CHAR DHAM INDIA: Jagannath Temple

The Jagannath temple in Puri is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath and located in the coastal town of Bengal of Puri in the state of Odisha. Puri is one of the oldest cities in the eastern part of India.

The main deity is Shri Krishna, celebrated as Lord Jagannath. It is the only shrine  in india. where goddess, shubhadra, sister of Lord Krishna is worshiped along with her brothers, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhdra. The main temple here is about 1000 years old and constructed by Raja Choda Ganga Deva and Raja Tritiya ananga Bhima Deva. Puri is the site of the Govardhan Matha, one of the four cardinal stitutions of Mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya.

The name Jagannath is a combination of the Sanskrit words "Jagat" (Universe) and Nath (Lord of). The temple is an important pilgrimage destination for many Hindu traditions, particularly worshipers of Krishna and Bishnu. The temple was built in the 11th century atop its ruins by the progenitor of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva. The temple is famous for its annual Rath Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three main temple deities are hauled or huge and elaborately decorated temple cars. Since medieval times, it is also associated with intense religoius fervor. 

The temple is sacred to the Vaishnava traditions and saint Ramananda who was closely associated with the temple. It is also of particular significance to the followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism whose founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was attracted to the deity, Gagannath, and lived in Puri for may years.

The central forms of Jagannath, Balabhadra and the goddess Subhadra constitute the trinity of deities sitting on the bejeweled platform or the Ratnavedi in the inner sanctum. the Sudarshan Chakra, idols of Madan Mohan, Shridevi and Vishwadhatri ar also placed on the Ratnavedi . The deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Shubhadra and Sudarshan Chakra are made from sacred Neem logs known Daru Bramha. Depending on the season of deities are adorned in different garns an

Jagannath Temple

d jewels. Worship of the deities pre-date the temple structure and may have originated in an ancient tribal shrine.

Sikh leader Maharaja Ranjit Singh, had donated massive amounts of gold to the Jagannath temple.

The huge temple covers an are of over 400,000 square feet and is surrounded by a high fortified wall. This 20 feet high wall is known as Meghananda \Pacheri. Another wall known as Kurma bedha surrounds the main temple. It contains at least 120 temples and shrines. With its Sculptural richness and fluidity of the Oriya style of temple architecture, it is one of the most magnificent monuments of India.

The main temple a curvilinear temple and crowning the top is the 'Shrichakra' of "Vishnu'. Also known as 'Nilachakra', it is made out of Ashtadhatu and is considered sacrosanct. Among the existing temples of Orissa, the temple of Shri Jagannath is the highest. The temple tower was built on a raised platform of stone and , rising to 214 feet above the inner sanctum where the deities reside, dominates the surrounding landscape. The pyramidal roofs of the surrounding temples and adjoining halls, or mandapas, rise in steps toward the tower like a ridge of mountain peaks.

Daily offerings are made to the Lord six times a day. The offering to the Lord in the Morning that forms His breakfast and is called The Gopala Vallabha \Bhoga. Breakfast is a seven item treat- Khua, Lahuni, sweetened Coconut grating, coconut water, the popcorn sweetened with sugar known as Khai and curd and ripe bananas.

The most important festival is the Ratha Yatra or the Chariot  festival in June. This spectacular festival includes a procession of three huge chariots bearing the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Shubhadra through the Bada Danda meaning the Grand Avenue of Puri till their final destination the Gundicha Temple.