Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023: Why Is Phuluri Tela Is Used On The Deities During The Rath Yatra

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The famous Anasara rituals go on at the Puri Jangannath temple during the widely popular Rath Yatra of Lord jagannath every year.

Being a part of the 15-day continuous Anasara celebrations of the four deities, at Jagannath temple, the sacred Phuluri seva is conducted at the shrine that dates back to 12th century.

Phuluri Tela:

Phuluri Tela, a herbal medicinal oil, is a secret recipe that is used in the secret ritual having 1000 year old history.

This Tela Seva is a herbal treatment for the four gods, who, after undertaking a divine shower from 108 pitchers of herbal water, have become sick.

The special Phuluri Tela Seva heals the deities effectively. Lord Jagannath and his siblings go into the Anasara due to developing high fever on the occasion of the Deva snana, on the day of snana Purnima on Ekadashi. Bada Odia Mutt takes the responsibility of preparing and offering this special oil that heals the gods.

The herbal medicines will be used on the deities in the Anasara Ghara inside the temple for their treatment. After the Rahulekha and Chitalagi rituals get over, the sevakartas or servitors begin their healing services to the deities to relieve them of fever.

After massaging with this oil, the deities recover from illness and give darshan to their devotees in Nabajoubana Besha on Anasara Bedi, just one day before the Rath Yatra.

Who Is Allowed To Massage The Deities?

Only certain categories of people are allowed to massage the deities with the oil. They are the successors of Biswabasu and Bidyapati servitors who, apply oil after removing the pastes made from herbs that are applied on the ailing deities placed on the pedestal of Anasara house.

The deities are given food after the seva completes now that the deities, having recovered from fever, are able to consume solid food. Prior to this they were fed with only liquid food.

How Is The Oil Prepared?

Bada Odia Mutt, prepares the oil using flowers such as Ketaki, Malli, Boula and Champa, roots, sandalwood powder, camphor, rice and grains with the basic ingredient being Sesame oil which is kept in a clay pot. The pot is sealed with clay and placed underneath the soil for an year. The oil is prepared on the fifth day of the rath yathra.

One day before the Snana Poornima, The mahanta of the mutt digs out the pots and strains the oil. It gets collected around 4 seras. Fifth day of the Anasara, this oil is sent to the temple for applying on the deities. This would alleviate their body ache due to fever. Other medicinal lotions are also applied on the deities apart from this taila.

Atibadi Jagannath Das wrote the Odia Bhagabata. He used to supply this tela to the temple before. He was granted the privilege to supply the oil to the temple by Gajapati Pursottam Deb who was the king of Puri.

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