Bhubaneswar:  Nepal’s last king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is scheduled to visit Orissa (Odisha) for six days from February 7.

During his six-day visit Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is expected to perform a series of rituals at the 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri and visit Sakhigopal Temple.

He has a special seva and rituals in the three important shrines of Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri, Lingaraj Temple at Bhubaneswar and Sakhigopal Temple.

He has the special privilege of performing ‘aarati’ for Lord Jagannath atop the ‘Ratna Singhasan’ (Podium) of the Srimandir (Puri temple),  The king of Nepal  traditionally offers “kasturi” (musk) for the deity’s rituals.

There are deep spiritual ties between Odisha and Nepal. Adi Shankaracharya had established the rituals and practices in both Jagannath and Pashupatinath temples and Nepal, which comes under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Puri Shankaracharya s Govardhan Math.

After his arrival in Odisha, he will inaugurate the Mission Cow Goshala at Rathipur near Jatni and Govandana, a unique ritual of offering homage to cows. Later, he will attend a public reception.

On February 8 morning, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev will offer prayers at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar and visit Sakhigopal Temple the same aternoon.

On Febuary 9 and 10, he will attend a programme commemorating the silver jubilee of the ‘pattabhisheka’ of Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Puri at the invitation of the Govardhan Math of Puri.

Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is the last king of Nepal who ruled Nepal from 2001 to 2008, when the Nepalese Constituent Assembly declared it a republic and abolished monarchy.

  indo-Nepal, King Gyanendra