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 Jagannath
Puri Temple The
temple of Jagannath, Lord of the Universe and an incarnation
of Vishnu, is one of the 'chaar dhams' (holiest Hindu
pilgrimage places in India). The temple was built
in its present form in 1198 and is protected by two
surrounding walls. The main entrance is known as the
Lion Gate - due to the two stone lions guarding the
entrance - and is also the gate used during the chariot
procession. Statues of men on horseback, tigers and
elephants guard the southern, eastern and northern
gates respectively. In the central jagmohan, pilgrims
can see the images of Lord Jagannath, his brother
Balbhadra and sister Subhadra. The curious images
are carved from tree trunks, in a childlike caricature
of a human face. All three are garlanded and dressed
by the priests who perform the daily puja. It is believed
that Puri was the hiding place for the Buddha tooth
before it was spirited away to Sri Lanka. Some believe
that the Puri Jagannath Temple was originally a Buddhist
stupa, however there is no proof supporting this tale,
other than the fact that there are similarities between
the famous Rath Yatra at Puri and the Tooth festival
procession celebrated in Japan and Sri Lanka. The
Jagannath temple is unfortunately closed to non-Hindus.
They have to be content with looking over the wall,
from the roof of the library opposite. Puri has a
long sandy beach attracting crowds, but it can be
quite a relaxing place for a few days.
The Main Temple Structure The main temple
structure is 65m (214 feet) high and is built on elevated
ground, which makes it look even larger and adds to
the imposing impression you get as you first come
within sight of the temple. The temple complex comprises
an area of 10.7 acres and is enclosed by two rectangular
walls. The outer enclosure is called "Meghanada
Prachira". The walls are 6m (20 feet) high. The
inner wall is called "Kurmabedha". The walls
were built during the 15th or 16th century. This temple
is said to have the largest kitchen in the world and
feeds thousands of devotees every day. The kitchen
can prepare food for 100,000 people on a festival
day and 25,000 are not unusual for a normal day. There
are 36 traditional communities ('Chatisha Niyaga')
who render a specific hereditary service to the Deities.
The temple has as many as 6,000 priests
 The
Blue Wheel - Jagannath Temple There
is a wheel on top of the Jagannatha Temple made of
an alloy of eight different metals known as "Asta
- Dhatu". It is known as the "Nila Chakra"
(blue wheel). It is 11 feet 8 inches high and has
a circumference of about 36 feet. A flag is tied every
day on a mast attached to the Nila Chakra. On every
'Ekadasi' day a lamp is lit on top of the temple near
the wheel. The main temple is surrounded by 30 different
smaller temples. The "Narasimha temple"
adjacent to the western side of the 'Mukti-Mandapa'
is said to have been constructed before the present
temple. In front of the main gate is an 11m pillar,
called "Aruna Stambha", which used to be
in front of the Sun Temple in Konark. It was brought
to Puri during the 18th century. The figure on top
of the pillar is Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun
God. In the passage room of this gate is a Deity of
Lord Jagannatha called "Patita Pavana" (Savior
of the most fallen). This Deity is visible from the
road so non Hindus can take 'Darshana' of the Lord.
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