SRI JAGANNATH TEMPLE

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Temple	Details
Other name	White Pagoda, Tirta Yamanika
Deities	Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra
Year of construction	1161 AD
Built by	Indradyumna
Rebuilt by	King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, first of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
Location	In Andhra Pradesh. 140 kilometres away from Bangalore.
Style	Kalinga Architecture
Idol of Jagannath	Made up of wood
Prominent Festivals	Ratha Yatra or Chariot Festival, Chandan Yatra, Snan Yatra  and Nabakalebara

Why the Temple is also called Tirtha Yamanika?

• ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath.

 

Why the Temple is also called White Pagoda?

• The Temple is called White Pagoda for its colour the way Konark Temple is called 'Black Pagoda' due to its dark color and its magnetic power that drew ships into the shore and caused shipwrecks.

What is Nabakalebara?

• Nabakalebara is a symbolic recreation of the wooden forms of three Hindu deities (Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshana) at Jagannath Temple, Puri. In the cult of Jagannath, the ritual is performed during the eighth, 12th, or 19th year after the previous Nabakalebara. Nabakalebara is an important festival in the Hindu Odia calendar, observed in the Jagannath Temple, Puri. It marks the demise and rebirth of lord Jagannath at Puri. The event involves installation of new images in the Jagannath temple and burial of the old ones in the temple premises at Koili Baikuntha.

 

Structural Details of the Temple

Meghanada Pacheri

• High fortified wall that surrounds the huge temple complex of Jagannath.

Kurma Bedha

• Wall that surrounds the Main Temple

Baisipahacha

• Immediately, after the entrance into the temple through Simhadvara, a pilgrim has to cross Baisipahacha (22 steps) which, as per the Hindu belief, represent twenty-two sins of human life. When one crosses these steps, he          crosses all the sins and attains Punya (religious merit).

Nilachakra

• The Nila Chakra (Blue Discus) is the discus mounted on the top shikhar of the Jagannath Temple.
• As per custom, everyday a different flag is waved 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.
• Nila Chakra is made of alloy of eight metals (Asta-dhatu).
• The Nila Chakra is the only physical object whose markings are used as sacrament and considered sacred in Jagannath worship. It symbolizes protection by Shri Jagannath.

Rosasala

• The Rosasala or the kitchen of Lord Jagannath is regarded as the greatest kitchen of the world.
• Here, rice and vegetables are cooked simultaneously by earthen pots kept over one another.

Muktimandapa

• The Muktimandapa (hall of salvation) is a sixteen pillared eleved rectangular building.
• Here, Brahmin Pandits, give their expert guidance to people to get rid of sins.

Rohinikunda

• Close to the Muktimandapa there is Rohini Kunda. It contains an image of a crow with four hands. The water of this Kunda is regarded as sacred by the pilgrims who sprinkle the same over their head.

Sectional Structures

The temple has four distinct sectional structures, namely –

1. Deula, Vimana or Garba griha (Sanctum sanctorum) where the triad deities are lodged on the ratnavedi (Throne of Pearls). It is in Rekha Deula style; ---- The Vimana has been constructed in a Pancharatha plan.
2. Mukhashala (Frontal porch);
3. Nata mandir/Natamandapa, which is also known as the Jagamohan (Audience Hall/Dancing Hall), and
4. Bhoga Mandapa (Offerings Hall)