THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BAISHI PAHACHA AT JAGANNATH TEMPLE , PURI :
1) Avatars of Vishnu and Baisi Pahacha:
Puranas list the avataras of Vishnu. A description of these is found in the Bhagavata Purana, Canto 1. 1) Catursana 2) Narada 3) Varaha 4) Matsya 5) Yajna 6) Nara-Narayana 7) Kapila 8) Dattatreya 9) Hayasirsa 10) Hamsa 11) Prsnigarbha 12) Rsabha 13) Prithu 14) Narasimha 15) Kurma 16) Dhanvantari 17) Mohini 18) Vamana 19) Parasurama 20) Raghavendra (Rama) 21) Vyasa 22) Balarama 23) Krishna and 24) Kalki.
Of these 22 avatars are considered most important and these steps (Baisi Pahacha) of puri Jagannath temple symbolizing for salvation. These are 1) Catursana 2) Narada 3) Varaha 4) Matsya 5) Yajna 6) Nara-Narayana 7) Kapila 8) Dattatreya 9) Prsnigarbha 10) Rsabha 11) Prithu 12) Narasimha 13) Kurma 14) Dhanvantari 15) Mohini 16) Vamana 17) Parasurama 18) Rama 19) Vyasa 20) Balarama 21) Krishna and 22) Kalki.
According to belief, all sins of the pilgrims disappear who touch these steps even once.
Baisi Pahacha ( meaning 22 steps of the Jagannath temple ) is the path to salvation!
The devotional songs in Oriya known as”Bhajana” and “Jananas” reflect the devotees’ faith in the powers of Lord Jagannath. The Odissi dance owes its origin to the temple rituals observed in the “Bada Deula” (the big temple).The “Baisi Pahacha” (22 steps to the temple) is described in the devotional songs as the place where one re-examines and affirms his faith in Lord Jagannath.
2) Rites before Jagannath temple for salvation of forefathers:
As you enter first, you have to walk on the Baisipahacha or sacred 22 steps. The ‘Sradha’, annual rites of Hindus are usually performed here. Many Brahamanas sit here for these sacred rituals.
Thousands of people drawn from all over the State and neighboring States gathered in front of the ” Simha Dwara ” or the Lions Gate of Sri Jagannath temple at Puri and perform rituals for salvation of their fore fathers.
After performing the prescribed rituals, the devotees lighted jute sticks and raise it upwards at the sky praying that let these candles show the departed souls light to the heaven, through the Baisi Pahacha ( meaning 22 steps of the Jagannath temple ) after taking Mahaprasad , which is the path to salvation.
The people perform such ritual without fail as they get opportunity once in a year to perform rituals for salvation of their fore fathers up to many generations.
The Hindus believe that the soul of fore fathers descend on earth during the Mahalaya which is the dark fortnight and on the Diwali , the ancestors show them light to the heaven for their salvation.
3) Buddhist, Jain and Sikh groups are allowed into the temple compound if they are able to prove their Indian ancestry.
The Jains too have many things incommon in their spiritual practice with the cultof Lord Jagannath. They have an unflinching belief that the 22 steps of Puri temple represent22 Tirthankars out of 24 of their religion. The other two Tirthankers are represented through the stone citadel (Ratnavedi) of the temple and the Grand Road (Badadanda) of Purushottam Khetra. When a Jain devotee enters Jagannath Temple and starts climbing the 22 steps, he touches each step in deep reverence and then touches his head as a mark of adoration to the Trithankars of his religion.
munnabbsr 