The Shree Jagannath Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, one of the many forms of Vishnu, in Puri in the state of Odisha on the eastern coast of India. The present temple was rebuilt from the 10th century onwards, on the site of an earlier temple, and begun by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, first of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
The Puri temple is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three principal deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars. These gave their name to the English term 'Juggernaut'. Unlike the stone and metal icons found in most Hindu temples, the image of Jagannath is made of wood and is ceremoniously replaced every twelve or nineteen years by an exact replica. It is one of the Char Dham.
Architecture:
Jagannath Temple is a very big temple and covers an area of 37000 square meters. The height of the outer wall is 6.1m. This outer wall surrounds the whole temple and is known as Meghananda Pacheri. The main portion of the temple is also surrounded by a wall known as Kurma Bheda.
The temple was built on the basis of Oriya architecture and has around 120 temples and shrines inside. The main temple has curvilinear shape with a chakra of Lord Vishnu on the top. This chakra is also known as Nila Chakra. The tower of the temple has the height of 65m.
Nila Chakra:
Nila Chakra is located on the top of the temple and a different flag, each named as Patita Pavana, is hoisted on the chakra daily. The chakra has eight spokes called Navagunjaras. The chakra was made by an alloy of eight metals also known as Ashtadhatu. The circumference of the chakra is 11m and height is 3.5m.
Singhadwaram:
There are four gates to enter the temple and one of them is Singhadwaram which is a Sanskrit word which means Lion Gate. There are statues of two lions one on each side of the gate. People can enter the temple through the staircase of 22 steps which is known as Baisi Pahacha.
There is an image of Lord Jagannath which is painted on the right side of the entrance and is known as Patitapavana. This image was made for untouchables who were allowed to pray to the image of the lord from outside but cannot enter the temple.
Arun Stambha:
Arun Stambha is situated in front of the Singhadwaram. The pillar is sixteen-sided and is monolithic. Idol of Arun can be found here who drives the chariot of Sun god. Arun Stambha was previously located at Konark temple but was brought here by Guru Brahamachari Gosain.
Hathidwara, Vyaghradwara, and Ashwadwara:
Hathidwara, Vyaghradwara, and Ashwadwara are the three other entrances from where people can enter the temple. Hathidwara is also known as elephant gate, Vyaghradwara as tiger gate, and Ashwadwara as horse gate. The gates are named so as they are guarded by elephant, tiger, and horse respectively.
Vimala Temple:
There are many minor temples in the precincts of Jagannath Temple and Vimala temple is one of them. Hindu mythology says that the feet of Goddess Sati has fallen on the spot where the temple is constructed. The food offered to Lord Jagannath is also offered to goddess Vimala then it is called Mahaprasad.
Mahalaxmi Temple:
Many rituals are performed in Jagannath temple and the Mahalaxmi Temple plays an important role because preparation of the food to be offered to Lord Jagannath is supervised by Mahalaxmi. The food is known as Naivedya.
Mukti Mandapa:
Mukti Mandapa is a platform made with granite and its height is five feet. The square-shaped mandapa covers an area of 900 square feet. The roof of the mandapa is supported by twelve pillars out of which four are built in the middle. The roof is 13 feet high while the height of each pillar is 8 feet. Idols of many gods and goddesses have been installed here.
Dola Mandapa:
Dola Mandapa is used to make a swing on which idol of Dologobinda is placed. The swing is made during the annual Dol yatra. The mandapa is carved by using Torana and it is the same arch on which the swing is hanged.
Legend Regarding Jagannath Temple:
A legend says that Indradyumna was a king who worshipped Lord Vishnu. Once the king was informed that Lord Vishnu has come in the form of Nila Madhava. So the king sent a priest named Vidyapati to search for him. While travelling, Vidyapati reached a place where Sabaras were residing. Vishvavasu was the local chief who invited Vidyapati to live with him.
Vishvavasu had a daughter named Lalita. Vidyapati and Lalita fell in love and got married after sometime. Vidyapati noticed that when his father-in-law returns from the woods, his body smells of sandalwood, camphor, and musk. Upon asking his wife, she told him that her father worships Nila Madhava. Vidyapati asked his father-in-law to take him to Nila Madhava. Vishvavasu blindfolded him and took him to the cave, where he worshipped Nila Madhava. Vidyapati took seeds of mustard along with him, which he dropped on the way so that he could trace the route to the cave later.
Vidyapati informed the king about this incident. He escorted the king to the same place but, to his disappointment, the deity had disappeared. In order to see the deity, the king decided to fast until death on Mount Neela. Finally he heard a voice saying that he will see the deity.
It is believed that in that King Indradyumna wanted to built a Vishnu temple but he wasn't certain about the shape of the idol that would represent the Lord. He was then asked by Lord Brahma to meditate and pray to Lord Vishnu himself as to what form would he like to embody.
After deep meditation, Indradyumna appeared in his dream and spoke about a particular floating wood log near Bankamuhana in Puri and his image would be made out of that log. After this dream, Indradyumna rushed to the spot and found the wooden log. However, to his surprise, he couldn't get his artists to make a idols out of it – no matter what.
The tools of the artisans broke every time when they tried to cut the log. This was the point when Ananta Maharana (carpenter Vishwakarma) appeared and offered to help.
However, the carpenter had one condition. He said that he shouldn't be disturbed till 21 days while carving out the idol until it is finished. So, he employed himself in the divine task in locked podium without anyone's interruption. But after 15 days, suddenly the noises stopped coming from inside the podium to which wife of Indradyumna – Gundicha said that they must go in and check if he is fine.
Although the King didn't want it, he had no option but enter inside. However, to their surprise, when they got in, they found no carpenter and only unfinished idols. He immediately repented his act. But a divine voice – probably of Lord Vishnu himself, told the King that he shouldn't regret and install the unfinished idols as it is and Lord shall make himself visible to the devotees in this form.
Ever since, the idols of Lord Jagannath and his brother and sister are worshipped in unfinished form.
Rath Yatra:
One of India's biggest religious festivals, the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, gets under way on Thursday. The festival is unique in that three Hindu gods are taken out of their temples in a colorful procession to meet their devotees. The BBC's Priyanka Pathak explains the legend behind the festival and its significance.
The biggest of these processions takes place in Puri in the eastern state of Orissa, while the other takes place in the western state of Gujarat.
Believed to be the oldest Rath Yatra or chariot procession in the world, this festival marks the annual ceremonial procession of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra, from their home temple to another temple, located in what is believed to be their aunt's home.
This journey is documented in undated Hindu sacred texts known as the Puranas which are believed to have been written a few thousand years ago.
What makes it so interesting?
This is the only festival in the world where deities are taken out of temples to travel to devotees, and it is also the largest chariot procession in the world.
Millions of people come to watch as a "king" sweeps the road with a golden mop and three massive 18-wheeled chariots bearing the sibling deities make their way through massive crowds. Their chariots, which are mini architectural marvels, are constructed over 42 days from over 4,000 pieces of wood by the only family that has the hereditary rights to make them.
Legend says it always rains on the day of the procession. For a whole week before, the temple doors are shut and no one is allowed inside, because it is believed that the sibling deities have a fever after bathing in the sun with 108 pitchers of water. The breaking of their fever calls for a change of scene, which is why they go to their aunt's home for a few days.
The size, pomp and splendor of this procession has even contributed a word to the English dictionary: Juggernaut.
When the deities disintegrate, they are remade in the same half-done image with new wood every 12 years. They were last remade in 2015.
Mysteries of Jagannath Temple that defy scientific logic:
The temple flag that defies logic:
The flag atop the temple strangely always floats in the opposite direction of wind. The flag floating in opposite direction brings your scientific reasoning to a halt, and you just tend to believe that there is some force more powerful than science.
The Sudarshan Chakra:
Mysteries of Jagannath Temple that defy scientific logic
The chakra is actually 20 ft. high and weighs a ton. It is fitted on top of the temple. But what is interesting about this chakra is that, you can see this chakra from any corner of the Puri city. The engineering mystery behind the placing and positioning of chakra is still a mystery because irrespective of your position, you can always feel that the chakra is facing toward you.
No planes, no birds fly above the temple:
You will be surprised to know that no birds or planes fly above the temple. By contrast, such an aspect is a rarity at any other temple in India. The site is a no-fly zone actually, which has not been declared by any state powers, but by some divine power. This phenomenon also apparently has no explanation. It still remains a mystery.
The temple structure:
The structure of the temple is such that it does not cast any shadow at any given time of the day. It still remains to be deciphered whether it is an engineering marvel or a phenomenon that can be attributed only to the divine force.
Mystery of Singhadwaram:
The Jagannath temple has four doors, and Singhadwaram is the main door of entrance to the temple. While you enter through Singhadwaram, you can clearly hear the sound of waves, but once you passed the Singhadwaram, simply take a turn and walk back in the same direction, you will no longer hear the sound of waves. In fact, you will not hear the sound of waves as long as you are inside the temple.
The sea mystery:
In any part of the world, you must have witnessed that during daytime, the wind from sea comes to the land, whereas the wind from the land blows toward sea at evening. However, in Puri, the geographical laws are also reversed. Here, just the opposite thing happens.
An 1800-year-old ritual:
Every day a priests climbs atop the temple, which is as tall as 45 storey building, to change the flag. This ritual has been in place for 1800 years. It is believed that if this ritual is ever missed, the temple will remain shut for the next 18 years.
The prasadam mystery:
Nothing goes wasted in Jagannath Temple. Depending on the day, records state that 2,000 to 20,000 devotees visit the temple. But, the quantity of prasadam, which is cooked in the temple, remains the same throughout the year. Yet, the prasadam never get wasted or is insufficient in any given day.
The cooking technique of prasadam:
Pots are actually used to cook this special delicacy using firewood. 7 pots are used for this and they are placed one on top of another. Interesting to note here is that the contents of the topmost pot gets cooked first, followed by the bottom pots.
References:
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/jagannath_temple/jagannath_temple_architecture.htm
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/jagannath_temple/jagannath_temple_history.htm
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/mysteries-of-jagannath-temple-that-defy-scientific-logic/as64588978.cms
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48864239
https://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/and-more/do-you-know-why-lord-jagannaths-hands-are-unfinished-know-here_1891901.html
Wonderful!
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