| SERVITORS OF JAGANNATH TEMPLE
|
| Sl.No. |
Sevaka or Sevayata (Servitor) |
Seva (Service) |
| 1 |
Gajapati Maharaja, King of Puri |
The first sevayat of Lord Jagannath is Gajapati, the king of Puri. He, as a sevayat is expected to perform certain duties and rituals on certain occasions. Shree Gajapati Maharaja is hereditarily entitled to perform 'Chhera Pahanra' (sweeping the floor around the throne of the Deities by a golden-handled broom) during Ratha Yatra and Snana Yatra. Gajapati Maharaja is the Hereditary Chairman of Shree Jagannatha Temple Managing Committee. |
| 2 |
Akhanda Mekapa |
Lighting and arrangement of the perpetual lamps |
| 3 |
Alati Balita Sevaka |
Wicks supply |
| 4 |
Amalutoli and Purakharada |
Preparation of food called Amalu and preparation of Pura |
| 5 |
Amunia Chhatars |
Leading the food offerings procession with erected umbrella |
| 6 |
Anasara Sudha Suara and Sudha Suara |
Supply of soft drinks to the deities during Anasara days, supply of Khali and Osua and cleaning of the place for offering of Puja |
| 7 |
Asthana Pratihari |
Water sprinkling for Bahara Deula, Prasad distribution of food shares among the Sevaks after the Bhog. Has major role on Jhulan, Janmastami, Radhastami and Kartik Purnima etc |
| 8 |
Baanua |
Supplies firework when required |
| 9 |
Badapanda |
Supervision of the Puja Panda Sevakas |
| 10 |
Badasuara |
Thali Tuna and Amalu Suara Cake and sweet preparation |
| 11 |
Badhei |
Carpenter |
| 12 |
Bahara Deuli Jogania |
Supply of food material to the kitchen of Goddess Laxmi |
| 13 |
Bahara Deuli Suara |
Cake preparation in the kitchen of Goddess Laxmi |
| 14 |
Baithi Karana |
Accounts maintenance regarding income from flag and gift offering on the Ratna Singhasana |
| 15 |
Ballav Jogania |
Supply sweets to the Sevakas from the store for ballav Puja |
| 16 |
Bania |
Prepares and repairs ornaments |
| 17 |
Baijayanti |
Musical instrument playing |
| 18 |
Bentabindha Paika |
Ritual of arrow shooting in accordance with mythology on festive occasions |
| 19 |
Bhandara Mekapa |
Custodian of golden articles. Remains in charge of Ratna Bhandara, containing jewellary required for daily use of the Deities |
| 20 |
Bhitara Gaani |
Ritual service of singing devotional songs at the time of Pahuda. Now this seva has been discontinued |
| 21 |
Bhitarachha Mohapatra |
Main Sevaka, associated with the ritual of door opening of the temple in the morning and lamp offering called Mangal Arati |
| 22 |
Bidia Jogania |
Betel preparation |
| 23 |
Bimana Badu |
They are the palanquin bearers |
| 24 |
Binakara |
These sevaks used to play the Veena (lute) near the Kalahat door and Jaya Vijaya door at the time of 'Chandana lagi' and 'Pahuda' rituals. But now this seva has been discontinued. |
| 25 |
Biribuha |
Transporting black gram etc from the store for grinding and to the kitchen for preparing cakes |
| 26 |
Birimunda Samartha |
Black gram and rice grinding |
| 27 |
Chaka Apasara |
Takes charge of Chaka apasara (pillow) from Darji Sevaka |
| 28 |
Chakra Dihudia |
Responsibility of showing lighted candle in the procession and grinding rice for cakes |
| 29 |
Changada Mekapa |
Cloth arrangement of the Deities |
| 30 |
Chap Dalei |
Rows the boats during Chandana Yatra |
| 31 |
Chapa Behera |
Rows the boats during Chandana Yatra and Kaliyadalana, repairs the boats when required |
| 32 |
Charcha Karana |
Inspection of the services of Sevakas |
| 33 |
Chaulabachha Karana |
Service of refining and grinding rice and mung |
| 34 |
Chhamu Dihudi |
They lead with the dihudi (a kind of torch / flame) at the inside and outside processions of the Deities. |
| 35 |
Chhatisha Nijoga Nayak |
Management and Supervision of daily rituals, temple and food offerings. He heads and controls the Chhatisha Nijoga |
| 36 |
Chhatra Nijoga |
Service of holding umbrella and other articles during regular ritual activities |
| 37 |
Chitrakar |
Painting of the temple walls |
| 38 |
Chunara Garuda Sevaka |
(Mahadeepa and Dhwaja Bandha) Ritual services related to God Garuda, hoisting the flag and lighting the lamp atop the temple and undertake masonry works with lime mortar |
| 39 |
Daita |
- They do specific ritual services during Car festival, Navakalebara, Anasara, Rahurekhalagi and Chitalagi |
| 40 |
Darji |
Stitches clothes, Chakaapasara etc |
| 41 |
Darpania |
Vessel washing, mirror placing and purunakumbha setting |
| 42 |
Datta Mohapatra |
Face colouring of the deities Srimukha Singar) |
| 43 |
Daudibola |
Rope making and supply the same for drawing water from Bimala's well |
| 44 |
Dayanamali |
Flower and Tulasi leaves supply and garland making |
| 45 |
Dayanpatri |
Ritual service related to Dayanachori festival |
| 46 |
Deula Karana |
Inspection of the regular ritual services of Sevakas, keeps accounts of the Bhandar, Changada Ghara and distribution of Parbani Kheli etc |
| 47 |
Deula Purohita |
To sanctify services and to preside over special ritual functions according to Smarta Dharma scriptures. Performs Ratha Anukula and Ratha Pratistha (Car festival rituals) |
| 48 |
Garabadu |
Supply and storage of water during performance of rituals |
| 49 |
Ghanta Seva |
Beat the gong on all occasions like the three dhupas, festivals, Shola puja and other ceremonies |
| 50 |
Ghantua |
Beat the gong on the occasions of Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra |
| 51 |
Ghatuari |
Amla, Camphor and Chandana (sandal paste) supply |
| 52 |
Gita Govinda |
Devotional songs recitation from Gita Govinda |
| 53 |
Gochhikara |
Control and regulation of piligrims entry with the 'Gouri' cane in hand. They belong to Pratihari class who watch Jay Vijaya door |
| 54 |
Hadapa Naika |
Betel supply |
| 55 |
Handi Jogania Tolabati |
Supply of earthen pots |
| 56 |
Jagia Mahasuara |
Inspection of consecrated food preparation |
| 57 |
Jyotisha (Khurinayaka) |
Astrological calculations and forecasting |
| 58 |
Kahalia |
Plays on bije kahali |
| 59 |
Kalabethia |
Who drags the Chariots |
| 60 |
Karatia |
Sawers |
| 61 |
Khataseja Mekapa |
Bed arrangement of the Deities |
| 62 |
Khatuli Sevaka |
Puts Khatuli (small wooden cot) for Abakash Puja |
| 63 |
Khuntia |
To supply flower garlands and Tulasi leaves to the Pasupalak |
| 64 |
Kotha Karana |
They usually report any deviation of services for the supreme lord Jagannath. They accompanied the God during Chandan Yatra festival with sword and knife as a protective force |
| 65 |
Kotha Suansia |
Supervise and undertake arrangement for the visiting deities on festive occasions |
| 66 |
Kothabhoga Jogania |
Food ingredients and fuel supply to the kitchen from the temple store |
| 67 |
Kothabhoga Pania |
Supply of water to Suaras and Mahasuaras from the kitchen well |
| 68 |
Kumbhara Bishoi |
Supply of earthen vessels for preparation of consecrated food |
| 69 |
Lenka |
To call the Sevakas for kitchen work |
| 70 |
Lugadhua and Panikunda Sevaka |
Water supply to the Lugadhua Sevak and washing the clothes of the deities |
| 71 |
Madeli |
Madal (Musical instrument) playing |
| 72 |
Mahabhoi |
Milk and milk product supply |
| 73 |
Mahajana |
They serve all the representative deities of the Dakhinighar and offer 'ballava bhog' there. Carry the representative deities (Bije Pratimas) for specific rituals |
| 74 |
Mahasuara |
Supervises preparation of food in the kitchen. Himself cooks Hariballava tata pitha. Takes the first Pankti chheka |
| 75 |
Malachua Seva |
Garland making |
| 76 |
Mandani |
Canpoy fixing on festive occasions over the platform on which deities are installed |
| 77 |
Mapasaita Karana or Mahaprasada Seva |
Supervision of food distribution among the Sevakas |
| 78 |
Matha and Byaktigata Seva |
Services of certain monasteries and ritual service based on individual capacity (whisk service) |
| 79 |
Mudra |
Sandal paste supply for the anointment of the deities |
| 80 |
Mudrahasta or Mudiratha |
Ritual services of King in his absence |
| 81 |
Muduli |
Store keeper of various articles such as cups, plates, whisk and camphor |
| 82 |
Mukhapakhala |
Supply of tooth sticks and tongue cleaners and flowers in the morning |
| 83 |
Mulla Suansia |
Supply of wooden materials on certain festive occasions |
| 84 |
Nikapa and Gandhan Nikapa |
Grinding Spices |
| 85 |
Ojha Maharana |
Blacksmith |
| 86 |
Paika |
With their team head Dalei and Dalbeheras stay in the temple throughout the day and night |
| 87 |
Palia Mekapa |
Flower decoration of deities and inspection of door at the time of opening in the temple and other specific duties |
| 88 |
Pani Apata |
Utensil cleaning and water supply from Bimala's well |
| 89 |
Panikipata |
Previously doing fish cutting during Dussehra and was cutting vegetables in the kitchen. Now it is discontinued |
| 90 |
Pantibadu and Ghia Pasara |
Consecrated food related services carrying Chhekas |
| 91 |
Parabjata Jogania |
To provide food material supplied from the store to the Mahasuara on festive occasions |
| 92 |
Parichha or Rajguru |
They were associated with temple administration by getting associated with King of Puri |
| 93 |
Pasupalaka (Puspalakas) |
Adornment, flower decoration and dressing of deities and Puja at the time of 'Abakasha' |
| 94 |
Patara Bishoi |
Preparation of silk ropes |
| 95 |
Patarabandha |
Leaves supply for packing |
| 96 |
Pati Mohapatra |
Works with Daitas but as a Bramhana has other functions |
| 97 |
Patri Badu |
Ritual ingredients supply |
| 98 |
Pradhani |
Call the Panda Sevakas, distributes Khei of Muktimandapa |
| 99 |
Prasad Badu, Badu Mohapatra |
Responsibility of supplying Tata (container) with offered food to the deities from the temple to the palace |
| 100 |
Pratihari |
Guarding the deities and looking for the status of the pilgrims, watching the movement of the pilgrims |
| 101 |
Puja Panda |
Worship of main deities of the temple |
| 102 |
Purana Panda |
Purana recitation during food offering |
| 103 |
Ratha Bhoi |
Works for the construction of chariots, sheds and canopies |
| 104 |
Ratha Dakua |
Singing songs in the Chariots during Car Festival |
| 105 |
Rosa Dhopakhalia, Angarua and Gobarpania Dhopakhalia |
Kitchen and over cleaning |
| 106 |
Rosa Paika |
Intimation to the Sevakas regarding the affairs of the kitchen |
| 107 |
Rupakar |
Drawing and painting of the walls of the temple and make Bije Pratimas, Sarathi etc attached to the chariots |
| 108 |
Sabata Nijoga |
Service to pilgrims with regards to Hindu rites such as Sankalpa, Sraddha and Dana in Panchatirtha and at Swargadwar on Amabasya days |
| 109 |
Samprada Nijoga |
Dance at the time of Pahuda and functions at the time of Krishna Janma rituals |
| 110 |
Sankhua |
Playing conch shell during various festive occasions |
| 111 |
Suara Nijoga Nayaka |
Manages all the affairs of Suaras and the kitchen |
| 112 |
Suarabadu |
They wash the floor of the inner sanctuary several times. They provide 'Vaishnava Agni' from the Temple kitchen for all Dhupa, Surya Puja and Dwarapala Puja |
| 113 |
Suna Goswami |
They draw water from 'Sunakua' (well) on Snana Purnima. They sanctify the space below the Ratna Singhasana at the time of Banakalagi. They supply Shree Payara Mala and flower or ornaments to the Deities for Badasinghara Besha |
| 114 |
Tadau Karana |
Record keeping, maintenance of almanac, supervision of daily services round the day of the temple and festivals |
| 115 |
Talichha Mohapatra |
He seals the doors at night after 'Pahuda', controls and checks the purity of the Temple kitchen |
| 116 |
Tamara Bishoi |
Works as copper smith during Car Festival |
| 117 |
Tatua |
Transportation of Mahaprasada 'Tata' from the temple to Srinahara (King's palace) |
| 118 |
Tolabadu |
Transportation cooked food from the kitchen to the temple |
| 119 |
Vaidya |
Herbal medicine (Dasa mula modaka) supply to the Deities at the time of their illness during Anasara period (after Snana Purnima and before Car Festival) |
