‘Shiva Shayana Chaturdashi Yatra’

Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar

[Title Picture] ‘Lingaraj Temple’ (Source: Bhubaneshwar-Me)

INTRODUCTION

At the end of the month of Aṣāḍha (June-July), ‘Śiva Śayana Ćaturdaśi Yātrā’ was
observed on Śukla Pakśa Ćaturdaśi of the Oḍia calendar, which fell on July 26,
2018.

Bhubaneswar, the
capital city of Odisha,
is known as the city of
temples.
Bhubaneswar derived
its name from the
city’s presiding God,
Bhagawān Śiva
locally known as
‘Tribhuvanēśvara’
which means ‘the
Lord of the Three
Worlds’. Popularly,
Bhagawān Śiva is
referred to as
‘Bhubanēśvara’, and
Lingaraja Temple (Source: Columbia-edu) after him the city is
known as
‘Bhubaneswar’.  Tribhuvanēśvara is also known as ‘Lingarāja’. Lingarāja means ‘the
 ‘Shiva Shayana Chaturdashi Yatra’
Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar

King of lingams or lingas’. Bhubaneswar is also referred to as ‘Ekāmra Kśetra’ (as

per ‘Ekāmra Purāña’ and other scriptures), as Lingarāja Mahāprabhu originated
under a Mango tree called ‘ekāmra’ (mango in Sanskrit is referred to as āmra).
Lingarāja Mahāprabhu is also described as ‘Swayambhū Linga’ (i.e. self-originated).
This temple is dedicated to Hari-Hara a form of Bhagawān Viṣñu and Bhagawān
Śiva.
 ‘Shiva Shayana Chaturdashi Yatra’
Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar

The festivals of Lingarāja Mahāprabhu are held throughout the year. A festival is
called ‘yātrā’, meaning 'journey' of Lingarāja Mahāprabhu. The nibandhakāras of
Odisha have mentioned 14 festivals or ‘Ćaturdaśa Yātrās’. The Kālasāra of
Gadadhara Rajaguru speaks of the major 14 festivals with their timings and rituals.
The ‘Sthala Mahātmyams’
such as  the Ekāmra
Purāña, Ekāmra Ćandrikā
and Svarñadri Mahōdaya
provide details about the
rituals of these festivals.
Śiva Śayana Ćaturdaśi, or
the Śayana Yātrā, is one
of those Ćaturdaśa yātrās
like Mahā Śivarātri,
Rukuna Ratha Yātrā and
Ćandana Yātrā. This Rukuna Ratha Yatra (Source: Odisha 360)
festival has a unique
significance in Ekāmra
Kśetra of Odisha, i.e.
especially for
Bhubaneswar.

Celebrated on Śukla Pakśa Ćaturdaśi of the month of Aṣāḍha, it marks the day
Lingarāja Mahāprabhu retires to sleep on the fourteenth day of bright fortnight of
Aṣāḍha, and hence this festival is called ‘Śayana Ćaturdashi’. From this day
Bhagawān Lingarāja Mahāprabhu goes into deep sleep for 4 months

Ćandana Yātrā of Lingarāja Mahāprabhu (Source: Odisha 360)

 ‘Shiva Shayana Chaturdashi Yatra’
Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar

As per scriptures, when the Sun moves into Mithuna Rāśi (Gemini) the ‘Śayana
Yātrā’ of Lingarāja Mahāprabhu is observed and similarly when the Sun moves into
Tula Rāśi (Libra) the ‘Uṭhāpana Yātrā’ (i.e. waking up of Lingarāja Mahāprabhu) is
observed.

Before Śayana Yātrā of Lingarāja Mahāprabhu other devatās like Viṣñu, Agni,
Kartikēya, Indra, Gañēsha, Yama (Dharmarāj), Bhāskara (Sūrya), Vāyu, Prithvi
Baruña, Brahmā and others go to sleep in their respective nakśatras (lunar mansion)
and tithis (lunar day). All these devatās change their side of sleeping on their
‘Pārśwa Paribartana Yātrā’ day and wake up on ‘Uṭhāpana Yātrā’ day, respectively,
based on nakśatras and tithis.

VIDHIS

As per Ekāmra Ćandrika (in ancient days), in the evening hours of Śukla Pakśa
Ćaturdaśi, golden coloured Ćalanti Pratimā[1], i.e. vigraha (loosely, ‘form’), of Devi
Mā Pārvati and Silver Coloured Ćalanti Pratimā of Tribhuvaneśvara (vigraha of
Lingarāja Mahāprabhu especially sculpted for this festival) are dressed up
magnificently with clothes and ornaments. This is followed by special pūja (worship)
of Devi Mā Pārvati and Tribhuvaneśvara by chanting of various mantras by Badu
Sēvakas.

After this pūja is completed, Ćalanti Pratimā’s of Devi Mā Pārvati and

Tribhuvaneśvara are placed on well-decorated Pālanka (bed or couch) in sleeping
position and then the door is closed.

Since the advent of the worship of Hari-Hara

form in Ekāmra Kśetra (Hari: Viṣñu & Hara:
Śiva) all the aforementioned rituals are done
for Golden Coloured Ćalanti Pratimā (i.e.
Vigraha with Devi Mā Pārvati on one side
and Devi Mā Lakśmi on other side) and Silver
Coloured Ćalanti Pratimā (i.e. Vigraha with
Tribhuvaneśvara on one side and Viṣñu on
the other side).

On Uṭhāpana Ćaturdaśi, Devi Mā Pāravati

and Tribhuvaneśvara rise up from the bed.
Uṭhāpana Yātrā is observed on Śukla Pakśa
Ćaturdaśi of Kartika Oḍia Month (this year it Jagamohana Temple inside Lingaraja Temple
will be observed on November 21, 2018). Complex (Source: Asutosh Mohanty)
 ‘Shiva Shayana Chaturdashi Yatra’
Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar

During this period of 4

months, Bhagawān
Parśurāma protects
Ekāmra Kśetra. On the
auspicious occasion of
Parśurāmāśtami (Śukla
Pakśa Aśtami of Aṣāḍha
Month), Ćalanti Pratimā
of Lingarāja Mahāprabhu
goes to
Parashurameshvara
Mandira (temple) and
allocates the duty of
protecting Ekāmra Kśetra
to Bhagawān Parśurāma
for these 4 months.
Starting from Śiva
Devi Mā Pāravati Temple in Lingaraja Temple Complex Śayana Ćaturdaśi upto 4
months when Lingarāja
Mahāprabhu goes into deep sleep, Parśurāma is said to protect Ekāmra Kśetra.

In other Śiva Mandiras in Odisha ‘Pārśwa Paribartana Yātrā’ is observed. On this

day, Ćalanti Pratimās change their side of sleeping. ‘Pārśwa Paribartana Yātrā’ is
observed on Śukla Pakśa Ćaturdaśi of Bhādra (Bhadrapada) month Oḍia calendar
(this year it was observed on September 23-24, 2018). In Lingaraja Temple, this
vidhi is not observed.

It is believed that bhaktas (devotees) who get darshan (view of the Deity) of
Lingarāja Mahāprabhu on Śayana and Uṭhāpana Yātrās earn a lot of puñya (merit).

Acknowledgements:
I am really thankful to Kar Nana (Sanskrit scholar and Pūjāri) for his knowledge on our
scriptures and also for guiding me. I am also thankful to my parents for their valuable help in
translating regional texts.

References:
1. Ekamra Purana, 69.28-30; Ekamra Chandrika, 11.142-159; Kapila Samhita, 19.26-27
(Parsumramastami)
2. Ekamra Purana, 69.31-42; Ekamra Chandrika, 12.1-20 (Śiva Shayana Chaturdashi)
3. Ekamra Purana, 69.79-82; Ekamra Chandrika, 12.73-85 (Uṭhāpana Chaturdashi)
4. U. N. Dhal ,"A Note on the Sacred Rituals at Ekāmra Kśetra (Bhubaneswar)"
5. Sri Lingaraja & Badu Niyoga, Chitrasen Batu (Odia Book)
 ‘Shiva Shayana Chaturdashi Yatra’
Lingaraj Temple Bhubaneshwar

6. Sei Samaya Eei Sahara Bhubaneswar, Suresh Balabantaray (Odia Book)

7. Kalasara of Gadadhara Rajaguru
8. K.S.Behera “The Lingaraja Temple of Bhubaneswar – Art and Cultural Legacy"

By
Asutosh Mohanty