Bhubaneswar, Nov 21: The Manabasa Gurubar ritual, celebrated with great reverence in Odisha, traces its roots to the 15th-century text known as the Laxmi Purana, a sacred book that is still read aloud in almost every Odia household every Thursday during the Hindu month of Margashira. This ancient text tells a captivating story, blending devotion, social justice, and divine blessings.
Maa Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity, and Sriya Chandaluni, a woman from the Chandala community, considered the most marginalized in society. Their interaction in the Laxmi Purana symbolizes the triumph of devotion over social barriers, with Maa Laxmi blessing Sriya for her hard work, discipline, and dedication, regardless of her social standing.
Story behind of Manabasa Gurubar
According to the mythology, in ancient times, a low-caste woman named Sriya, defied social norms by daring to pray to and worship Maa Laxmi. The essence of the story lies in the idea that it is not one's social position that earns the Goddess’s favor, but rather cleanliness, hard work, and sincerity. As the Goddess observes the devotion of her followers, she showers her blessings on those who maintain a clean and disciplined life, irrespective of their caste or background.
In Sriya's case, her devotion, expressed through the maintenance of cleanliness in her home and her sincere worship, leads Maa Lakshmi to bless her with wealth and prosperity. The narrative strongly emphasizes that the Goddess is not bound by societal norms or prejudices but instead looks for purity of heart and effort. This act angered Balaram, the elder brother of Lord Jagannath, who expelled her from the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
In response to the injustice, Maa Laxmi cursed both Balaram and his brother and husband Jagannath, leaving them to suffer for twelve long years without food, water, or shelter. Eventually, the brothers realized the goddess’s importance, and Laxmi agreed to return on the condition that no caste discrimination would exist on Earth, a principle that has been symbolically followed ever since.
