Matrimony Voice

Jagannath Puri is located on the east coast of the Indian sub-continent in the tropical state of Orissa, about 310 miles south of Calcutta. It has been a holy place of pilgrimage for devout Hindus since ancient times. The city is shaped like the silhouette of a conchshell. One of three ‘Golden Triangle sites of Orissa’, Puri revolves around the great Jagannath Temple and its famous Rath Yatra festival. The 65 mts high Jagannath temple stands on an elevated ground that makes its appear even larger. Infact, you can see the temple from a long distance. The city is known by various names such as Nilanchala, Nilagiri, Niladri, Purusottama Kshetra, Srikshetra, Sankha-Kshetra, Jagannath Kshetra (Dhaam) and Pirisptta, Puri. These names have been mentioned in the Puranas and ancient sacred literature like Mahabharata, Kurma Purana, Narada Puran, Padma Puran and Skand Purana.

Legendary facts from different puranas state that Lord Jagannath was originally worshipped as Neela madhab secretly by a local sabara chief Viswavasu in the dense forests. Earlier the deity was in the form of “Lord Krishna’s image” made of
granite stone. Having heard about the Deity, King Indradyumna sent a brahmin priest to know more about this from the chief. The priest tried his best but could not get any clue of the deity. Meanwhile the priest fell in love with the Chief’s daughter and married her. After much persistence the priest came to know of the secret deity and informed the king. The king Indradyumna proceeded immediately to Orissa to have a darshan of the deity but was sad as he found the secret deity was hidden in the sand. He performed severe penances to have a darshan and once dreamt of Vishnu instructing him to go to the Puri seashore, and look for a floating log, and fashion an image from its trunk. Hence Images of Krishna, Balarama, Subhadra were curved in that wooden log.

The historical evidences are available with literary works as well as inscriptions and archaeological remains show that Puri has been the seat of Vishnu Kshetra since the 9th century A.D., when Sankaracharya (78-820 A.D.) had paid a visit to Puri in the early part of the 9th Century A.D., and established one of his four Pithas here, namely, Gobardhan Pitha or Matha near Swargadwar. Anargharaghavam Nataka by Murari Mishra, a literery work of 9th century also records the deity of Purusottama Kshetra. The Ganga Dynasty ruled Orissa from 1078 to 1434 A.D. and made Puri a cultural centre. Puri was regarded a celebrated Pitha, and the saints and seers paid their visit to Puri. In course of time Saint Ramanuja (1056-1136 A.D.) the advocate of Visistadaita philosophy, saints like Nibark, Vishu Swami and Madhabacharya paid their visit to Puri and established their monasteries. The Recent Study says that the construction of the Current Jagannath temple was initiated by the ruler of Kalinga, Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev. The Jagamohana and the Vimana portions of the temple were built during his reign. However it was only in the year 1174 CE that the Orissan ruler Ananga Bhima Deva rebuilt the temple to give a shape in which it stands today Jagannath worship in the temple continued until 1558, when Orissa was attacked by the Afghan general Kalapahad. Subsequently, when Ramachandra Deb established an independent kingdom at Khurda in Orissa, the temple was consecrated and the deities reinstalled.

Jagannath Temple is one of the finest and amazing examples of Orissan architecture. The temple complex is almost square in shape, comprises an area of 10.7 acres, enclosed by two rectangular walls. The outer enclosure is called Meghanada Prachira (665 x 640 ft.) whereas the inner enclosure is called Kurmabedha (420 x 315 ft.). The walls of the temple are six mts high and they were built during the 15th or 16th century. Jagannath Temple has four entrances namely – the Eastern Singhadwara, the Western Vyaghradwa, the Southern Ashwadwara and the Northern Hastidwara.

Sri Mandir is one of the best examples of spiritual culture found anywhere in India, past or present.It is believed that the food offered to Jagannath becomes prasadam, “the mercy of God.

There are many Mandapas or Pillared halls on raised platforms within the temple complex meant for religious congregations. The most prominent is the Mukti Mandap the congregation hall of the Sevayats or the temple servitors. Here important decisions regarding conduct of daily worship and festivals are taken. The Dol Mandap is noteworthy for a beautifully carved stone Torana or arch which is used for constructing a swing for the annual Dol Yatra festiva. Before entering the main
shrine of the deity there is a finely crafted hall with many pillars called the nata mandap. Devotees, and worshipers of Jagannath often perform dancing and singing there for the pleasure of Jagannath. Previously several hundred devi dasis, or maidservants of Jagannath, who would frequently perform dance and drama in the nata mandap. These devi dasis were considered the wives of the deity, and thus they did not marry any man of the mortal world.In the bada-deula main hall of Sri Mandir, Jagannath rests on a five-foot-high stand called the ratna singhasan, the jeweled throne. The deity itself is also about five feet tall. To the right of
Jagannath are two other thrones: one for Subhadra, the sister of Jagannath, and one for Baladeva, the older brother of Jagannath.

There are numerous smaller temples and shrines within the Temple complex where active worship is regularly conducted. The temple of Mahalakshmi has an important role in rituals of the main temple.It is said that preparation of food as offering for Jagannath is supervised by Goddess Mahalakshmi. The Kanchi Ganesh Temple is dedicated to Ganesh. Gundhicha Mandir stands at the end of Grand Road about 3 kms northeast of the Jagannath Temple. During the Rath-Yatra festival, Lord Jagannath
goes to the Gundicha Mandir and stays for one week.

Every day several rituals are performed at the Jagannath Temple that include Dwarpitha and Mangal Aarati (5 a.m), Mailam (6 a.m), Abakash (6 a.m to 6.30 a.m), Mailam (6.45 a.m), Sahanamela (7 a.m to 8 a.m), Beshalagi (8 a.m), Rosha Homa Surya Puja and Dwarapal (8 a.m. to 8.30 a.m), Gopala Ballava Puja (9 a.m), Sakala Dhupa (Morning food offering -10 a.m), Mailam and Bhoga Mandap, Madhyanha (Afternoon food offering -11 a.m. to 1 p.m), Madhyanha Pahudha (1 p.m. to 1.30 p.m), Sandhya Aarati, Sandhya Dhupa (7 p.m. to 8 p.m), Mailam and Chandana lagi, Badashringar Vesha, Badashringara Bhoga, Khata Seja Lagi and Pahuda.

Another Amazing thing is Padma Vesha. The Padma Vesha of Lord Jagannatha is done on any Saturday or Wednesday between the new moon day of Magha and Basanta Panchami. In Padma Vesha Lord Jagannath is adorned with beautiful lotus flowers. The history behind this padma Vesha is quite beautiful and amazing. The younger brother of the last Ganga King was Mitrabhanu Dev. Mahatma Monohar Das was his revered priest. He was very famous as a devotee of Lord Jagannath throughout the State of Orissa. Once he was coming from mahindra hill, he saw a pond full with lotus flower. He was
attracted a lot towards them and plucked some flowers for lord jagannath.Because of delay the lotus flowers by that time had been turned blacks. The sevak of Lord Jagannath refused to decorate the Lord Jagannath with such flowers. All his hopes
were turned into despair instantly. He waited near the Lion’s gate of the temple after covering the dried flowers with a cloth. Three days passed away. Then suddenly dried flowers were turned to fresh lotus flowers. Their beautiful fragrance was spread in the inner compound of the temple. The Sevak of the Lord Jagannath Temple knew about the dried flowers previously. Everybody was astonished to see the wonderful change with their own eyes. Lord Jagannath, after the lotus flowers adoration, became heavenly beautiful in the eyes of the devotees. In the memory of this sacred pastimes, Lord Jagannath is adorned with beautiful lotus flowers every year in the month of Magha before Basanta Panchami, Wednesday or Saturday.

Another amazing and enchating things of Puri Jagannath is Cart Festival which is known as “Rath Yatra” through out the world. One of India’s biggest festival in Orissa. During the festival, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra are brought out from the Jagannath temple and dragged in massive ‘cars’ (raths) to the Gundicha Temple. After an interval of nine days, the idols are loaded back onto the raths and return back to Jagannath Temple. Following the festival the raths are broken up and used to make religious relics. The main rath of Jagannath temple is 14 mts high and rides on 16 wheels each around two mts in diameter and Known as Nadighosa.