The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.277

v2.c17.s1.277

**Daily Service.** The daily round of ritual observances in honour of the Lord of the Universe is very much the same with what obtains in the Great Tower of Bhuvaneśvara. The day begins with the rousing of the divinities from their sleep and the oblations and offerings follow closely in the order described on pages [76] and [77], terminating at 11 P. M. with the offering of bedsteads and a request to the divine images to retire for rest. The details are very much the same in the two places, differing only in the ritual *mantras*, which are necessarily different. The food offerings prescribed are all brought into the sanctuary and placed before the throne; but the quantities so brought at times are small. At the four principal meals,—viz: 1) the Sakāla dhūpa or breakfast; 2) the Dviprahara Dhūpa or dinner; 3) the Sandhyā Dhūpa or luncheon; and 4) the Baḍaśṛṅgār bhoga or supper,—very large quantities of dressed food are prepared, and these are laid out in the Refectory and the doors being thrown open, the divinities enjoy the sight of them from their throne, even as they do with reference to what are brought within the sanctuary. The special offerings of devotees are also all placed in the Refectory, not in the sanctuary, except in the case of offerings made by the Rājā of Khurdā, which are all taken to the immediate presence of the divinities. One special offering of the Rājā is called Gopāl-vallabha, a sweetmeat prepared in the palace of the Rājā at Puri and sent in daily. Like the rest of the offerings it is, after consecration, sold to pilgrims, and the price credited to the Rājā's private account. The quantity of food daily dressed is large; on festive occasions enormous. At the Car Festival enough is cooked to suffice for the consumption of a hundred thousand pilgrims and considerable profit is made by its sale. Except the Gopāla-vallabha, all the articles of food brought within the sanctuary are afterwards appropriated by the officiating priests, but those which are served in the Refectory are sold to the credit of the temple fund. The time devoted to each of the four meals is one hour and during that period the gates of the inner enclosure are closed; and every meal is concluded with music, singing and dancing in the Dancing Hall.