Story of Bhagwan Alarnath: Shri Jagannath Katha (भगवान अलारनाथ की कहानी: श्री जगन्नाथ कथा)

Bhagwan Alarnath is worshipped by devotees after Deva Snana Purnima till Netra Utsav of Bhagwan Jagannath & his siblings just before Rath Yatra. After the Devasnan Purnima, the deities are believed to fall ill. A total of 108 herbal and aromatic water pots are used for the bath of the deities. After this royal bath ceremony, the three Deities stay away from the public view for a period of 15 days in Jyeshtha Purnima. This period is known as Anasar period which commences from Jyestha Purnima. During this period, devotees cannot take a glimpse of the deities instead of having darshan in Jagannath Temple.

During the anasar period when deities are ill, Kheer bhog (milk rice) is presented to the deities as well as the devotees in the Alarnath temple complex. In this temple Bhagwan Vishnu is worshiped as Bhagwan Alarnath. The deity has four arms, He holds chakra in his upper right hand, Lotus in his lower right hand, Conch in his upper left hand and club in his lower left hand, Bhagwan Vishnu's carrier eagle, known as Garuda, kneels at the feet of the deity with his hands folded in prayer position. The deities of Bhagwan Krishna's queens Rukmini and Satyabhama also found inside the temple.

It is believed that after having Kheer as prasad, unwell people become healthy. And hence it works as a medicine to the unhealthy people. The place got prominence when Sri Chaitanya came to see Alarnath as Bhagwan Jagannath in the sixteenth century. Since then the place has become popular as the temporary abode of Bhagwan jagannath.During these days, same amount of Prasad is offered to Alarnath everyday as it happens in Jagannath Temple in Puri.

Alarnath becomes crowded during the Krishnapaksha of Ashadh after the Snan Yatra. People believe that Alarnath manifests as Bhagwan Jagannath, at the Alarnath temple in Brahmagiri, which is about 18 km from Puri and is dedicated to Bhagwan Vishnu.

Getting Here: Alarnath is well-connected with Bhubaneswar, capital of Odisha with the road. Alarnath situated in Bramhagiri, Puri district is around 90 KMs from Bhubaneswar.