Interview with Jagannath Pandit

(Q1) INTERVIEWER: Would you please introduce yourself.

(A1) JAGANNATH PANDIT: My name is Jagannath Pandit .

(Q2) INTERVIEWER: And what do you do?

(A2) JAGANNATH PANDIT: Well, I'm an educator here and a priest of Lord Shastri Brahm.

(Q3) INTERVIEWER: So, do a lot of people come hear to see Lord Shastri Brahm .

(A3) JAGANNATH PANDIT: Yes sir.

(Q4) INTERVIEWER: Where do they come from?

(A4) JAGANNATH PANDIT: The pilgrims come from all corners of India for their own inner most desires. Because of their plans, their sadness and distress and for their hearts' desires they come here for darshan and according to their abilities, they offer the prescribed elements of puja: malas and flowers, light and lamp and pray for good fortune.

(Q5) INTERVIEWER: Fine, good, so when the pilgrims arrive at the bus stand, what do they do?

(A5) JAGANNATH PANDIT: They pilgrims come from there, and there are a lot of pilgrims who know the name of a pujari and knowing the name of their pujari , go to his house and stay there and there have the various pujas performed and present whatever distress they have before Lord Shastri Brahm.

(Q6) INTERVIEWER: Ok, so how do the pilgrims come to you personally?

(A6) JAGANNATH PANDIT: Some people are like this--their hearts' desire has been fulfilled, their wishes have come true or they've received some sort of gain, so they are sent here for darshan and there are some people who come for the first time, without being known and find out the name of some pujari and have him perform their puja.

(Q7) INTERVIEWER: For example, if a pilgrim comes to you and says that s/he would like to see Lord Shastri Brahm , then what would you do?

(A7) JAGANNATH PANDIT: Well, then I'd go with him and the garlands, flowers, lamp, and prashad ..

(Q8) INTERVIEWER: What kind of prashad ?

(A8) JAGANNATH PANDIT: Laddu , Barfi, Peda, Ilachi , Dana.

(Q9) INTERVIEWER: So, you have to buy all of that first.

(A9) JAGANNATH PANDIT: Yes, sir, you buy it before you go.

(Q10) INTERVIEWER: Does Lord Shastri Brahm prefer certain things--meaning certain kinds of prasad or offerings?

(A10) JAGANNATH PANDIT: They offer what they wish, and with purpose offer prashad , garlands, and do good.

(Q11) INTERVIEWER: And what else?

(A11) JAGANNATH PANDIT: The offer a gift to a Brahmin .

(Q12) INTERVIEWER: Why is a gift to a Brahmin necessary?

(A12) JAGANNATH PANDIT: The point is that after puja, after the presentation-the gift to the Brahmin is another facet, another part-- betel nut , betel leaf , etc, these are all offered.