Hera Pancami
Disappearance Day of Sri Vakresvara Pandita
Festival
All day
What is Hera Pancami?
On Hera Pancami, Lord Jagannatha's wife Lakshmidevi comes out in a grand procession to see Him at the Gundica temple. At Ratha-yatra the Lord leaves His temple in Puri for Gundica without her, and on this day she goes after Him. In 2027 the festival falls on Friday, 9 July, which is also the disappearance day of Sri Vakresvara Pandita.
Significance
In his purport to Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami's Caitanya-caritamrta, Srila Prabhupada explains that hera means "to see" and pancami is the fifth day of the moon. Lord Jagannatha has gone to Gundica, which Mahaprabhu called a replica of Vrindavana, and the goddess of fortune is not admitted to the pastimes of Vrindavana. When He does not return as He promised, she becomes angry. Mahaprabhu asked His intimate associate Svarupa Damodara why she should be so upset, and Svarupa Damodara answered:
It is the nature of a girl afflicted by love to become immediately angry upon finding any neglect on the part of her lover.
Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 14.127
In Vrindavana, he added, only the gopis can attract the mind of Krishna.
How to observe it
Set aside time to read Madhya-lila, chapter 14, of Caitanya-caritamrta. It describes how King Prataparudra prepares the festival, how Lakshmidevi's palanquin arrives at the temple gate, and how Mahaprabhu and Svarupa Damodara speak about her mood. Then offer prayers to Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, and chant the holy names.
Questions
When is Hera Pancami in 2027?
Hera Pancami is on Friday, 9 July 2027, four days after Ratha Yatra. Devotees observe the disappearance of Sri Vakresvara Pandita on the same day.
What does Hera Pancami mean?
Hera means "to see", and pancami is the fifth day of the moon. The name refers to Lakshmidevi going to see Lord Jagannatha at the Gundica temple, as Srila Prabhupada explains in Caitanya-caritamrta.
Why is Lakshmidevi angry with Lord Jagannatha?
Lakshmidevi is angry because the Lord goes to Gundica for Ratha-yatra without her, and she cannot take part in the Vrindavana pastimes there. Svarupa Damodara tells Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that a girl afflicted by love naturally becomes angry when she finds her lover neglecting her.
Where is Hera Pancami described in the scriptures?
Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami describes it in Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila chapter 14, from verse 106 onward. Srila Prabhupada explains the pastime in his purports.
Reviewed by ISKCON Kurukshetra · Updated
Key facts
- Date
- Friday, 9 July 2027
- Also on this day
- Disappearance Day of Sri Vakresvara Pandita
- Meaning of hera
- To see
- Described in
- Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 14
- Lord worshipped
- Lord Jagannatha with Lakshmidevi
Seva for this day
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