Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Why Lord Jagannath Falls Ill After Snana Purnima

Every year, millions of devotees visit Puri, a city in Odisha. They come to take part in the famous Jagannath Rath Yatra. It is a grand and colorful festival. During the Yatra, Lord Jagannath, along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, is taken out of the temple. They travel through the streets in huge, beautifully decorated chariots.

Every year, the sacred city of Puri in Odisha becomes the spiritual epicenter of devotion during the Jagannath Rath Yatra. But before the main Rath Yatra begins, an important and lesser-known ritual takes place. After the Snana Purnima ceremony, Lord Jagannath is believed to fall ill. He then rests in a special room called the ‘Anasara Ghar’ for 14 days. This part of the festival is full of deep meaning, spiritual beliefs, and traditions that are very important to Sanatangyan followers.

The Ritual of Snana Purnima

The Snana Purnima is a special bathing ritual held every year on the full moon day of the Jyestha month, according to the Hindu calendar. Every summer on the day of the Snana Yatra, the wooden forms of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra leave the inner sanctum and sit on a wide, open dais the temple people call the Snana Mandap. While the priests recite Vedic hymns, water from the Sunakua-the golden well-is drawn, poured from 108 pots over the images, and murmurs of joy ripple through the crowd.

According to Sanatangyan tradition, this ritual is more than just a spiritual bath. It is also a way to refresh and renew the divine energy of the deities. But right after this long bathing ceremony, it is believed that the gods, especially Lord Jagannath, fall sick. This illness shows that even though they are divine, they share human feelings and weaknesses.

Why Lord Jagannath Falls Ill

The belief that Lord Jagannath becomes unwell after the Snana Purnima is deeply rooted in Sanatangyan traditions. According to temple customs, after being drenched in cold water, the wooden deities contract fever, symbolic of a very human vulnerability that helps devotees connect more personally with the divine.

For 14 days the temple doctor gives Lord Jagannath herbal medicines. The Lord is also given light food, like what a sick person would eat. During this time, people are not allowed to see the Lord. This shows that, like any human, the Lord needs time to rest and get better.

The deities reappear on Nabajouban Darshan, which in 2025 will be on June 26, a day before the Rath Yatra, which begins on June 27.

Mythological Story Behind the Illness

According to a well-known Sanatangyan legend, the tradition of Lord Jagannath falling ill has its roots in the life of a pious devotee named Madhavdas. Madhavdas gave every ounce of his heart to Lord Jagannath, treating each prayer as a promise. Even during his worst fever he still waved the incense and murmured the hymns, untouched by fear or doubt. Seeing him that weak, a gentle servant stepped in to comb his hair, cook some rice, and wipe his brow. Only later, when strength returned, did Madhavdas discover the helper was the Lord in disguise.

Touched by the Lord’s compassion, Madhavdas asked why He, the ruler of the universe, was serving a mere devotee. The Lord replied, “I cannot bear to see my devotee suffer. But every soul must face their destiny. I have taken the remaining 15 days of your illness upon myself.”

From that time onward, it is believed that after Snana Purnima, Lord Jagannath takes on the illness of his devotees and rests in isolation to recover. This kind act shows an important Sanatangyan belief. It teaches that God is not far away or uncaring. Instead, God is closely involved in the lives and struggles of the devotees.

Significance for Sanatangyan Followers

For followers of Sanatangyan, the Jagannath Rath Yatra is more than just a festival. It is a clear example of God’s playful nature, kindness, and acceptance of all. Lord Jagannath showing that he shares the pain of his devotees shows the Sanatangyan belief that God lives with people, not far away above them. His sickness and getting better represent how humans are fragile, how God understands their pain, and the cycle of suffering and healing.

Also the fact that the Lord gets sick but then happily takes part in the Rath Yatra shows an important Sanatangyan belief. It means that God walks alongside people, celebrates with them, and shares their struggles.

In conclusion, the ritual illness of Lord Jagannath following Snana Purnima is a profound expression of divine empathy and human connection in Sanatangyan tradition. It serves as a reminder that the divine not only observes but shares in the joys and sufferings of devotees—culminating in the joyous celebration of the Rath Yatra, where healing, renewal, and devotion come together in a powerful spiritual journey.