Jagannath Temple, Puri – Entrance Gates

Jagannath Temple, Puri – Entrance Gates

The Outerwall of the temple complex is pierced by four gates, facing the four directions. These four gates symbolize the four fundamental principles of Dharma (right conduct), Jnana (knowledge), Vairagya (renunciation) and Aishwarya (prosperity). The gates are crowned with pyramid shaped structures.

There are four gates to the Jagannatha temple as follows:

·        The Eastern Singhadwara (Lion Gate)

·        The Southern Ashwadwara (Horse Gate)

·        The Western Vyaghradwara (Tiger Gate)

·        The Northern Hastidwara (Elephant Gate)

Singhadwara:

The Singhadwara, which in Sanskrit means The Lion Gate, is one of the four gates to the temple and forms the Main entrance. The Singhadwara is so named because two huge statues of crouching lions exist on either side of the entrance. The gate faces east opening on to the Bada Danda or the Grand Road. The Baisi Pahacha or the flight of twenty-two steps leads into the temple complex. The Lion Gate is guarded by two guardian deities Jaya and Vijaya on either side of the doorway. 

Just before the commencement of the Rath Yatra the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out of the temple through this gate. On their return from the Gundicha Temple they have to ceremonially placate Goddess Mahalakshmi, whose statue is carved atop the door, for neglecting to take her with them on the Yatra. Only then the Goddess allows them permission to enter the temple.

Arun Stambha:

There is a stone pillar in front of the Singhadwara, called the Aruna Stambha, 11 metres (36 ft) in height with 16 faces, made of chlorite stone; at the top of the stambha an elegant statue of Aruna (charioteer of the Sun God Surya) in a prayer mode is mounted. One significant thing about Arun stambha is that prior it was located in the Konark Sun temple, later, the Maratha guru Brahmachari Gosain brought this pillar from Konark. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu usually saw Lord Jagannatha from a distance from behind this column. Behind this Sthamba, there is a ditch, which was filled with tears of Lord Gauranga and his handprint is melted into the Garuda Stambha.

Patitapavana:

An idol of Jagannath known as Patitapavana, which in Sanskrit, means the "Saviour of the downtrodden and the fallen" is painted on the right side of the entrance. In ancient times, when untouchables were not allowed inside the temple, they could pray to Patita Pavana. It is visible from the road, so the Non-Hindus can have a darshan from outside.

Ashwadwara:

Ashwadwara (Horse Gate) is the southern gate to the Jagannatha temple. It is named after the sculptures of horse guarding the gate.

Vyaghradwara:

Vyaghradwara (Tiger Gate) is the western gate to the Jagannatha temple. It is named after the sculptures of tiger guarding the gate.

Hastidwara:

Hastidwara (Elephant Gate) is the Northern gate to the Jagannatha temple. It is named after the sculptures of elephant guarding the gate. The north gate is mainly meant for the God himself in as much as, the logs of wood out of which, the images are fabricated, make their entry into the temple premises through this gate, when the Navakalevara ceremony takes place. There are pyramidal structures over the four gates, which are not very old.