Four hallowed shrines located at cardinal points of the Indian sub-continent i.e. Puri, Rameswar, Dwarika and Badrinath are believed to have been liked by Lord Vishnu intimately. It is said and believed that He takes His bath at Rameswaram, meditates at Badrinath, dines at Puri and retires at Dwarika. Hence, the temple food "Mahaprasad" (not simply prasad) at Puri is held to be of supreme importance.
According to " Skanda Purana" Lord Jagannath redeems the devotees by permitting them to partake his Mahaprasad, to have His darshan and to worship him by observing rituals and by offering of gifts .Mahaprasad is treated here as 'Anna Brahma'. The temple kitchen has got the capacity to cook for a lakh of devotees on a day. Mahaprasad is cooked only in earthen pots and medium of food is fire wood only. The steam-cooked food is offered to Lord Jagannath first and then to Goddess Vimala after which it becomes Mahaprasad. This Mahaprasad is freely partaken by people of all castes and creeds without any discrimination. The items offered include cooked rice, dal, vegetable curry, sweet-dishes, cakes etc. Dry confectionaries are prepared of sugar, gur, wheat flour, ghee, milk and cheese etc.
When the steam cooked food is carried to Lord in slings of earthen pots no flavour comes up from the food but when the same is carried back to the sale point after being offered to the Lord a delicious smell spells along in the breeze to the pleasant surprise of the devotees. Now the food is blessed.
Mahaprasad consolidates human bond, sanctifies sacraments and grooms the departing soul for its journey upwards.
Daily offerings to the Lord include:
Gopal Vallabh Bhog (Breakfast at 8.30 am) The offering is the first one of the daily Prasad to Lord Jagannath. The Bhogs are offered at the Anabsar Pindi. Breakfast is a seven item treat - Khua, Lahuni, grated sweet coconut, coconut water, and rice puffs sweetened with sugar known as Khai and curd, and ripe bananas.
Sakala Dhupa (Morning meal at 10.00 am) This is the first cooked meal Bhog. This bhoga is also called 'Kotha bhoga' or 'Raja bhoga' The Sevaks offer this Bhoga with 16 Upchars on sitting on Ratnavedi. The following items are offered as Bhog for the purpose.
Madhyanna Dhupa (Midday meal at 12.30 to 1.00 pm) Like the Sakal Dhup, this is also performed in 16 Upchars. The Sevayats engaged for the Sakala Dhupa are only allowed for Madhyana Dhupa and Sandhya Dhupa. Generally different types of sweet cakes are offered during this Puja. The Bhogs used for this purpose is as follows:
According to " Skanda Purana" Lord Jagannath redeems the devotees by permitting them to partake his Mahaprasad, to have His darshan and to worship him by observing rituals and by offering of gifts .Mahaprasad is treated here as 'Anna Brahma'. The temple kitchen has got the capacity to cook for a lakh of devotees on a day. Mahaprasad is cooked only in earthen pots and medium of food is fire wood only. The steam-cooked food is offered to Lord Jagannath first and then to Goddess Vimala after which it becomes Mahaprasad. This Mahaprasad is freely partaken by people of all castes and creeds without any discrimination. The items offered include cooked rice, dal, vegetable curry, sweet-dishes, cakes etc. Dry confectionaries are prepared of sugar, gur, wheat flour, ghee, milk and cheese etc.
When the steam cooked food is carried to Lord in slings of earthen pots no flavour comes up from the food but when the same is carried back to the sale point after being offered to the Lord a delicious smell spells along in the breeze to the pleasant surprise of the devotees. Now the food is blessed.
Mahaprasad consolidates human bond, sanctifies sacraments and grooms the departing soul for its journey upwards.
Daily offerings to the Lord include:
- Gopala Vallabha Bhoga: The first offering to the Lord in the morning that forms his breakfast.
- Sakala Dhupa: The Sakala Dhupa forms his next offering at about 10 O’ clock in the morning. This generally consists of 13 items including the Enduri cake and Mantha puli.
- Bhoga mandapa bhoga: The next repast and the offering consists of Pakhala with dahi and Kanji payas. The offerings are made in the bhog mandapa, about 200 feet from the Ratna Vedi. This is called Chatra Bhog and was introduced by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century to help pilgrims share the temple food.
- The Madhyanha dhupa forms the next offering at the noon.
- Sandhya Dhupa: This offering to the Lord is made in the evening at around 8 o’clock.
- Bada Simhara Bhoga: The last offering to the Lord.
Gopal Vallabh Bhog (Breakfast at 8.30 am) The offering is the first one of the daily Prasad to Lord Jagannath. The Bhogs are offered at the Anabsar Pindi. Breakfast is a seven item treat - Khua, Lahuni, grated sweet coconut, coconut water, and rice puffs sweetened with sugar known as Khai and curd, and ripe bananas.
- Vallabh Khai - 44 Oli
- Ripe Banana - 7 Nos
- Nadia Khudi - 3 Sara
- Big Kora - 29 Nos
- Small Kora - 220 Nos
Sakala Dhupa (Morning meal at 10.00 am) This is the first cooked meal Bhog. This bhoga is also called 'Kotha bhoga' or 'Raja bhoga' The Sevaks offer this Bhoga with 16 Upchars on sitting on Ratnavedi. The following items are offered as Bhog for the purpose.
- Pithapuli - 4 Sara
- Badakanti - 5 Sara
- Enduri - 6 Nos cut in to 12 pieces
- Mitha Puli - 6 Nos
- Dahi Amlu & Gray - 1 Sara
- Hanskeli - 2 Sara
- Sanakanti - 3 Sara
- Chand for Puja Panda - 9
- Kakatua Jhilli - 4 Nos
- Ada Pachedi - 4 Sara
- Bundia - 1 Sara
- Tata Khechudi - 3 Kudia
- Tata Kanika - 3 Kudia
- Nukhura Khechudi - 4
- Sana Khechudi -8 Oli
- Mendha Mundia - 1 No
- Adha Kania - 2 Kudia
- Taila Khechudi - 14 Kudia
- Saga - 5 Oli
- Majuri Khechudi - 3 Kudia
Madhyanna Dhupa (Midday meal at 12.30 to 1.00 pm) Like the Sakal Dhup, this is also performed in 16 Upchars. The Sevayats engaged for the Sakala Dhupa are only allowed for Madhyana Dhupa and Sandhya Dhupa. Generally different types of sweet cakes are offered during this Puja. The Bhogs used for this purpose is as follows:
- Bada Pitha - 4 Sara
- Bada Arisa - 18 Nos
- Matha Puli - 17 Nos
- Bada Bada - 9 Nos
- Sana Kakara - 4 Sara
- Jhadei Nada - 2 Oli
- Suar Manohar - 30
- Bada Khairachula - 1
- Bada Puspalak Arisa - 10
- Gaja - 1 Oli (24 Nos)
- Paga Arisa - 9
- Biri Badi - 4 Oli
- Thali Anna for Subhadra - 3 Kudua
- Thali Anna for Jagannath- 4 Kudua
- Sana Oli Oria - 4 Oli
- Muga Dali - 4 Oli
- Sana Oli Marichi Pani - 4 Oli
- Sana Kadamba - 5 Oli
- Bada Khirisa - 1 Oli
- Subas Pakhal - 11 Oli
- Chhena Pishta - 2 Sara
- Sakara - 2 Oli
- Sana Oli Bada Khirisa - 4 Oli
- Panaka - 5 Oli
- Kadamba Handi - 3 Nos
- Bada Oli Marichi Pani - 4 Oli
- Pita Anna - 4 Oli
- Bhog Odia Bada - 10 Oli
- Thali Anna for Sudarsan Chakra- 2 Kudua
- Balabhadra Thali Anna - 9 Kudua
- Jhnada Tada - 1
- Boak Arisa - 6
- Marichi Ladu - 50
- Sana Khairachula - 4
- Thali Paka Dhaula - 9
- Manohar - 8
- Jhadeinada Gula - 10 Nos
- Bada Kakara - 9 Nos
- Sana Arisa - 21 Nos
- Tripuri - 5 Sara
- Chipuda Pakhal - 14 Oli
- Sana Oli Pakhal - 2 Oli
- Kanar Puli - 3 Oli
- Hata Poda Amalu - 7
- Sana Amalu - 83
- Pani Pakhal - 23 Oli
- Sakara - 5 Oli
- Math Puli - 22
- Bada Amalu - 21
- Suar Pitha - 1 Sara
- Rosa Paika - 1 Sara
- Mitha Pakhal - 11
- Kanji - 3 Oli
- Sarapuli Pitha - 5 Sara
- Biri Buha Pitha - 1 Sara
- Kadali Bada - 15
- Payasa/Kshiri - 6 Oli