Jagannath Temple, Puri – The Temple
The Jagannatha Temple at Puri is one of the major Hindu temples built in the Kalinga style of architecture. The temple faces the east. The huge temple complex is built on an elevated platform covers an area of about 420,000 square feet (39,000 m2) area) above the adjacent area. The temple complex is enclosed by two rectangular walls. The outer enclosure is called Meghanada Prachira, 200m (665 ft) by 192m (640 ft). The walls are 6m (20 feet) high. The inner wall is called Kurmabedha, 126m (420 ft) by 95m (315 ft). The walls were built during the 15th or 16th century.
This 20 feet (6.1 m) high wall is known as Meghanada Pacheri. The reverberating, roaring noise of the sea which is well heard till the entrance of the Singha dwara will eventually dies as the devotees climb up the Baisi Pahacha. It is believed that the noise of the sea disturbed the Lord and hence he built the great Meghanada Pacheri (wall that surrounds the temple premises) to act as an acoustic against the noise of the waves. Although, physics would deny an open-air restriction but somehow, the theorems have fallen short of giving a firm explanation to afore mentioned phenomena.
Another wall known as Kurma Bedha surrounds the main temple. It contains at least 120 shrines. Among the existing temples in Orissa, the temple of Shri Jagannath is the highest. The shikhara of the Jagannath temple towers to a height of 214 feet (65 meters). The Vimana and the pyramidal roofs of the surrounding temples and adjoining halls, or mandapas, rise in steps toward the tower like a ridge of mountain peaks.
The temple consists of four structures namely; Sanctum Sanctorum, Jagamohan or Mukhasala (the porch), Natamandir (the audience hall) and the Bhogamandapa (the hall for residuary offerings) built in a row in an axial alignment in east-west direction. Non-Hindus are not allowed inside the shrine. Non-Hindus can have a fair view of the inside of the temple from the nearby roof of the Raghunandan library, opposite the main gate of the shrine.
Entrance Gates:
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Baisi Pahacha:
There are flight of steps immediately after the main entrance (Sinhadwara / Eastern Gate / Lion Gate). These steps are locally called as Baisi Pahacha (literally means, twenty-two steps). It is interesting to note that great reverence is shown to this flight of twenty-two steps. The parents bring their children & make them slowly roll over the steps from the top to the bottom ones in expectation of spiritual bliss in as much as countless devotees have walked on the steps which are believed to be throbbing with spiritual animation.
Rosaighara (Temple Kitchen):
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Hanuman Shrines:
Nata Mandir (Dancing Hall):
Nata Mandir is also known known as Natamandapa (Dancing Hall). This is a spacious hall, 21m (65 ft) in length and 20m (61 ft) wide. Garuda Stambha is situated in Nata Mandir. It is the place where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to stand. It is believed that the potency of a devotee’s prayers to the Lord is increased when he stands near this sacred pillar.
Bhoga Mandapa (Offerings Hall):
It is situated next to Nata Mandir. It is a spacious hall, 18m (60 ft) in length and 17m (56 ft) wide. There are sculptures and paintings about Lord Krishna’s pastimes and other stories in this hall. Food offerings are made to the Lord in the Mandapa.
Mukhasala (Audience Hall):
Mukhasala is considered as Jagamohana (Audience Hall) of the temple. Mukhasala is situated before the sanctum. It is the hall for audience where devotees gather for worship. There are four doors. The Kalaghata dwara door leads to the sanctorum. The southern door leads out of the temple and the northern door to the Ratna Bhandar (Treasury house).
Sanctum:
The Sanctum houses the triad of Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra. Sister Subhadra is in between the two brothers and smaller in size. The inner sanctum contains statues of these three Gods carved from sacred neem logs known as Daru sitting on the bejeweled platform or ratnabedi (Throne of Pearls), along with statues of Sudarsana Chakra, Madan Mohan, Sridevi and Vishwadhatri. The deities are adorned with different clothing and jewels according to the season. Worship of these deities pre-dates the building of the temple and may have originated in an ancient tribal shrine.
The Vimana is constructed in Pancharatha (temple containing five Pagas or segments) Rekha order. The sanctum is a curvilinear structure and the top is crowned with Sri Chakra (an eight spoked wheel) of Vishnu. The temple tower was built on a raised platform of stone and, rising to 214 feet (65 m) above the inner sanctum where the deities reside, dominates the surrounding landscape. Devotee can circumambulate the deities between 8:30 am and 9:30 am.
Vimala Temple (Bimala Temple):
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Madana Mohana Shrine:
It is situated to the west of the south gate of Jagamohana. It is adjacent to the sanctum. Madana Mohana is the utsava deity of Lord Jagannath.
Ganesha Shrine:
This Shrine is situated in front of Bimala Temple. It houses a beautiful image of Ganesha made of black granite. He is dancing on the mouse, his vehicle.
Maha Lakshmi Shrine:
Mahalakshmi Shrine is situated behind the sanctum to the right-hand side. The Shrine consists of Sanctum, Jagamohana, Nata Mandir and Bhoga Mandapa. Mahalakshmi Shrine has an important role in rituals of the main temple. It is said that preparation of Naivedhya as offering for Jagannath is supervised by Mahalakshmi.
Bhubaneswari Shrine:
Bhubaneswari Shrine houses five principal Shakthi (Mothers) in the shrine. Hence, the shrine came to be called as Pancha Sakthi Shrine. Pancha Sakthi housed in the shrine are Saraswathi, Gayatri, Savitri, Sasthi and Bhubaneswari. It is customary to worship in this shrine before worshipping Lord Jagannath.
Bhanda Ganesh Shrine:
This shrine houses Bhanda Ganesh, a tantric deity. The idol of Bhanda Ganesh is believed to have been brought from Karnataka and installed in the temple premises by King Kapilendradeva during 15th Century AD. Sculptural designs on the image stand testimony to its origin
Kanchi Ganesh Shrine:
This Shrine is situated right next to the Kalpa Bata Vriksha. Kanchi Ganesh Shrine is dedicated to Uchchhishta Ganapati. Tradition says the King of Kanchipuram (Kanchi) in ancient times gifted the idol, when Gajapati Purushottama Deva married Padmavati, the Kanchi princess. He is also called as Nata Ganesh. There is a small idol of Mushika (mouse), vehicle of Lord Ganesha can be seen in front of the shrine. The idol has a thorny and prickly surface from the day it got installed. Devotees do not forget to touch the idol of the Mushika to get a sense its peculiar thorny surface. It is almost become a ritual nowadays.
Sakshi Gopal Shrine:
After defeating Kanchi King, victorious Purusottam, on his way back from Kanchi, had brought the deity of Sakshi Gopala and installed in sanctum. Later Sakshi Gopala was shifted to Satyapadi on the request of Lord Jagannath.
Bajreswari Shrine:
This Shrine houses Bajreswari, the Sakti of Indra. She is popularly known as Indrani.
Kuttam Chandi Shrine:
This Shrine houses a peculiar deity called Kuttam Chandi. The image of Kuttam Chandi is depicted with the body of a dog and head of human. She is believed to be Mother of Bhairavi, the chief Tantric / Shakti deity. Followers of Shakti cult claims that it was this image that adorned the main sanctum of the temple and since the offerings made to the Mother after invocation were given to a dog, she has assumed this form.
Kalpa Ganesh Shrine:
Kalpa Ganesh Shrine is situated just under the Kalpavata. The image carved in white marble stone is popularly believed to be the fulfiller of wishes of those devotees who chant the Bija Mantra of Ganesh for 108 times here.
Khirachora Gopinath Shrine:
This Shrine houses a black marble image of Child Krishna. He is called as Khirachora Gopinath.
Narasimha Shrine:
Narasimha Shrine is situated adjacent to the western side of the Mukti Mandapa. It is said to have been constructed before Jagannatha Temple. He is called as Yajnya Narasingha or Mukta Narasingha. This temple faces towards east. During the Nabakalebara, Narasingha is recognized as the presiding deity for the time being
Pataleswari Shrine:
Pataleswari Shrine is situated to the west of the north gate of the Kurma Prachira. Some portion of the temple lies under ground. King Ananga Bhima Deva had built this temple.
Isanesvara Shrine:
Isanesvara Shrine is situated near the elephant gate. Most portion of the temple is buried underground.
Nilachal Upabana:
It is situated towards the southern and western quarters of the outer enclosure. This garden supplies daily worship requirements of the Lord like Tulsi, Flowers etc. Visitors are allowed here on payment of a minimal fees.
Ananta Vasudeva Shrine:
This Shrine is one of the oldest shrine in the temple complex. It is situated to the west of Kurma Prachira. Frontal porch or Mukha Sala is bigger than the Vimana.
Surya Yantra Shrine:
This Shrine houses an engraving of Yantra (drawing) of Sun-God.
Kshetrapal Shrine:
Kshetrapal Shrine houses the guardian deity of the Jagannatha Temple Complex.
Kashi Viswanath Shrine:
Kashi Viswanath Shrine is situated to the left of Baisipahacha (twenty-two slips). It is customary to visit Lord Shiva first before visiting Lord Jagannath.
Ramachandra Shrine:
This is a small shrine situated adjacent to Kashi Viswanath Shrine. This shrine houses the idols of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman. Abhaya Narasimha and Siddha Vinayak can be found in a minor shrine adjacent to Ramachandra Shrine.
Agneyswar Shrine:
Agneyswar Shrine is situated to the left side of the inner enclosure. The Lord is popularly believed to be the guardian deity of Kurma Bedha (the inner enclosure/wall).
Satya Narayana Shrine:
Satya Narayana Shrine houses the beautiful image of Lord Vishnu in white clad and having four arms made of black granite. During the sandal past offering to the deities, their ornaments are kept here.
Bahar Bedha:
The area between Meghanada Pacheri (the outer wall) and Kurma Bedha (the inner wall) or the inner enclosure of the Jagannath temple is known as Bahar Bedha or Outer courtyard. There are various idols and shrines in this outer courtyard. They are Baikuntheswara, Radhakrishna (also called Bardhaman), Tapasyi, Hanuman, Uttarayani, Sitala, Bedha Lokanath, Aisanyesvara, Dakshinadwar Mahadeva, Sri Rama Chandra, Shadabhuja, Gouranga, Hiranya Vidaram, Narasimha, Barabhai, Hanuman, Ladu Gopal, Budhi Maa, Paschimadwar Hanuman, Chakra Narayan Deva, Niladri Bihar, Saraghar Ganesh and Annapurna.
Koila Vaikuntha:
It is located in the western portion of the temple between the outer and inner walls and approachable from the northern gate (Elephant Gate). During ‘Nava-Kalevara’ (new incarnation ceremony), when Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra are newly carved, the old images are buried here.
Snanavedi:
It is the bathing platform meant for the deities. It is situated to the north-east of Ananda Bazar and besides the Meghanada Pacheri. The length and breadth of this bathing platform is 76 feet. On the day of Snana yatra (bathing festival) the deities are brought here for a ceremonial bathing.
Niladri Vihara:
Niladri Vihara is an art gallery, situated near the western gate of Jagannath temple complex. It houses artforms of life history of Lord Jagannatha and various incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
Sona Kua:
Sona Kua or the Golden Well is situated near the northern gate (Elephant gate). The water of this well is used in bathing of Lord Jagannatha during Snana Yatra.
Rohini Kunda:
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Kalpavata:
Three Banyan trees can be found in the vicinity of Mukti Mandapa. The Banyan Tree situated to the west of Satya Narayana and to the north of Hari Sahadeva is the real Kalpavata. The others are its off shoots and branches. This tree is also known as Devanashan Vata, Akhayavata, Banchhavata and Vansivata. During the great deluge (Mahapralaya), the Kalpavata was not submerged under water. Lord Vishnu was floating over water while slipping on one of its leaves. The spiritual belief of devotees is that the tree has special powers and fulfils desires. It is ritualistically believed that one's wish turns true and asked desire is realized if one ties a strand of sacred thread on the branch of the Kalpa Vata Vriksha. This custom continues till date and the Kalpa Vata Vriksha (tree) is covered with millions of sacred thread all over itself.
Pancha Tirthas:
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