Hera Panchami

*Hera Panchami Pastime*

In Puri, Jagannath temple is Dwarka Dham or Nilachal Kshetra, and Gundicha temple is Vrindavan or Sundarachal. When Krishna left Vrindavan and finally went to Dvaraka, all the Vraja gopis came to take Him back to Vrindavan or Sundarachal.

Hera Panchami is a unique festival associated with Rath Yatra. 'Hera' means to 'see' and 'Panchami' means the 'fifth day'. It is celebrated at  Gundicha temple on the fifth day from the start date of the Rath Yatra. This festival highlights the separation or Vipralambha bhava of Mother Laxmi from Lord Jagannath.

On the Rath Yatra day, Lord Jagannath leaves Jagannath Temple and goes to Gundicha Temple for 9 days with his siblings. His consort goddess Laxmi is left behind in the main temple. The popular belief is that Lord Jagannath had promised his wife Goddess Laxmi that He will return the next day. But Lord Jagannath does not return the next day.  Goddess Laxmi waits and 4 weary nights have already passed but Lord Jagannath did not return to the temple and there is no information about Him. On the fifth day of the Rath Yatra, Goddess Lakshmi becomes very anxious and thinks, "Where has my husband gone? He told me that He will return the next day. It has been five days now, and still He has not come back."

She becomes impatient and takes advice of  Goddess Vimala and takes some 'Mohana Churna' (an herbal powder) for Lord Jagannath's early return.

Goddess Laxmi finally makes up Her mind to meet Lord Jagannath in  Gundicha Temple where He has currently stayed with His brother & sister and enjoying Vrindavan mellows. In the evening, the representative idol of Goddess Laxmi visits Gundicha temple in a beautifully decorated palanquin on Bada Danda (the Grand Road of  Puri) in a colorful procession with great pomp, splendor and with traditional music to meet Lord Jagannath and to ask Him why he had not returned yet. The devotees & servitors who are part of the procession of Goddess Laxmi sing the Hera Panchami song. The Hera Panchami song expresses Goddess Laxmi's mood of separation and anger towards Her husband. Goddess Laxmi's palanquin halts near Nandighosha chariot where Lord Jagannath servitor welcomes Goddess Laxmi with ceremonial offerings. After that she proceeds to the Jaya Vijay door of  Gundicha temple.

Goddess Laxmi in decorated Palanquin

After knowing that Goddess Goddess Laxmi is coming to meet him with anger, Lord Jagannath asks his servitors to quickly lock the door of  Gundicha Temple. Goddess Laxmi became very angry due to this activity and says some satirical remarks to Lord Jagannath. Being neglected and angry with Lord Jagannath, Goddess Laxmi throws 'Mohana Churna' from Her palanquin given by  Goddess Vimala for Her husband's early return to main temple. The servitors of Lord Jagannath offer her Mahaprasad garland on behalf of Lord Jagannath and assures Her that the Lord will return soon to the main temple.

Goddess Laxmi feels jealous and insulted with Her husband's enjoyment with His siblings and Vrindavan vasis. To teach a lesson to her beloved husband, She asks her servitors to break a part of Nandighosa Ratha, the chariot of Lord Jagannath. Goddess Laxmi did this due to her anger but also feels guilty of breaking a part of Nandighosa. Being afraid that what common people will think about her act, She avoids the procession route and secretly returns to the  Jagannath temple with her servitors thru a narrow lane without any procession and fanfare. Thousands of devotees enjoyed this auspicious occasion and human-like loving exchanges between Lord Jagannath nd Goddess Goddess Laxmi.