Puri: Today is the auspicious occasion of Nagarjuna Besha of Lord Jagannath and His divine siblings – Goddess Shubhadra and Lord Balabhadra.
As per mythology, this unique Besha is celebrated in commemoration of killing of Sahashrarjuna by Parsuram or battle between Aurjua and his son Nagarjuna .
The deities appear in this Besha are adorned like warrior Nagarjuna (a military general) carrying bows and arrows. This Besha is also called Bira Vesha and marks the battle between Arjuna and his son Nagarjuna.
Nagarjuna Besha is one of the 16 incarnations of Lord Jagannath. This Besha takes place in such years in which there are six days of ‘Panchaka’ in lieu of 5 in the month of Karttika. On that occasion the deities are dressed like Nagarjuna (a military general) on this extra day.
After the gap of almost of 26 years, the devotees got the opportunity to see this divine avtar of Lord Jagannath.
Last time, this Besha was held on 16.11.1994. The previous four such dates were 26.11.1966, 16.11.1967, 3.11.1968 and 26.11.1993.
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