath’s prasada is offered first to Bimala Devi. Then only is it distributed as Maha-prasada. In Puri there is no distinction between low and high-casts for taking Jagannath Maha-prasada.
A special article on the occasion of Mahasaptami & Dasherah by
MRIGANKA MAHANTI, EDITOR NILADRI BIHAR
