During the Anabasara period, the ailing deities Sri Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarsan remain in a confined temple called the Anabasara Ghara. It is believed that the deities are suffering from fever. The Daitapatis, who are close traditional servants of the Lords, perform a service called Phooluri Seva each year on this particular day. This Phuluri Seva service was first introduced by Atibadi Jagannath Das, the author of Srimad Bhagabat, who was a contemporary of Lord Chaitanya. For this seva (service), Phooluri oil is essential.
This oil is provided by Odiya Math, established by Jagannath Das. The ingredients of this oil include 4 kg of pure sesame oil, roots of Bena, and various fragrant flowers such as Jui (jasmine), Jai (gomphrena), and Malli (white tulip). All the ingredients are kept in the oil in an earthen pot. The pot is sealed with earthen clay and kept underground from Hera Panchami to the Anabasara period each year. After recovering this sacred oil from underground, it is sent to Sri Mandir through a saint of Odiya Math.
The Daitapatis apply this oil to the bodies of the ailing deities. After the seva is completed, the deities are offered solid food. Before this seva, the deities are offered only liquid food. Approximately 165 Daitas are in the service of the Lords. This is a very peculiar and phenomenal ritual of Sri Jagannath.
