The name Padma means Lotus and this piece of art depicts the Lord as ÔÇ£Lotus EyedÔÇØ. Lord Krishna is said to be Lord Jagannath in the North-Eastern part of India. The popular belief is that on the 11th bright day of the month Magha (Jan-Feb) this Padma Vesha continues to be practised in the Sree Mandir since last three hundred years. Lotus is the symbol of intelligence, meditation, efforts for success, Act, deviation and indifference to universal matter. Lord Jagannath is Himself , the brightness of all hearts. So he is called "Padma Lochana" (Lotus Eye God). On the deity, the lotus flower and the lotus buds are prepared with silver, golden threads, cotton cloth, gum of wood apple and colours are used. They specially make three masks with petals of cotton and hair are fixed with masks. There are Kadamba flowers held in both hands and this padma vesha is done at the BadaSinghar (bed time) vesha of the deities. This is the only day when the deities go to sleep with Padma vesha. It is very attractive and the most beautiful vesha of the deities. This usually happens during the beginning of spring season, when Lotus flowers are abundant. The pink tinge on the painting reflects the colour of the Lotus.

King Indradyumna was a devout devotee of Lord Vishnu. King Indradyumna is considered a benevolent ruler in Satyuga or Golden Era and used to run his kingdom from his capital at Avantipura, Once he came to know about an incarnation of Lord Vishnu called Nila Madhava and the King chose to seek him. The search was vast yet futile but one priest refused to give up. He chanced upon a non ÔÇô Aryan (called Sabaras) community and stayed with the local chief (Vishvavasu). He even married his daughter, Lalitha and started observing how the Chief used to go daily for prayers to a certain place. He was curious and persuaded his Father-in-law to take him along. Vishvavasu, although reluctant, took him and Vidyapati saw Nila Madhava. However, the Lord disappeared soon enough and King Indradyumna was furious. He captured the Chief but a voice from heaven instructed him to build a temple on a hill called Nila. Despite numerous efforts, the Lord eluded the King who decided to fast unto his death. He started his penance and one day in his dreams, the Lord adviced him that He shall come floating from the sea in his wooden form as Daru-brahman at the place called Bakimuhan. The King went to this place and saw a huge piece of wood which had the marks of a conch, club, disc and lotus on it. Many men and elephants tried to move Daru-brahman, but they could not move Him. That night, Lord Jagannatha spoke to King Indradyumna in his dream and told him to bring Vishvavasu, who used to serve Nila Madhava and bring a golden chariot in front of Daru-brahman. The king did this and Daru-brahman easily was placed onto the chariot.

Story of Lord Jaganath -King Indradyumna had the best sculptors come to carve the Deity of Lord Jagannath from Daru-brahman. As soon as they started their chisels broke to pieces. The Supreme Lord Himself came in disguise as an old artist who called himself Ananta Maharana (According to the Narada Purana, Visvakarma, the architect of the demigods carved the Deities by the desire of Lord Vishnu, who took the form of an old brahmana). He said that if he was able to work behind closed doors for 21 days then the deities could be carved. The old sculptor then took Daru-brahman into the temple and the doors were closed. After 14 days passed, the king could not hear any sounds of the artist's tools and he became fully anxious. The king then personally opened the door of the temple by force. The King did not see the sculptor, but instead he saw the three forms of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Lord Balarama. Their fingers and toes were unfinished. Thinking himself a great offender the king decided to give up his life. He then lay on a bed of Kusa grass and began to fast. Lord Jagannath appeared to him in a dream. He told the king that He is eternally situated here in Nilachala in the form of Lord Jagannath as Daru-brahman. The fact that he broke his promise is part of the pastime for him to manifest in the form of Jagannath.

Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Balabhadra (also called Balarama) and sister (Subhadra) are adorned with cotton and silk fabrics, gold ornaments studded with precious stones, flowers of different varieties, Tulsi leaves, sandal paste and camphor. These articles are used in the daily and periodical rituals.

Material: Paper mache Pattachitra, acrylic and natural dyes

NOTE: This paintingÔÇÖs cleaning and dusting should be done with a dry cloth only