Baisi Pahacha, the twenty two grand steps that lead devotee to Lord Jagannath has a very significant place in Jagannath culture. width of the middle 15 steps varies from 5 feet and 10 inches to 6 feet 3 inches and the rise is 6 inches to 7 inches.The size of the remaining 7 steps are smaller both in length and width.The steps are made of felspar and Khondalite.The idols of Kasi-Biswanath,ramachandra,Nursimha, and Ganesh have been installed on the southern side of the Baisi pahacha.
Mythological Significance of the Baisi pahacha
Puranas list the avataras of Vishnu.
1) Catursana 2) Narada 3) Varaha 4) Matsya 5) Yajna 6) Nara-Narayana 7) Kapila 8) Dattatreya 9) Hayasirsa 10) Hamsa 11) Prsnigarbha 12) Rsabha 13) Prithu 14) Narasimha 15) Kurma 16) Dhanvantari 17) Mohini 18) Vamana 19) Parasurama 20) Raghavendra (Rama) 21) Vyasa 22) Balarama 23) Krishna and 24) Kalki.
Of these 22 avatars are considered most important and these steps (Baisi Pahacha) of puri Jagannath temple symbolizing for salvation. These are 1) Catursana 2) Narada 3) Varaha 4) Matsya 5) Yajna 6) Nara-Narayana 7) Kapila 8) Dattatreya 9) Prsnigarbha 10) Rsabha 11) Prithu 12) Narasimha 13) Kurma 14) Dhanvantari 15) Mohini 16) Vamana 17) Parasurama 18) Rama 19) Vyasa 20) Balarama 21) Krishna and 22) Kalki.
Another Belief says each steps has its significance of the existence of universe,
After crossing each step, devotee can see the Lord of the universe of Shri Jagannath.
Then the third one ,
The Jains too have many things incommon in their spiritual practice with the cultof Lord Jagannath. They have an unflinching belief that the 22 steps of Puri temple represent22 Tirthankars out of 24 of their religion. The other two Tirthankers are represented through the stone citadel (Ratnavedi) of the temple and the Grand Road (Badadanda) of Purushottam Khetra. When a Jain devotee enters Jagannath Temple and starts climbing the 22 steps, he touches each step in deep reverence and then touches his head as a mark of adoration to the Trithankars of his religion.
According to belief, all sins of the pilgrims disappear who touch these steps even once.Baisi Pahacha is the path to salvation!
The devotional songs in Oriya known as"Bhajana" and "Jananas" reflect the devotees' faith in the powers of Lord Jagannath. The Odissi dance owes its origin to the temple rituals observed in the "Bada Deula" .The "Baisi Pahacha" is described in the devotional songs as the place where one re-examines and affirms his faith in Lord Jagannath.
Mythological Significance of the Baisi pahacha
Puranas list the avataras of Vishnu.
1) Catursana 2) Narada 3) Varaha 4) Matsya 5) Yajna 6) Nara-Narayana 7) Kapila 8) Dattatreya 9) Hayasirsa 10) Hamsa 11) Prsnigarbha 12) Rsabha 13) Prithu 14) Narasimha 15) Kurma 16) Dhanvantari 17) Mohini 18) Vamana 19) Parasurama 20) Raghavendra (Rama) 21) Vyasa 22) Balarama 23) Krishna and 24) Kalki.
Of these 22 avatars are considered most important and these steps (Baisi Pahacha) of puri Jagannath temple symbolizing for salvation. These are 1) Catursana 2) Narada 3) Varaha 4) Matsya 5) Yajna 6) Nara-Narayana 7) Kapila 8) Dattatreya 9) Prsnigarbha 10) Rsabha 11) Prithu 12) Narasimha 13) Kurma 14) Dhanvantari 15) Mohini 16) Vamana 17) Parasurama 18) Rama 19) Vyasa 20) Balarama 21) Krishna and 22) Kalki.
Another Belief says each steps has its significance of the existence of universe,
first five steps, Five Sense Organs; eye, ear, nose, tongue, skin
Second five steps, FivePrana: up-breathing (prana), down-breathing(apana), back-breathing(Vyana), out-breathing (Udana), on-breathing (Samana),
(Prana, in its capacity of the life force in breath, takes five separate forms. These five vital forces (pancha prana) breathe life into body)
Third Five steps, Inner Beuty: looks (rupa) , aesthetics (rasa), taste (swada), smell (gandha), noise(sabda)
Fourth Five steps, Panchamahabhutas :earth,water, fire,air, space
Twenty first step is wisdom and the twenty second is ego
Second five steps, FivePrana: up-breathing (prana), down-breathing(apana), back-breathing(Vyana), out-breathing (Udana), on-breathing (Samana),
(Prana, in its capacity of the life force in breath, takes five separate forms. These five vital forces (pancha prana) breathe life into body)
Third Five steps, Inner Beuty: looks (rupa) , aesthetics (rasa), taste (swada), smell (gandha), noise(sabda)
Fourth Five steps, Panchamahabhutas :earth,water, fire,air, space
Twenty first step is wisdom and the twenty second is ego
After crossing each step, devotee can see the Lord of the universe of Shri Jagannath.
Then the third one ,
The Jains too have many things incommon in their spiritual practice with the cultof Lord Jagannath. They have an unflinching belief that the 22 steps of Puri temple represent22 Tirthankars out of 24 of their religion. The other two Tirthankers are represented through the stone citadel (Ratnavedi) of the temple and the Grand Road (Badadanda) of Purushottam Khetra. When a Jain devotee enters Jagannath Temple and starts climbing the 22 steps, he touches each step in deep reverence and then touches his head as a mark of adoration to the Trithankars of his religion.
According to belief, all sins of the pilgrims disappear who touch these steps even once.Baisi Pahacha is the path to salvation!
The devotional songs in Oriya known as"Bhajana" and "Jananas" reflect the devotees' faith in the powers of Lord Jagannath. The Odissi dance owes its origin to the temple rituals observed in the "Bada Deula" .The "Baisi Pahacha" is described in the devotional songs as the place where one re-examines and affirms his faith in Lord Jagannath.
