Bhubaneswar: The ‘Budhithakurani Yatra’ is among the most coveted celebration of Shaktipith in Berhampur. This year it started from March 29 and will conclude April 29. Known as the Adhistarthi Devi of Berhampur, there are some spine-chilling myths Budhithakurani behind her Yatra. Orissa POST interacted with the chief servitor Durga Prasad Gantayat, Muna Gantayat and Krushna Gantayat to learn more about this celebration.
According to Krushna Gantayat, “Once Goddess Budhithakurani transformed herself into a small girl and sat on a rickshaw to visit Durga Prasad Behera’s (her father) house and asked the rickshaw-puller to wait. After a very long wait, the rickshaw-puller knocked the door of the house and asked the little girl to go. On hearing the knocks, Behera asked him why he was banging the door and who came by his rickshaw. When the rickshaw-puller said that a small girl had come to his house, Behera understood everything and paid the fare. On opening the door, he saw Goddess Budhithakurani was sitting there.
Soon, Das Behera went to the Budhithakurani pitha and told the priests there that he wanted to take the goddess home. Subsequently, the priests performed puja and other rituals and, during the process, an Agyanmala dropped from goddess’ head.
Every year during the start of the Yatra asubhakhunti is placed where every devotee pours holy turmeric water. This month-long yatra is organised the month of Chaitra. Sahi kala kunja (clay idols of different gods and goddess) are made and a 20-25 feet high chariot is constructed. Goddess Budhi Thakurani’s favourite besha (avatar) is baghabesha due to which the devotees apply varnish and dress up as a tiger. They keep a fast and sing the praise of the goddess. Idols of Shiva, Ram, Laxman, Jwalamukhi (another form of Goddess Kali), Shiva, Ruddha Kali, Nagarjuna, Narayan and Parsuram are mounted on the wooden chariot and worshipped. A 35-feet ‘Vishwaroop’ of Lord Krishna is also worshipped during the yatra.
Chief servitor Durga Prasad Gantayat said, “The goddess’ favourite prasad – khichidi, pana, dahiarna, manda, kakra and kheer, are served as bhog. On the first day the goddess goes to her father’s house and on second day she goes to Rajbati where her ‘kalash’ is carried by Devaki Dasbehera’s wife and eight other kalash are carried by eight housewives of Dera community.”
Historians and devotees say that Maa Budhithakurani is the incarnation of Goddess Sati’s blood particle. In Odisha, there are only three Shaktipithas – Taratarinisthanajukta (two sisters), Bimla in Puri (NaviMandal) and Birja in Jajpur (PadaJugala).
Like other parts of Sati, Budhithakurani is the head of Shakti, while Kabisurya Nagar Boirani (Goddess Mahamai) is her feet. A special Yatra and puja are performed in front of Goddess Boirani (Mahamai) once in 12 years.
During this Yatra, ladies of every sahi wash the Goddess’ feet with turmeric water and seek her blessings. Every household invites their married daughters to their parental house and keeps her as guest and they leave for their in-laws’ place after the concluding day of the yatra.
