Kolkata, 11 June (H.S.):

The sacred festival of Snan Yatra, traditionally associated with Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha, was observed with equal reverence and elaborate rituals at Kolkata’s revered Kalighat temple on the occasion of Jyeshtha Purnima on Wednesday. The day witnessed a symbolic convergence of Shakta and Vaishnav traditions, showcasing the spiritual unity in diversity of Hindu practices.

In Puri, Snan Yatra marks the ceremonial public bathing of Lord Jagannath, celebrated as his appearance day. The deities — Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra — are brought out of the sanctum and ritually bathed with 108 pots of sacred water on a special platform known as Snan Mandap.

Similarly, at Kalighat, one of the 51 Shaktipeethas where the toes of Goddess Sati are believed to have fallen, the day holds deep spiritual significance. According to local legend, on Jyeshtha Purnima, two ascetics — Atmaram Brahmachari and Brahmananda Giri — are believed to have discovered a stone representation of Goddess Sati’s feet in the temple pond. Following Vedic rituals and chants, they enshrined it within the temple, giving rise to the annual Snan Yatra tradition at Kalighat.

Currently, the sacred relic of Goddess Sati’s toes is preserved in a silver vessel placed beneath the idol of Dakshina Kali. On Snan Yatra, only the temple’s sevayat Brahmins are permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum, that too blindfolded. The relic is ritually bathed using holy Ganga water, rosewater, hibiscus oil, fragrant perfumes, and agarwood essence. It is then adorned with a freshly embroidered Banarasi silk cloth sewn with golden threads. The entire ceremony is conducted in strict privacy and profound devotion.

A unique feature of Kalighat’s Snan Yatra is the symbolic merging of Vaishnav and Shakta philosophies. According to scriptures, in Kali Yuga, Lord Krishna and Goddess Kali are considered two manifestations of the same supreme power. Embracing this theological interpretation, it is believed that Goddess Dakshina Kali reveals herself in a Vaishnav form during the early morning hours of Snan Yatra.

This belief is rooted in a centuries-old legend wherein Bhavanidas Chakravarty, a sevayat priest, dreamt that the goddess desired a Vaishnav-style tilak on her forehead. Since then, it has become customary to apply a sandalwood mark on the deity’s nose on this auspicious day.

The observance at Kalighat not only highlights Kolkata’s rich spiritual heritage but also reflects the deeper philosophical syncretism inherent in Hindu worship traditions.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh