On the occasion of Herapanchami, Goddess Mahalakshmi broke ‘Nandighosh’ Rath of lord Jaganath, which is staying near the Gundicha Temple.
Goddess Mahalakshmi on Wednesday visited the Gundicha Temple and when she returned after darshan of the lords, broke a wheel of the chariot which belonged to Her husband lord Jagannath.
Angered over the injustice meted to Her by the lord, she broke a piece of wood and made the chariot sick and assuaged her anger.
The cause of Her anger was the lord did not take Her with Him to the Gundicha Temple during the Rath Yatra and instead, took His two siblings, lord Balabhadra and Debi Subhadra, only. In such a disrespectful act, Mahalakshmi was much fiery ever since the lord left the Ratnasinghasan.
The damage to the chariot was intended to stop his return journey to the Shreemandira. However, the chariot was set right immediately by the carpenters after Devi left the parking site near the Gundicha Temple.
On the holy occasion, Mahalakshmi set out Her journey from the Shreemandir carried by a well-decorated palanquin amidst beating of drums and ringing cymbals by the servitors.
Dozens of servitors took the palanquin on shoulders to the Gundicha temple. After some rites were practiced in the inner temple, Mahalakshmi met the deities and then left for the Shreemandir. On her way back, the ‘chariot breaking ritual’ was practiced by the servitors and carpenters near the main entrance. At various places along the holy Badadanda, the Devi was served Panti (bhogs) by the devotees.
A tradition being observed once a year during Shree Gundicha since time immemorial just exemplifies the human behaviours in the God. It reflects not only men and animals, but also God is worst sufferers of love, anger, quarrel, romance and divorce in life.