Sri Krishna Pushya Abhisheka

In the Skanda Purana 2.2.42, Sri Krishna Pusya abhiseka is described as one of the festivals observed for Lord Jagannath in Puri. The chapter gives an elaborate description of the rituals for observing the festival. In Skanda Purana 2.27.99, the pusya naksatra is also mentioned, wherein it is stated that on a Thursday, Astami tithi, during Sukla-paksa of the month of Vaishakha, in conjunction with the Pusya-naksatra, Lord Jagannath was installed in the original temple in Puri.

"patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhakta prayacchati"
"If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it." — Bhagavad-gita 9.26

Flowers are a special part of our tradition. It is the way we honor special guests, the spiritual master, and the Vaishnavas. Offering flowers is a simple service for Krishna but it's a deep meditation. Whether it is stringing flowers together or pulling them apart, with every flower, our meditation should be an offering out of love and devotion to Krishna.

Preparation for the Abhisheka

In preparation for the festival, the devotees sit around, plucking out tender petals from different kinds of flowers. There are around five types of chandramallika (chrysanthemum) flowers, three types of marigolds, dopati (impatiens balsamina) and dahlia flowers, and thousands of roses. All the flowers are brought from different parts of India. The plucking proceeds till dusk, as basket after basket gets filled to the brim with fragrant petals. Whoever it may be, young or old, there is that consciousness of humility, generosity, and devotion in them with each flower petal they pluck — with every single one of them as an offering, and a cry for help to attain the highest perfection of life.

Srila Prabhupada once explained the festival this way: "Krishna was just a toy in the hands of the Gopis, so one day the Gopis decided that we shall decorate Him. Pusya abhisheka means a ceremony to decorate the deity profusely with flowers, ornaments, cloths. After, there should be lavish feasting and a procession through the streets, so that all the citizens should see how beautiful Krishna appears."

Deity Darshana during Pushya Abhisheka

The Grandeur of Flower Outfits

In the spiritual world, the Gopis decorate Krishna and Balaram with feathers, fruits, leaves, and flowers. Amongst their many gardens in Pushpavan near Kusum Sarovar, every day, just before noon, Srimati Radharani collects flowers to make beautiful garlands to offer to Krishna when He meets her at Radha Kund.

His Grace Jananivasa Prabhu was instructed by Srila Prabhupada to celebrate festivals related to the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Krishna in a grand way in Sri Dham Mayapur.

Therefore, now for the abhisheka alone, the devotees make petals from over thirty thousand Chrysanthemums in different colours, fifty kilos of dopati flowers in colours ranging from white and light pinks and oranges to dark pinks, purples, and red, more than two hundred and forty marigold garlands in yellow and orange, and over forty thousand roses. That is the definition of grand!

Devotees and pilgrims turn up in huge numbers. When the altar opens, the sight of the deities takes your breath away. Devotees stand astounded, taking darshan and singing to Their Lordships. The deities stand decorated in their all-new floral outfits, ornaments, flower garlands, Tulsi garlands, and anklets. For the skirts alone, the devotees use over five thousand flowers per skirt. Sri Madhava also graces a uniquely special flower outfit tailor-made perfectly for His Tribhanga (three-folding) form, as well as flower jewellery and flower mukut (crown) pieces for His turban.

Beautiful floral rangoli prepared for the festival

The Shower of Mercy

The festival reaches its climax after the Sandhya arati, when it is finally time for the abhisheka. The small Radha Madhava deities (Utsav Murtis) come forward to everyone's delight. Sri Sri Radha Madhava are then showered in flower petals as mantras and chanting of the Holy names go on simultaneously. A beautiful pastime unveils in front of everyone's eyes: the deities get fully covered in a mountain of flower petals showered from all directions. The devotees chant even louder and the kirtan goes even faster. When it finally comes to an end, Their Lordships return to the altar to be dressed in fresh clothes, and everyone goes home with the sweet remembrance of the festival.

The day of the Sri Krishna Pushya Abhisheka is not to be missed! All the collective efforts and services of the devotees are recorded by the compassionate eyes of the deities, always ready to reciprocate with Their unconditioned mercy.

Sri Krishna Pushya Abhisheka Ki Jay!