Facts About Jagannath Temple ... .. .

temple structure was built in the tweleveth century by the Ganga king, Chodaganga Deva.   The height of the main temple is 214.8 feet   The temple kitchen which feeds 10,000 people daily (and some 25,000 on festival days). Museum .   Infront of the Singhadwar, a pillar is installed is known as Arunastambha, is made of a single chlorite stone.   The most famous Orissan festival is of course the Ratha Yatra or Car Festival. This is held in June-July every year.   Best time to visit December to February   Places near by Jagannath temple are SunTemple Konark ,Puri beach,Chandrabhaga beach and many more

Lord Jagannath temple

Lord of the Universe is lord Jagannatha . The temple is at Puri . This is one of the most sacred pilgrimage spots in India. One of the four abodes or dhamas of the divine that lie on the four directions of the compass. The present temple structure was built in the tweleveth century by the Ganga king, Chodaganga deva, replacing an earlier structure which probably dated to the tenth century.

Before one reaches at Puri, spire of the temple can be seen towering over the countryside. The temple built on an elevated ground about twenty feet above the level of the sorrounding area . The height of the main temple is 214.8 feet. And it is fine specimen of the Pancharath style of Orissan architecture. The main shrine onsists of four distinct structures . One is Vimana or the great temple. Second is Jagamohan or the hall of audience.Third is Natamandap or the dancing hall and fourth is Bhogamandap or the refaractory. The huge temple compound, each side of which measures 650 feet (some 200 meters), is surmounted with a 20 foot (6 meters) wall. Within the compound is a city, or more accurately, a universe unto itself. With 6000 direct temple servitors, a temple kitchen which feeds 10,000 people daily (and some 25,000 on festival days), and a central deity who has become the focus of religious life throughout Orissa, the Jagannath temple is truly an institution unique in the world.

The image of lord Jagannath, lord Balabhadra and devi Subhadra and also the emblem Sudarshan are installed in the inner sanctrum of the temple on a platform is called Ratnavedi or jwelled platform. The miniature image of devi Laxmi, Saraswti and Madhava are also placed on the Ratnavedi . This platform is made of a single stone which is about 16ft long, 13ft wide and 4ft height. The temple has four gates at the eastern, southern, western and nothern. They are known as Sinhadwar, Ashwadwar, Vyaghradwar and Hastidwar.

Just infront of the Singhadwar, a pillar is installed is known as Arunastambha. It is made of a single chlorite stone. Historical documents say that this pillar was installed previously infront of the Sun Temple konark. After the Sun Temple collapsed , the Marahattas brought it to puri and placed it before th Lion gate. The height of this pillar or Stambha is 33ft and 8 inches.

Almost the entire temple was covered in white plaster, so much so that European sailors in previous centuries used it as a navigation point, referring to it as the 'white pagoda' (in contrast to the 'black pagoda' of Konark). However, were long puzzled by the plain facade on this holiest of holy temples, and wondered why it was untouched by Orissa's rich sculptural heritage. The answer was found in 1975, when archaeologists first began removing the plaster, and found that the sculpture underneath indeed rivals that of the other masterpieces of Orissan temple art. The best guess as to the reason for applying the plaster originally is that an eighteenth century ruler decided that this would be a way to protect the temple from the ravages of the salty sea air. Succeeding rulers continued the practice. As the old plaster is being removed, archaeologists are also repairing the corroded iron dowels in the original structure, and replacing broken stones with new ones. Finally, a clear, thin coating is being applied to the entire structure, to preserve it for the centuries to come.

There are several places to see inside or outside this temple are Asta Sambhu or Asta Chandi, Pancha Tirtha, Narshingha temple, Vimala Temple, Lakshmi Temple, Surya temple, Mukti Mandap, Kalpa Bata, Rohini Kunda, Baisi Pahacha( twenty two stairs), The temple kitchen, Anand Bazar, SnahaBedi and also Koili Baikuntha.

Entrance is forbidden to non-Hindus ,because of the temple's intense religious importance and hallowed traditions . To have a good view of the temple and its compound, visitors are welcome to ascend to the roof of the Raghunandan Library which is across the street. In the bazaar area surrounding the temple, dozens of shops display and sell image of the central temple deity, Lord Jagannath, presented in a trinity with his 'brother' Balbhadra and his 'sister' Subhadra. The pervasive quality of the Jagannath cult will be seen when travelling in other parts of Orissa, where the distinctive image of Jagannath appears with great frequency. Even to the non-religious eye, the image is fascinating, perhaps because of the unlikely combination of the endearing, charming form with an undeniable sense of power.

Even the non-Hindu visitor to Puri will feel some of the power of this throbbing pilgrimage center. The bazaar streets immediately surrounding the temple are filled with activity and bustle, but it is all infused with a palpable sense of gentleness and good spirit. Walk around the bazaar in the early evenings just as the lights are coming on. Look up to the magnificent tower of Jagannath towering over everything, surmounted by the flag of Vishnu flying in the breeze. Gaze at the faces of the pilgrims entering or leaving the temple, inhale the scents of incense mixed with the tantalizing sizzles of frying sweets and snacks. And just let your feet take you where they may. Even the most secular-minded of visitors are bound to feel that they, too, have embarked on a kind of pilgrimage to a uniquely special place.

Chariot of Lord Jagannath Name : Nandighosa Number of wheels : 16 Wooden peices used : 832 Height : 13.5 meters Wrappings : Red,Yellow clothes Guarded by : Garuda Name of the Charioteer : Dhuka Name of the flag : Trailokya mohini Name of the Horses : Sankaha,Balahaka, Sweta,Haridswa Name of the ropes : Sankhachuda

Chariot of Lord Balabhadra Name : Taladhwaja Number of wheels : 14 Wooden peices used : 763 Height : 13.2meters Wrappings : Red, Blue and green clothes Guarded by : Basudeva Name of the Charioteer : Matali Name of the flag : Unnani Name of the Horses : Tribara,Ghora,Dirghasrama and Swarnanava Name of the ropes : Basuki

Chariot of Devi Subhadra Name : Darpadalana Number of wheels : 12 Wooden peices used : 593 Height : 12.9 meters Wrappings : Red and balck clothes Guarded by : Jayadurga Name of the Charioteer : Arjuna Name of the flag : Nadambika Name of the Horses : Rochika,Mochika,Jita and Aparajita Name of the ropes : Swarnachuda

Ratha Yatra or Chariot Festival.

The most famous Orissan festival is of course the Ratha Yatra or Car Festival. This is held in June-July every year which attracts pilgrims and visitors from all over the world. It is believed that those who take part in this Car Festival earn their Passage to the heaven.

Snana purnima marks the begining of the festival. On the full moon day of the month of Jyestha known as 'Snana Purnima', and the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are brought out and bathed on a pendal known as the SnanaMandap according to religious rites. Then they are believed to become indisposed and are confined to a solitary abode for a fortnight where they undergo 'treatment', are offered special ayurvedic medicine boli and some special liquid diet called 'sarapana'. After a rest of fifteen days, on the second day of the lunar month, the three Lords 'come out' in huge chariots to 'meet' the waiting devotees, marking the start of the Grand Festival known as 'Ratha Yatra'.

Reference to Car Festival is available in various scriptures like those of Buddhists, Jains and Hindus. According to the prevailing popular concept, Lord Jagannath was originally worshipped by a scheduled tribe of Orissa. And by the time it turned into a mass occasion of celebrations.

Among a series of rituals, of special mention is the 'sweeping' of the chariots by the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri with a golden broom, to proclaim that he is the first of the Lord's servants and on this particular day he performs the duty of a scavenger to demonstrate socialism in action and the dignity of labour. Legend has it that King Purushottama Deva, Surya-Banshi King of Medieval Orissa, had to once 'suffer' because of this 'sweeper act', when he was denied princess Padmavati by her father.

The grand Chariots are pulled by thousands of people, irrespective of caste, creed and even religion, to proclaim their universality and accessibility to humanity at large. This Car Festival symbolises the desire of the Lords to give Patitas and darshan and redeem them. The devotees pull the chariots by rope from the main gate of the temple to Gumdicha Mandir which is about 3kms away. The deities then go to GundichaGhara (MaausiMaa Mandir) where they remain for a weeks and after which Bahuda Yatra (the return car festival) takes place and the Lords return to their abode at ShreeMandir.

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