When Mahaprabhu Steps Out: A Simple Reflection on the Temples That Matter During Rath Yatra

Jun 12, 2025

In Odisha, there are moments in the year when time feels slower. Rath Yatra is one of them. Not because life stops—but because something bigger moves. And when Mahaprabhu Jagannath comes out of His Ratna Simhasana and begins His journey to Gundicha Mandir, the entire town of Puri—and every Odia heart—starts to move with Him.

After Snana Purnima, when Mahaprabhu Jagannath, along with Balabhadra and Subhadra, is given a ceremonial bath, the deities are taken away from public view. The belief is that Mahaprabhu catches a cold and goes into rest. This resting time is known as Anasara. The temple doors remain closed. No darshan happens. And yet, the devotion doesn’t stop.

For these fifteen days, devotees turn to other places, not to replace the experience, but to feel closer in a different way.

Alarnath Temple – Where Bhakti Continues

In these 15 days when Mahaprabhu remains inside, away from public darshan, many devotees travel to Brahmagiri—a place known quietly and lovingly across generations.

It is here, in the temple of Alarnath, that the belief lives strong: This is where Mahaprabhu stays when He is not in Puri.

The temple is simple. No large towers. No loud announcements. But inside, the mood is deep. During Anasara, thousands come not with excitement, but with calmness. Some sit in silence. Others wait for the Khirabhog—a sweet rice preparation offered with full devotion.

There’s a story every Odia household knows. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, unable to bear the separation from Jagannath during Anasara, came to Alarnath. It is said he felt Mahaprabhu’s presence so strongly here, he collapsed with joy.

For the people of Odisha, this is not a tale—it is faith. You don’t ask whether Mahaprabhu is truly here. You feel it in the quiet queue, the folded hands, the taste of prasad.

Kakatpur Mangala – The One Who Shows the Way

Further away from the crowd lies a temple many know, but few visit during Rath Yatra—the Mangala Temple at Kakatpur.

This is not part of the tourist circuit. But when the time comes for Navakalevar—the sacred renewal of the wooden idols of Mahaprabhu and His siblings—this is where everything begins.

The priests don’t decide where to find the Daru Brahma (the neem tree with special signs). They don’t use charts or search maps. Instead, they come to Maa Mangala, sleep on the temple floor, and pray. And it is believed that She appears in their dreams and tells them where to go.

It is this quiet dependence on Divine guidance that sets Kakatpur apart. No matter how learned one is, in front of Maa Mangala, they become a child—asking for direction.

People who visit during this time come not to ask for big things. They come to offer thanks. A few flowers. A simple coconut. Sometimes, only silence.

Within Sri Mandir – Maa Laxmi and Maa Bimala

Even when Mahaprabhu is not in the temple, parts of Sri Mandir remain open. And during this time, some devotees spend more time with Maa Laxmi and Maa Bimala.

Maa Laxmi, the eternal companion of Mahaprabhu, has her own small temple within the complex. She is the one believed to take care of the temple’s well-being—just like a mother in a household. When Mahaprabhu is away, visiting Her gives devotees a sense of presence. The home is not empty. The heart is not empty.

Maa Bimala, on the other hand, holds a role few outside Odisha understand. Every offering made in the temple becomes Mahaprasad only after it is first offered to Maa Bimala. She is considered the guardian of purity within the temple.

Many elders say, “Without Bimala, there is no sacredness in food.” Visiting Her is not for asking blessings, but simply for feeling whole.

During Rath Yatra, especially in Anasara, these two temples become quiet spaces where one can pause. No rush. Just a chance to sit and remember.

Why These Places Matter

For someone who has grown up in Odisha, Mahaprabhu Jagannath is not just worshipped. He is lived with.

And when He leaves His throne for the chariot, it is not a break in worship—it is a change in rhythm. These temples—Alarnath, Kakatpur Mangala, Maa Laxmi, Maa Bimala—become extensions of that rhythm.

Visiting them is not about seeing more. It is about staying connected.

You may not always get a clear view. You may not hear grand chants. But what you feel is presence, in its most gentle form.

In Simple Words

If you are in Puri during this sacred time, and you cannot see Mahaprabhu Jagannath at the temple—do not feel He is far.

Go to Brahmagiri. Accept the khira with folded hands.

Travel to Kakatpur. Sit before Maa Mangala and just listen.

Walk into the inner corners of Sri Mandir, find Maa Bimala, offer nothing but silence. Because sometimes, devotion is not in what you see—but in what you continue to feel, even when the Lord is away.

And that, in Odisha, is what makes Rath Yatra complete.