Puri Jagannath Temple - Odisha - History

In one of the Char Dam sites, the idol of God in this revered temple is made up of wood, which is said to be changed every 12 or 19 years, while another astonishing fact is that there is faith that Lord Krishna’s heart would be kept in this place, made of materials that cause damage so that the heart will be replaced by every seven years.

This sacred site, revered for being the place where famous saints like Ramanujacharya and Adi Sankaracharya were believed to live and establish their respective doctrines, is a great chance to stand in the place of good vibes where once legends stood and praised the god.

Importance of Puri Jagannath Temple in Architectural Features

The main temple is surrounded by two protective walls. The first wall, called Meghananda Pacheri, is 20 feet high and the second wall, named Kurma Bedha, also encircles the temple. This place of worship, which includes up to 120 temples and sacred shrines, was influenced by the architectural style of Kalinga. Despite the passing of many decades, the temple remains in use. Sections of the temple structure have a unique Odia-style front porch that leads to a dance hall or auditorium. The hall in the name of Jagamohan (the name of a visiting hall in Odia tradition), from which the way takes you to the abode of the gods (main shrine) of the presiding deities of the temple.

Intricate Carvings and Sculptures of Puri Jagannath Temple:

As you enter the temple, you'll be struck by its smooth, curved design and the majestic Neela chakra, an eight-spiked wheel symbolizing Lord Vishnu, at its peak while two roaring lions at the floor before the temple's grand door, adding to its impressive entrance. Once inside, you'll find yourself in a spacious compound that gives access to some large steps of count 22. On your way through the precincts, you may wonder about the paintings of Lord Krishna on both sides of the stairs and walls. Among them, one describes the god as the saviour of those who have fallen in life, and the two guards Jaya and Vijaya on the sides of the entrance and a statue of Lord Lakshmi on top of the tower, which is carved mesmerizingly gorgeous. Before the entrance with the lions, there placed a single stone tower with 16 sides, famously known as Aruna Stuba, and the lion entrance named Singhadwara (Singha means lion, and Dwara means doorway). The pillar at this location has a statue of Aruna, who served as the charioteer of the sun god Surya. An interesting fact is that the pillar, known as Aruna Stupha, was originally located at the Konark Sun Temple, and was later brought here by a devotee named Brahmachari Gosain, who is a well-known Maratha Guru.

Unique notable Feature of Puri Jagannath Temple:

Rasoi Ghara is the kitchen of Puri Jagannath Temple which is the second-largest temple kitchen in the world. It is believed that the kitchen is controlled by Goddess Lakshmi. If the food prepared does not, please her, a shadow dog appears at the entrance as a sign that the food is not suitable to serve God. Whenever this happens, the food is discarded by burning it, and a new batch is freshly prepared. Over 56 varieties of food items will be served to the god, which is pure vegetarian without adding onion or garlic, as told in Manusmriti (the principle must be followed, which is mandatory for Hindus). On a day, six times, the god has served food here. Those six times will help the devotees get food as a blessing to share with others.

Visiting Hours

Darshan is open from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., except from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. when the temple is closed.

Dress Code

It is preferable to dress modestly while entering the temple. Men are supposed to wear dhotis, and women should wear sarees or traditional attire. Revealing dresses like sleeveless tops and shorts are strictly not allowed.

Festivals and Fairs of Puri Jagannath Temple

The Rath Yatra is one of the most prominent festivals in the world. The fair to be celebrated during the monsoon season may be from June to July. Three deities, Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra, are carried in three grandly decorated chariots (ratham in Tamil) and go on the road to give devotees their blessings until they reach the Gudincha temple at Puri, where paintings of Lord Jagannath spaced over the palace.

Anavasara is a unique festival where the deities are taken to a secret palace named Anavasara Ghar, where they stay for around 15 days after taking a holy bath with sacred water in 108 pots (a practice made by King Indrayumnan to wash away the sins and wrong deeds humans did). Before the bathing ritual, deities covered their whole body with Tulasi. After taking a bath, they decided to rest. They were afraid of catching a cold from the water, so they avoided contact with other people to recover. Devotees' care and love for their lord is a lovely scene not to miss.

Entry fee:

No entry fee. Only on special occasions and festivals Rs. 10 will be collected as an entry fee.

How to reach Puri Jagannath Temple:

By Air : Biju Patnaik Airport, Bhubaneswar, is the nearest to Jagannath Temple, Puri. From the airport, you can hire a cab or taxi to reach Puri.

By Train :Puri railway station is the closest. Major city trains are connected to Puri railway station, which eases the traveller’s journey. From the station, it takes 10 to 15 minutes to reach the temple. The distance between them is nearly 2 kilometres.

By Road :Public and private transportation is available to reach Puri Jagannath Temple, as roads are well connected to or from major cities. To reach the temple from Puri city, you can also use cycle rickshaws or walk, which helps you explore the city, and vehicles are not allowed inside the temple complex.