Candana-yātrā

Candana-yātrā, which literally means “the sandalwood journey,” is celebrated during the peak of the hot season. Starting from the day of Akṣaya Tṛtīyā, the deities of Kṛṣṇa and His expansions are daily adorned with generous amounts of cooling sandalwood paste, thoroughly covering their divine forms. This festival is also called Gandha-lepana-yātrā, referring to the joyful tradition of anointing the Lord’s body with fragrant, soothing substances.

The Compassion of Dakṣa: A Tale of Divine Mercy

Excerpt from Skanda Purāṇa, Book 2 - Vaiṣṇava-khaṇḍa, Section 2 - Puruṣottama-kṣetra-māhātmya, Chapter 46

Long ago, in a former age of Kali-yuga, when suffering and ignorance clouded the hearts of men, there lived a noble Prajāpati—a progenitor of mankind—named Dakṣa. Moved by deep compassion, he beheld the pitiable condition of the people. They were tormented by the threefold miseries—those arising from their own bodies and minds, from others, and from natural forces.

Overwhelmed with sorrow for their plight, Dakṣa resolved to do something extraordinary. Guided by divine inspiration, he journeyed to the sacred Nīla mountain, a place hidden in transcendental beauty and sanctity. There, he established and joyfully celebrated a magnificent festival in honor of the Supreme Lord. It was the third day in the bright half of the month of Vaiśākha, an auspicious time. With loving devotion, he anointed the body of the Lord with fragrant candana paste, and with a heart soaked in humility and hope, he began to pray:

“O Supreme God, O Deva of devas, naturally blissful and free from all impurity, please save us! We are drowning in the ocean of material existence. O Kṛṣṇa, who shines like a dark raincloud, these souls are like dry blades of grass—parched and fragile. Nourish them with the nectar of your merciful glance. Be compassionate to me as well. I offer my obeisances unto you.”

“O Lord of the worlds, You have descended into this cave of the Nīla mountain to redeem those plagued by the sins of Kali. You alone are capable of burning away these dense sins—so ancient and deep-rooted that no ordinary effort can destroy them.”

“To see You is the highest yoga, though it lacks the eightfold steps like yama, niyama, and so on. It is the most direct means to fulfill life’s four goals—dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa. Those who embrace this path are no longer frightened in the dark forest of worldly life.”

“O Lord of devas, even self-knowledge is ineffective without the support of righteous actions. But Your divine vision alone can liberate the soul—effortlessly, without rituals or deeds.”

“O Kṛṣṇa, be victorious! O Lord, be victorious! O Imperishable One, O Immutable One, be victorious! Be pleased! Shower your blessings upon these confused, wretched, and foolish beings!”

Having offered this heartfelt prayer, Dakṣa fell prostrate like a rod at the lotus feet of the Lord, crying repeatedly, “Be pleased, O Lord! Be pleased, O Lord!”

The atmosphere grew serene. Then, with a gentle smile and a voice clear and melodious, the Supreme Lord addressed Dakṣa: “O beloved Dakṣa, rise! The boon you seek is not easy to attain—but by my grace, it shall surely be granted. You have pleased me immensely through this sacred festival. My blessings are rare and not easily earned by those lacking merit, but you are born from my own body. Your devotion touches my heart.

Know this—whoever devoutly witnesses this sacred festival, which brings eternal benefit, shall have all their heartfelt wishes fulfilled. Just as candana soothes the heat of the body, this festival of mine shall extinguish the threefold miseries of material life. It is by my own will that you were inspired to celebrate it. Truly, this was my desire—for the upliftment of the distressed and the suffering. I grant you everything you have wished for. These twelve great processions and festivals, beginning with Guṇḍicā, are sanctifying. Each one bestows liberation, and together they increase virtue (dharma), wealth (artha), and love (kāma). Even witnessing just one of them with devotion enables a soul to cross over the ocean of material existence and attain the abode of Viṣṇu.”

And so, with the Lord's blessing, Prajāpati Dakṣa’s festival became an eternal beacon of hope—a celebration that, when approached with devotion and faith, promises freedom from misery and a direct path to the Lord’s divine abode.

Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives a brief description of the Candana-yātrā

Excerpt from Śrī Caitanya-bhāgavata Antya 8.102

“Smear fragrant sandalwood paste on My body on the day of Akṣaya- tṛtīyā during the waxing moon in the month of Vaiśākha.” Śrī Puruṣottama deva ordered His servant, the exalted Vaiṣṇava Śrī Indradyumna deva, to smear fragrant sandalwood paste on His body on the day of Akṣaya-tṛtīyā during the waxing moon in the month of Vaiśākha. Following this, even today, Lord Jagannātha’s vijaya-vigraha, Śrī Madana-mohana, is brought on a palanquin from the temple to Śrī Narendra-sarovara every day from Akṣaya-tṛtīyā in Vaiśākha up to the eighth day of the waning moon in Jyaiṣṭha. Śrī Madana-mohana deva enjoys these boat pastimes in the lake along with His ministers headed by Lokanātha and Mahādeva. Since the Candana-yātrā festival of Śrī Madana-mohana is held in Śrī Narendra- sarovara, the lake is also called Candana-pukura. The phrase śrī-yātrā refers to Candana-yātrā.