Jagannath Temple-Puri

Jagannath Temple-Puri

The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is an important Hindu temple in Puri in the state of Odisha. The temple is an important pilgrimage destination dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu. It is one of the Char Dham.

The Puri temple is well-known for its annual Ratha yatra or chariot festival. In this festival three main deities are pulled on decorated temple cars. The image of Jagannath is made of wood that is replaced every twelve or nineteen years.

Shree Jagannath Temple is sacred to all Hindus and mainly various great saints, such as Ramananda and Ramanuja. They were closely connected with the temple. Ramanuja also set up the Emar Mutt and the Govardhan Mutt that is the seat one of the four Shankaracharyas.

Deities

In the Temple there are trio of gods Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra who are worshiped. The inside sanctum of the temple has statues of these three Gods along with statues of Sudarshana Chakra, Madanmohan, Sridevi and Vishwadhatri. The deities are decorated with different clothing and jewelries according to the season.

History

Jagannath Temple was made by King Chodaganga. The king started the structure. Jaga mohan or the assembly hall and Vimana or chariots of the temple were built by him. After that Anangabhima Deva finished the structure of the temple in 1174AD.

The temple was invaded by various rulers about eighteen times. The temple was plundered and looted because of wealth. Because of these attacks, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra were moved to various places to save them.

Structure

The huge temple complex covers an area of over 400,000 square feet and is surrounded by a high wall. The Complex has the main temple and at least 120 temples. With its smoothness of the Oriya style of design, it is one of the most radiant landmarks of India.

The temple has four different sectional structures, namely –

1 Deula, Vimana or Garba griha   -  where the triad deities are lived.

2 Mukhashala

3 Nata mandir/Natamandapa - Audience Hall and Dancing Hall

4 Bhoga Mandapa - Offerings Hall

Among the existing temples in Orissa, the Shri Jagannath temple is the highest. The temple tower was made on a raised platform of stone. The main temple has a crowning the top is the 'srichakra' (an eight Spoked Wheel) of Vishnu.  It is also called as the "Nilachakra" this is made out of Ashtadhatu.  

Minor temples

There are many smaller temples in the Temple complex.  The Vimala Temple (Bimala Temple) is one of the most important of the Shaktipeeths. Until food offered to God Jagannath is offered to Goddess Vimala it is not considered Mahaprasad.

Mahalakshmi temple has a main role in rituals of the main temple. Making of naivedya as offering for Jagannath is managed by Mahalakshmi.

Daily food offerings

Six times a day offerings are made to the God in a day. These include:

1 Morning breakfast that is called Gopala Vallabha Bhoga is offered to the Lord. The offering to the Lord in the morning in breakfast contains of seven items like Curd, Lahuni, Sweetened coconut grating, and popcorn sweetened with sugar known as Khai, and Ripe bananas.

2 The Sakala Dhupa is next offering at 10 AM. This generally consists of 13 items.

3 Chatra Bhog is made in the Bhog Mandapa, about 200 feet from the Ratnabedi.  It was presented by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century to assist pilgrims share the temple food.

4 The Madhyanha dhupa is the next offering at the noon.

5 The next offering to the Lord is made at around 8 PM. it is called Sandhya Dhupa.

6 The last offering to the Lord is known as the Bada Simhara Bhoga.

Rosaighara or Temple Kitchen

The temple's kitchen is the biggest in the world. According to Hindu Tradition that all Mahaprasad cooking in kitchens is supervised by the Goddess Mahalakshmi herself.  During the food preparing if there is any fault; a shadow dog seems near the temple kitchen that is a symbol of her displeasure. If the shadow dog is seen, the food is buried at once and a new food cooked.  56 varieties of dish are made that are vegetarian and prepared without onions, garlic and chili. Food is made only in earthen pots and uses the water from two wells near the kitchen named Ganga and Yamuna. The most awaited offering is Kotho Bhoga or Abadha, offered after noon. After offering the food to Jagannath and the other deities, the food is sold in the market called Ananda Bajara.

Festivals

• There are lot of festivals are enjoyed every year. The most famous festival is Rath Yatra or the Chariot festival in June. This festival has a procession of three huge chariots bearing the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. 
• Various festivals like Dol Yatra in spring and Jhulan Yatra in monsoon are celebrated by temple every year. 
•  Vishuva Sankranti and Mesha Sankranti (Pana Sankranti) are the Special rituals are performed at the temple.

Rath Yatra at Puri

The Ratha-Yatra is also called as the Shri Gundicha yatra. This festival is well-known as Rath Yatra, journey means Yatra and chariot means Rath.

The Jagannath are usually worshiped in the sanctum of the temple at Puri. But it is allowed the public to have darsana (Holy view) during the month of Asadha (falling in month of June or July), they are brought out and travel about 3 km from Bada Danda (Main Street of Puri) to the Shri Gundicha Temple, in huge chariots (Rath). The Raths are built a new every year by wood and has huge wheeled, are pulled by the devotees. The chariot for Jagannath is about 45 feet high and 35 feet square.  The artists and painters decorate the cars and paint flower and other designs on this.

The most important ritual is Chhera Pahara in the Ratha-Yatra. Chhera Pahara is held on two days. The Gajapati King wears the cloth of a sweeper and cleanses all around the deities and chariots in the Chera Pahara ritual (sweeping with water). The Gajapati King starts to sweep the road before the chariots and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder. Gajapati King has been considered the most powerful person in the Kalingan kingdom; he still renders the menial service to Jagannath. This ritual shows that there is no difference between the powerful Gajapati King and devotee under the lordship of Jagannath.

In the Ratha Yatra, the three Gods are taken from the Jagannath Temple in the chariots to the Gundicha Temple, where they remain for nine days. From that point, the gods again ride the chariots back to Shri Mandir in bahuda yatra. In returning journey, the three chariots stop at the Mausi Maa Temple and the deities are offered Poda Pitha, a sort of baked cake which is usually eaten in the Odisha.

Interesting and incredible facts about Jagannath Mandir

1 The flag on the top (Sikhar) of temple blows in the direction opposite to the flow of breeze.

2 Anywhere you can stand in puri and you will find that the Sudarshana Chakra on top of the temple is always facing you.

3 Generally in coastal areas in the day-time, the wind blows from the sea to the land and in the evening time it blows from the land to the sea. But in the case of Puri it is totally opposite.

4 Birds do not fly above the Jagannath temple in Puri. The same rule applies for airplanes which are also not permitted to fly above the temple.

5 The shadow of the main dome of Jagannath temple is not visible at any time of day.

6 Every day food is cooked inside the temple,  will not go wasted even the quantity of cooked food remains same for the whole year.

7 Earthen pots are kept on each other and cook. Food contents in the top pot get cooked first and then the bottom one.

8 After entering the temple through Singha Dwara’s entrance, after the first step you will not be able to hear any sound made by the sea. But, when you exit (from outside of the Temple) it can be heard. It can be noticed easily during evening.

9 Each year there is a spot only in front of the Gundicha temple where the procession comes to a stop by itself. This is a mystery. 

Entry and Darshan

Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple. Visitors cannot enter inside the temple. 

The temple is open from 5:00 am to midnight. Believers can go around and behind the idols. Devotees pay a small fee for special Darshan, or Parimanik Darshan. During the Sahana Mela (general appearance) Devotees are allowed for special Darshan to deties between 7 to 8:00 am without paying any fees.

How to Reach

Nearest airport to Puri is Bhubaneshwar's Biju Patnaik airport. Daily flights connect this airport with Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Puri railway station is the nearest Railway station. Puri Railway Station is around 28 KM away from Jagannath Temple.

Best Time To Visit

Between October and February is the best time to visit Puri.