Jagannath Temple, Puri
The Jagannath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu. It is located in Puri, Odisha, on the eastern coast of India.[4] As per temple records, King Indradyumna of Avanti built the main temple.[5] The present temple complex was rebuilt from the eleventh century onwards on the site of the earlier shrines, excluding the main Jagannath temple, and was begun by Anantavarman Chodaganga, the first ruler of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.[6] Many of the temple rituals are based on Shabari Tantras which are evolved from tribal beliefs respectively.[7] The local legends link the idols with Nilamadhaba deva worshipped by tribala and the daitapatis (servitors) claim to be descendants of the tribes.[7] The temple is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of the Sri Vaishnavite tradition.
The temple is renowned for its annual Ratha Yatra, chariot festival, which honors the three deities – Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra.[8] During the festival, the three principal deities are pulled on large and elaborately decorated raths, or temple cars. The worship is performed by the Bhil Sabar tribal priests, as well as priests of other communities in the temple.[9] Unlike the stone or metal icons found in most Hindu temples, the image of Jagannath is carved from margosa wood and is ceremoniously replaced every 12 or 19 years with an identical replica, with an elaborate month long ceremony called nabakalebar.[10] The temple is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. It is also famous because many legends believe that Krishna’s heart was placed here, and it is the true Jagannath within the wooden idol. Since wood deteriorates, they have to change it every several years.[11]
The temple is sacred and holy to all Hindus, and especially in those of the Vaishnava traditions. Many great Vaishnava saints, such as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Vallabhacharya and Ramananda were closely associated with the temple.[12][13] Ramanuja established the Emar Matha in the south-eastern corner of the temple, and Adi Shankaracharya established the Govardhan Math, which is the seat of one of the four Shankaracharyas. It is also of particular significance to the followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, whose founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was attracted to the deity, Jagannath, and lived in Puri for many years
The temple was rebuilt by the King of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, Anantavarman Chodaganga, in the 11th century CE, as described by the Kendupatna copper-plate inscription of his descendant, Narasimhadeva II and Rajendra Chola from the mother side.[1] Anantavarman was originally a Shaivite, and became a Vaishnavite sometime after he conquered the Utkala region, in which the temple is located, in 1112 CE. A 1134–1135 CE inscription records his donation to the temple. Therefore, the temple construction must have started sometime after 1112 CE.[16]
Engraving sketch of front gate of Jagannath Temple, 1891
According to a story in the temple chronicles, it was founded by Anangabhimadeva II. Different chronicles variously mention the year of construction as 1196, 1197, 1205, 1216, or 1226.[17] This suggests that the temple’s construction was completed or that the temple was renovated during the reign of Anantavarman’s son, Anangabhima.[18] The temple complex was further developed during the reigns of the subsequent kings, including those of the Ganga dynasty and the Gajapati dynasty.[19]
The temple annals, the Madala Panji, records that the Jagannath temple has been invaded and plundered eighteen times.[20] The temple is believed to have been attacked by Kalapahad, a Muslim convert general, in the 16th century.
Jagannath, Subhadra and Balabhadra are the principal deities worshipped in the temple. The inner sanctum of the temple houses images of them, carved from sacred neem wood (daru), placed on the jewelled platform (ratnabedi). The sanctum also contains the deities Sudarshana Chakra, Madanmohan, Sridevi and Vishwadhatri.[22] The deities are adorned with different clothing and ornaments according to the season. Their worship predates the construction of the temple and may have originated in an ancient tribal shrine.[23] The earliest known reference to Jagannath appears in the Oddiyana Vajrayāna Tantric text Jñānasiddhi by Indrabhuti, which begins with an invocation of the deity.[24][note 1] In Sarala Mahabharata, Sarala Das presents Lord Jagannath in multiple forms, emphasizing his connection to Krishna. He also described Lord Jagannath as being one with Krishna, Rama, and Buddha, reflecting a synthesis of the different faith traditions
Legends
According to legends recorded in Madala Panji, the construction of the first Jagannath temple was commissioned by King Indradyumna, a Malava king mentioned in the Mahabharata and the Puranas.[27]
Indradyumna commissioned the construction of a monument for Jagannath that was intended to be the tallest in the world. The construction was said to measure 1,000 cubits (457.2 meters) in height. He invited Brahma, the cosmic creator, to consecrate the temple and its images.[28]
According to traditional accounts, the origins of the Jagannath temple trace back to the end of the Dvapara Yuga, when the original image of Jagannath was said to have manifested near a banyan tree by the shore in the form of the Indranila Mani (the Blue Jewel). It was said to be so dazzling that it could grant instant moksha. The god Dharma sought to conceal it within the earth and succeeded. In the Kali Yuga, Indradyumna wanted to find that mysterious image. To achieve that he performed severe penance. Vishnu then instructed him to go to the seashore at Puri, where he would find a floating log from which the image could be carved.[29][30]
Indradyumna then discovered the log of wood. He performed a yajna, from which Narasimha appeared and instructed that Narayana be manifested as a fourfold expansion: Paramatma as Vasudeva (Krishna),Vyuha as Samkarshana (Balabhadra), Yogamaya as Subhadra, and Vibhava as Sudarshana. After this, Vishwakarma appeared in the form of an artisan and prepared images of Jagannath, Balabadra and Subhadra from the tree.[31]
When this log, radiant with light, was seen floating in the sea, Narada told the king to make three deities out of it and place them in a pavilion. Indradyumna got Vishwakarma, the architect of gods, to build a magnificent temple to house the deities, and Vishnu himself appeared in the guise of a carpenter to make the deities, on condition that he was to be left undisturbed until he finished the work.[29][32]
But just after two weeks, the queen of Indradyumna became very anxious. She took the carpenter to be dead as no sound came from the temple. Therefore, she requested the king to open the door. Thus, they went to see Vishnu at work, at which the latter abandoned his work, leaving the deities unfinished. The deity was devoid of any hands. But a divine voice told Indradyumna to install them in the temple. It has also been widely believed that in spite of the deity being without hands, it can watch over the world and be its lord. Thus, the idiom.
Non-Hindus (excluding Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists) and foreigners are not permitted to enter the temple.[33][34] Such a rule is believed to have existed since the temple was built, and at present, it often becomes a subject to controversy and debates that have lasted for several decades.[35][36][37] According to Ganeshi Lal, the former Governor of Odisha, foreigners can enter the temple only if he/she can meet the Gajapati servitors and the Shankaracharya, then he/she could also be allowed to witness Jagannath. But, this theory has not wielded influence yet, and continues to be a subject of longstanding debate.[38] The temple is open everyday from 5:00 am to 10:30 pm
According to historical traditions, Jagannath is believed to have originated as a tribal deity venerated by the Bhil and Sabar communities as a form of Narayana. Another legend identifies him as Nilamadhava, a blue-stone image of Narayana that was worshipped by these tribal groups. He was brought to Nilagiri, the blue mountain, or Nilachala, and installed there as Jagannath, in company with Balabhadra and Subhadra. Worship of wooden images at the Jagannath temple is claimed to have a distant connection with the Vanvasi, or forest dwellers, who traditionally worship wooden poles. The Daitapatis, who are responsible for performing certain temple rituals, are claimed to be descendants of the hill tribes of Odisha and are also believed to be closely related to Jagannath. The cultural history of Shrikshetra, regarded as the cultural capital of Odisha, is traced to the traditions of Hindu tribes. The three deities came to be regarded as the symbols of Samyak Darshan, Samyak Jnana, and Samyak Charita, together known as Ratnatraya, the triple gems of the Jain culture, whose assimilation is believed to lead to omniscience and moksha (salvation)
Acharyas and Jagannatha Puri
Many renowned acharyas, including Madhvacharya, are believed to have visited this kshetra. Adi Shankaracharya established the Govardhan Math here. Guru Nanak had visited this place with his disciples Bala and Mardana. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu the founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism resided here for 24 years and taught that the love of God can be spread by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. Vallabha is traditionally believed to have visited the temple, where he performed a seven-day recitation of the Srimad Bhagavata. His sitting place, known as his baithakji, (literally “seat”) remains a notable site and is regarded as evidence of his visit to Puri.[41]
Some of the pandits who participated in the recitation said to become jealous of the young Vallabha and sought to test him. The following day was Ekadashi, a fasting observance during which devotees abstain from grains. The pandits offered Vallabha rice prasad of Lord Jagannath, for which the temple remains renowned. Accepting it would break his vow of fasting, while refusing it would have been seen as disrespectful to Jagannath. Vallabha, with due honor and respect, accepted the prasad in his hand. He remained in the temple, spending the rest of the day and night explaining the shlokas that extolled the greatness of prasad, and consumed it the following morning after sunrise.[42]
The Sikh aarti “Gagan mein thaal” was recited by the first Sikh guru, Guru Nanak, in 1506 or 1508,[43][44][45][46] during his udasi (spritiual journey) to eastern India,[44][45] at the revered Jagannath Temple, Puri. Unlike traditional aarti, it is sung without the use of platters, lamps or other ritual implements.
The temple is one of the four Vaishnava Hindu pilgrimage sites collectively known as the Char Dham, the others being Rameswaram, Badrinath and Dwarka.[47] The origins of the Char Dham are uncertain, but the Advaita school of Hinduism propagated by Adi Shankaracharya, who established Hindu monastic institutions across India, attributes the origin of Char Dham to the seer.[48] The four temples are located at the cardinal points of India: Badrinath Temple in the north at Badrinath, Jagannath Temple in the east at Puri, Dwarakadheesh Temple in the west at Dwarka and Ramanathaswamy Temple in the south at Rameswaram. Although the temples are ideologically associated with different sections of Hinduism, namely Shaivism and Vaishnavism, the four pilgrimage sites are regarded as integral to Hinduism as a whole.[49] The pilgrimage to the four cardinal points of India is regarded as sacred by Hindus, who aspire to visit these temples at least once in their lifetime. Traditionally, the pilgrimage begins at Puri in the east and proceeds clockwise, following the customary practice of circumambulation in Hindu temples
The temple complex, which contains at least 120 temples and shrines, covers more than 37,000 square metres (400,000 sq ft) and is enclosed by a high fortified wall. The wall, 6.1 metres (20 ft) high, is known as Meghanada Pacheri.[51] Another wall, called kurma bedha, surrounds the main temple.[52] With its sculptural richness and the fluidity of Kalinga architecture, it is regarded as one of the most magnificent temples in India.[53] he temple comprises four distinct sections: the deula; the vimana (garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum), where the triad deities are placed on the ratnavedi (“throne of pearls”); the mukhashala (frontal porch); the natamandapa, also known as the jagamohan (audience or dancing hall); and the bhogamandapa (offerings hall). In the Rekha Deula style, these elements appear in sequence, with the vimana forming the main tower and the associated halls extending westward.[54] The main temple is curvilinear in design, and its summit is crowned by the Nila chakra, an eight-spoked wheel associated with Vishnu. It is crafted from ashtadhatu, an alloy of eight metals, and is regarded as sacrosanct.[55] Among the temples of Odisha, the Jagannath temple is the tallest. Its tower, constructed on a raised stone platform, rises 65 metres (214 ft) above the inner sanctum where the deities reside and dominates the surrounding landscape. The pyramidal roofs of the surrounding temples and adjoining halls, or mandapas, rise in tiers toward the tower, resembling a ridge of mountain peaks
Nila Chakra
The Nila Chakra (lit. “blue discus”) is mounted atop the shikhara of the Jagannath temple. By custom, a different flag is hoisted on the Nila Chakra each day. The flag hoisted on the Nila Chakra is called the Patita Pavana (lit. “Purifier of the Fallen”), and is equivalent to the image of the deities placed in the sanctum sanctorum.
The Nila Chakra is a disc with eight Navagunjaras carved along its outer circumference, all facing the flagpost above. It is made of ashtadhatu and measures 3.5 metres (11 ft) in height, with a circumference of about 11 metres (36 ft)