Why Lord Jagannath Takes Up ‘Hati Besha’; Know The Legend

Puri: Pandit Ganapati Bhatta was a great devotee of Lord Ganesha in the 15th century. He was part of the Mahaganapatya community of Maharashtra.

He came across some saints who told him that he can have the darshan of Lord Ganesha manifested as Sri Jagannath in Shrikshetra.

He decided to visit Shrikshetra to see things through his own eyes. He took up a long arduous journey to Puri. He reached Shrikshetra on the day of Snana Purnima of the trinity.

When he had the darshan of Lord Jagannath, he was disappointed as the idol did not look like that of Lord Ganesha to him. With a heavy heart, he decided to return to his home.

While he was returning from the temple, all of a sudden an unknown entity who looked like a priest encountered him. The man enquired Ganapati Bhatta about his disappointment. Hearing the emotions of Ganapati Bhatta, the unknown entity advised him that if he would pray from the heart he would be able to see Lord Jagannath in any form he wished.

Ganapati Bhatta obeying the advice prayed with concentration of mind and heart. Lo and behold ! When he opened his eyes after the prayer he miraculously saw the form of Lord Ganesha in the idol of Lord Jagannath. He immediately prostrated then there. When he searched for the man who had spoken with him, he found him to have vanished.

From then onwards, the deities take up ‘Hati Besa’ or the attire of elephant on Deva Snana Purnima to keep alive the devotion of Ganapati Bhatta alive in the minds of devotees for times to come.