JAGANNATH PURI
Puri or Jagannath Puri is situated on the shores of
the Bay of Bengal. It is known for the Jagannath temple and its pristine
beaches. It is also one of the four Maths ( monastery) established by Sri Adi
Shankara in the year 810C.E. The other three being Sringeri, Dwaraka, and Jyotirmath.
It has become a very important divine centre for Hindus. Puri was earlier known
as Shanka Kshetra. The city is said to be in the shape of a Shanka or conch.
According to a legend, King Indradyumma was directed
by Lord Jagannatha in a dream to build a temple for him. However, according to
historical records, the temple was started sometime during the 12th century by
King Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty and was completed by his
descendant, Anangabhima Deva. The wooden images of Jagannatha, Balabhadra and
Subhadra were then deified here.
There is a story as to why the idols look different
from idols in other temples. The king had a dream that he should collect a huge
log floating in the sea near Puri and make three idols out of it. The king made
a lot of effort to get the idols made by carpenters. However, it could not be
done. The wood was so hard no tools were able to make an
impression. Then one day a carpenter came and told the king he would
be able to complete the idols in one month. He asked for the three logs to be
placed in a room. He said that till completion no one should try to enter the
room. He locked himself in the room. For a number of days, there was no sound
from the room. The king and priests became restless, and one day the queen
opened the doors and found the idols incomplete and the carpenter missing. They
heard a voice asking the king to establish the idols as they were. It is said
that the carpenter was Vishvakarma himself.
The temple is built on an elevated platform 39,000 m2 area,
6.1 m above the adjacent area. The temple rises to a height of 65 m
above the road level. The temple tower has a spire with a flag unfurled
above it, fixed over a wheel (chakra).
There are four entry gates in four cardinal directions
of the temple, each gate located at the central part of the walls. The gates
are crowned with pyramid-shaped structures. There is a stone pillar in front of
the Singhadwara, called the Aruna Stambha {Solar Pillar},
11 meters in height with 16 faces, made of chlorite stone; at the top of
the stamba an elegant statue of Aruṇa (Sun)
in a prayer mode is mounted. This pillar was shifted from the Konarak Sun Temple.
Hathidwara,
Vyaghradwara, and Ashwadwara are the three other entrances from where people
can enter the temple. Hathidwara is also known as the elephant gate,
Vyaghradwara as tiger gate, and Ashwadwara as horse gate. The gates
are named so as they are guarded by elephant, tiger, and horse respectively.
A pillar made of fossilized wood is used for
placing lamps as offering. The Lion Gate (Singhadwara) is the main gate to the
temple, which is guarded by two guardian deities Jaya and Vijaya The main gate is ascended
through 22 steps known as Baisi Pahaca, which are revered, as
it is believed to possess "spiritual animation". Children are made to
roll down these steps, from top to bottom, to bring them spiritual happiness.
After entering the temple, on the left side, there is a large kitchen where
food is prepared in hygienic conditions in huge quantities.
Next, you enter two
Mandapas or halls. The hall of offerings, the Bhoga Mandapa and the dance hall,
the Natya Mandapa. The main sanctum is called Bada Deul, with a tall
curvilinear spire called Shikhara has an attached pillared assembly hall called
Jagmohan.
Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are a trio of deities worshipped at the temple.
The inner sanctum of the temple contains statues of these three Gods carved
from sacred neem logs known as daru ,
sitting on the bejeweled platform or Ratnabedi, along with idols of Sudarshana
Chakra, Madanmohan, Sridevi and Vishwadhatri.
The deities are adorned with different clothing and jewels according to the
season.
At first,
look one is surprised to see the idols which are completely different from
idols in any Hindu temple. These idols have no definite shape and have huge
circular eyes. But after some time one gets mesmerized by the idols and the
worship. The Nila Chakra or The Blue Discus is the
discus mounted on the top shikhar of the Jagannath Temple. As per custom, every day
a different flag is erected on the Nila Chakra. The flag hoisted on the
Nila Cakra is called the Patita Pavana (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
on the outer circumference, with all facing towards the flag post above. It is
made of an alloy of eight metals (Asta-dhatu) and is 3.5 Metres high
with a circumference of about 11 metres During the year 2010, the Nila
Chakra was repaired and restored by the Archaeological Survey of India.The Nila Chakra is distinct from
the Sudarshana chakra which has been placed
with the deities in the inner Sanctorum.
Nila Chakra
is the most revered iconic symbol in the Jagannath cult. The Nila Chakra is the
only physical object whose markings are used as a sacrament and considered
sacred in Jagannath worship. It symbolizes protection by Shri Jagannath.
In addition to the main
halls, there are other pillared halls or mandapas which include the Mukti
Mandapa, a sixteen pillared hall where members of the Chhattis Niyoga sit.
These are the representatives of the thirty-six Brahmin clans who were
originally selected by King Anangabhima to run the various departments of the
giant enterprise of the temple. They sit here to answer questions on religion,
theology, and rituals and in important matters the group is headed by the
Shankaracharya of Puri. The Dola Mandapa has a beautifully carved arch on which
the swing festival called Dol Yatra is held every year.
There are a number of
smaller shrines, open pillared halls called mandapas, sacred tanks, and wells
within the temple precinct. There are over thirty smaller temples dedicated to
various gods and goddesses scattered around the temple complex.
Two of the smaller
temples, one dedicated to the goddess Vimala and the other to the Vishnu avatar
Narasimha is believed to be older than the present Jagannath Temple. The
Mahaprasad that is offered to Jagannath is also then offered to Vimala and only
then is it considered to be a consecrated food. The Vimala temple is considered
a shakti peetha where the feet of the goddess Sati fell. There are also shrines
to Lord Rama, Ganesh, and Mahalakshmi. Among the other temples are shrines to
the goddesses Saraswati, Bhuvaneshwari, and Hanuman.
The city of Puri was
attacked 18 times by various kings, including Hindu, Muslim, and British,
basically for the wealth in the Jagannath temple. A couple of times the
devotees took away the deities to a safe place to save them from invaders.
The temple opens at 5 am
and is open up to 11 am. It is closed from 11am to 4pm, and then it is open up
to 11 pm. Various pujas are conducted regularly in the temple. There is no
entry fee. Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter. Just inside the main entrance,
there is a replica of the three idols which can be seen while standing just
outside the Singhdwara. Generally, non-Hindus stand there have darshan of those
images.
I found that even though
it is said non-Hindus are not permitted inside the temple, Jains, Budhist are permitted.
Even a person of the stature of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was not allowed
inside since she was married to a Parsi. Even when the present President of
India went to visit the temple some priests objected.
Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariot: Chariots of Shri Jagannath
is celebrated every year at Puri, the temple town in Odisha The presiding
deities of the Jagannath Temple, Lord Jagannatha Lord Balabhadra and Goddess
Subhadra, with the celestial wheel (Sudarshana Chakra)are removed from the temple in a ceremonial
procession to their chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots are
drawn by a multitude of devotees on the bada danda,
the grand avenue to the Gundicha Temple (Gundicha – King Indradyumna's Queen),
two miles away to the North. On the way the chariots stop at Nandighosa near
the crematorium of Bhakta Salabega a Muslim devout to pay him tribute.
During the annual event, devotees from all over the world throng
to Puri with an earnest desire to help to pull the Lords' chariots. They
consider this an auspicious act. The huge processions accompanying the chariots
play devotional songs with drums, sounding plates of bell metal, cymbals, etc.
The Ratha carts themselves are approximately14 m high
and are pulled by the thousands of pilgrims who turn up for the event; the
chariots are built anew each year only from a particular type of tree (Neem).
A similar festival is carried out in all Jagannatha temples all
over the world at the same time.
Shoes,
cameras and cell phones are required to be left in a counter before entering
the temple. Some small shops also are available near the entrance who would
keep these things at a very small price.
As usual
there are a number of Pandas or priests who will pester you to employ them. In
case there is a huge crowd of visitors it is better to take their help. Even
though they charge you only about Rs.300, they will take you to some places
inside the temple where you are practically forced to pay anything up to
Rs.2000.In return they will give you basket containing some Prasad made out of
puffed rice and jaggery. The temple and surroundings are generally very clean.
The nearest
airport to Puri is Bhubaneswar which is 65 kms. to the North. Puri is well
connected by train with Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai. Hotels generally
help in getting a taxi to visit neighbouring places.
The city of
Puri has quite a large number of good hotels and resorts abutting the beach.
The Bada
Danda or the Main approach Road is blocked at about 500 metres from the temple.
In case you come in your own vehicle, there is a parking lot here. There are
golf carts for transporting senior citizens from the parking lot to the temple
free of cost. This road is lined on both sides with roadside shops selling
fruits, vegetables, and sweets. In case you would like to be dropped near the
temple gate, it is necessary to take an auto riksha who will meander through small
lanes and drop you near the main entrance. There are big tempo type auto
rikshas which can also be used for travel within the city.
The rates
vary depending on the distance, location of your destination, and time of the
day. Agarwal Pure vegetarian restaurant is a place where you can get excellent
vegetarian food at a reasonable price.
Puri is not just famous for its annual Car Festival, Jagannath Temple & sandy sea beaches but is also a fantastic place for shopping. Puri
has a rich collection of wonderful stuff including textiles and handicrafts. Weaving saris is a traditional craft of
Odisha. Even in Puri you would find many Government and private outlets dealing
in textiles where shoppers flock in large numbers. Do check out the exquisite
passapali, bomkai, sambalpuri and ikat saris while shopping in Puri. Handicraft
items including palm leaf engraving, silver filigrees, horn work, pattachitra,
coir products, metalware, appliques, seashell items, stone statues, wooden
statues, papier-mache masks, and sola pith are available at Government
emporiums, private shops, and bazaars of the city. You can also find a wide
range of utility products and decorative pieces in textiles including canopies,
blinds, and garden & beach umbrellas.
Being a beachside destination,
shells and oysters are available in abundance in Puri. Over the years the ace
craftsmen have perfected the art of making artifacts out of shells and oysters.
A variety of utilities, decorative showpieces are definitely a feast to eyes
and may leave you spoilt for choice. Do pick up a few seashell items while
shopping in Puri.
Utkalika,
Sudarshan workshop, Patta Chitra Centre, Priyadarshini, Sun Crafts, and Pippili
are some places one can go shopping.
