Jagannath Temple

The Jagannath Temple is a Lord Jagannath temple located in Puri. The name Jagannath which means Lord of the Universe is a combination of the Sanskrit words Jagat meaning Universe and Nath meaning Lord of. Although most Hindu deities worshiped are of stone or metal, but the image of Jagannath is wooden. Every twelve years the wooden figures are ritualistically replaced by using sacred trees which are carved as an exact replica. The object of this tradition is the extremely secret Navakalevara ('New Body' or 'New Embodiment') ritual.It is a sophisticated set of ceremonies that go together with the renewal of the wooden statues.

Balabhadra, and Subhadra are also worshipped here along with Jaggannath. They constitute the divine trinity of the Hindu Mythology. The fourth significant divine manifestation, Sudarsan is also worshipped with the trio and these four are known as the Chaturdha murti or the four-fold divine images.

It is a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages that a Hindu is expected to make in one's lifetime .This famous Hindu temple was built in the 11th century upon its ruins by the ancestor of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. The annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival,is very famous in which the three main deities of the temple are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars.It has also been associated with intense religious fervour since medieval times.

Located in the heart of the city ,it is built on a gigantic raised platform. According to the four directions the temple has four entrances .East-facing gate is called the Lions Gate having stone images of two lions. The north, south and west facing gates are called the Elephant Gate, the Horse Gate and the Tiger Gate (also called the Khanja Gate) respectively.

Aruna Stambha is a famous monolithic pillar right in front of the Lions gate. According to Hindu mythology Aruna is the the charioteer of the Sun-God. The popular Konarka temple was designed in the form of a stunning chariot .This monolithic pillar with the prettily carved Aruna placed on its top was installed right in front of the porch of that temple. When there was no presiding deity and the temple was abandoned, this pillar was shifted from Konarka to Puri and was fixed in front of Jagannatha temple where it stands today also.

The chief temple in Puri is encircled by approximately 30 temples. The Vimala temple, the Laxmi temple and the Ganesa temple at the foot of the Kalpavata are a few of them.The kalpavata is an old banyan tree which is supposed to have existed there from the time when the temple was installed. There is an account of a divine tree known as Kalpavata,in the Hindu mythology which can fulfill the desires of persons in quest of mercy.Visitors stand at the foot of the tree for a while to convey their desire in mute voice to the Kalpavata. Ganesa temple is present at the foot of this tree.Lord Ganesha is said to destroy all hindrances.Thus a visit to this temple is very valuable.A mouse figure fitted in front of the deity is a very fascinating object.

One of the most important centers of the Sakti worship of India is the Vimala temple.Here every year sixteen days period of Durga Puja takes place in the prescribed manner.It has a great role in giving extraordinary religious and spiritual holiness to the food offered to Jagannatha. Prasada is the food offered to Jagannatha, but after a few religious rites executed in the Vimala temple, this Prasada becomes Mahaprasada.

Saint Ramananda and Vaishnava traditions are closely associated with the temple. The temple is worthy for the followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism .Its founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was appealed by the deity, Jagannath.Thus lived in Puri for years.

The the trinity of deities are sitting on the ornamented platform or the Ratnavedi in the inner sanctum. Along with them,the Sudarshan Chakra, idols of Madanmohan, Vishwadhatri and Sridevi are also positioned on the Ratnavedi. Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan Chakra idols are made up of sacred Neem logs called Daru Bramha. According to the season the deities are decorated in altered apparels and jewels.

According to the Brahma Purana ,Skanda-Purana and later Oriya works state that Lord Jagannath was initially worshipped as Lord Neela Madhaba by Viswavasu ,a Savar king ( tribal chief ) . On knowing about the deity, King Indradyumna sent Vidyapati ,a Brahmin priest to find the deity. Viswavasu worshipped him secretly in a dense forest . Vidyapati could not locate the place. Finally he managed to marry Lalita, Viswavasu's daughter .On repeated request of Vidyapti, Viswavasu took him blind folded to the cave where Lord Neela Madhaba was worshipped.

Vidyapati was very clever. He dropped mustard seeds on his way. Later the seeds developed, which enabled him to find out the cave. Immediately King Indradyumna proceeded to Odra desha in Orissa on to see and worship the Deity. However the deity had disappeared and hidden in sand. He was disappointed but was determined of having a darshan of the deity.He observed fast unto death at Mount Neela. A heavenly voice cried 'thou shalt see him.' Subsequently the king performed a horse sacrifice and built a splendid temple for Vishnu. Narada brought a Sri Narasimha which was installed in the temple. While sleeping, the king had a vision of Lord Jagannath and an astral voice directed him to get the fragrant tree on the seashore and make idols of it. Consequently the king installed the image of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Chakra Sudarshan made out of the wood of the divine tree .

King Indradyumna erect a 1,000 cubits high monument for Jagannath, tallest in the world. Brahma came all the way from Heaven to consecrate the temple and the images on being invited by the king. Brahma queried Indradyumna as to in what way can he fulfill the king's wish, being very much pleased with him for having put the most stunning temple for Lord Vishnu. Indradyumna with folded hands said prayed to him for being issueless and the last member of the family. Anybody left alive after him would only take pride as the owner of the temple and not work for the society.

Offerings are made to the Lord six times a day, The Gopala Vallabha Bhoga is offering to the Lord in the Morning that forms his breakfast which is is a seven item treat including Khua, Lahuni, sweetened coconut grating, coconut water, and popcorn sweetened with sugar known as khai and curd and ripe bananas.His next offering around 10 O’ clock in the morning is Sakala Dhupa. Normally consists of 13 items together with the Enduri cake & Mantha puli.The next repast is Bada Sankhudi Bhoga comprising of Pakhala with dahi and Kanji payas. At noon the Madhyanha dhupa forms the next offering.In the evening at around 8 o’clock it is Sandhya Dhupa is offered. Bada Simhara Bhoga is the last offering. They are offered in the bhog mandapa, which is about 200 feet from the Ratna Vedi.

Chatra Bhog was introduced by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century to help pilgrims share the temple food.