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Most Hindus believe that the bhog should be pure and free from tamasic foods like meat, fish, garlic, tobacco, onion, alcohol, leftovers, eggs, and other kinds of intoxicants. Therefore, during festive seasons, people are extra careful, clean their kitchens thoroughly and use fresh ingredients while preparing prasad.
Hygiene and purity are greater concerns in Hindu temples as well. Therefore, the current Tirupati Temple controversy has even led to the intervention of the Supreme Court of India where the apex body has requested to keep politics far away from Gods.
Ahead of Navratri celebrations, you would be amazed to know that there are a few Indian temples where animals are sacrificed and even the bhog includes non-vegetarian food. During Durga Puja celebration in Vimala Temple, Puri, Odisha, fish and meat are reportedly offered to the mother goddess. Here is why.
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Vimala Temple, Puri, Odisha, History
Puri, Odisha experiences a footfall of tourists and pilgrims every year. It is considered sacred because of the Jagannath Temple (one of the four sacred pilgrim centres for Hindus), the premises of which also include the Vimala (or Bimala) Temple which is regarded as the revered Shakti pitha.
Located near the revered pond Rohini kunda, the temple is built using laterite and sandstone. It flaunts four components - jagamohana (assembly hall), vimana (structure of the sanctum), bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings), and nata-mandapa (festival hall).
When compared to the opulent temple of Lord Jagannath, the Vimala Temple is small, but it is a revered place for veneration for the devotees of tantric and Goddess-oriented Shakta worshippers.
Goddess Vimala is the dark, tantric consort of Lord Jagannath, who is also believed to guard the complex of the temple. Not only do devotees pay respect to her before Lord Jagannath but the Mahaprasad is also not sanctified until it is offered to Goddess Vimala.
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Non-Vegetarian Prasad Offered To Goddess During Durga Puja
Unlike the rest of India, Durga Puja is a 16-day celebration in the Vimala Temple and culminates on Vijayadashami. It is believed that Goddess Parvati received a boon from Lord Vishnu that she would live in Puri as Vimala in the Kali Yuga and eat the remnants of his food.
While it stays true for the rest of the year, separate food is cooked for the Goddess during Durga Puja. An animal, preferably a he-goat, is sacrificed in secrecy in the wee hours and fish is fetched from the sacred Markanda temple tank. Following the Tantric rituals, both are cooked and offered to the Mother Goddess.
These rituals must be completed before the doors of the main sanctum of Lord Jagannath are opened and morning arti is performed. While Vaishnavites don’t attend the ceremony, only a few people are allowed to witness the rituals and are given the Bimala Parusa or Vimala’s cuisine as sacred food.
This is a revered food for the devotees of Goddess Vimala. Therefore, only Tantric practitioners ensure that no one can even get a glimpse of the food and everything wraps up before devotees and Vaishnavites begin their morning rituals.
