Jagannath puri temple

Jagannath puri temple is the famous temple located at coastal town Puri, also known as the one of the Char Dham. The temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balaram, Devi Subhadra. Lord Jagannath is one of the 10 incarnations of Lord Visnhu.

The temple was built by the king Indradyumna, in 12th century. The main entrance gate is Singhadwara at eastern part. Along with this there are other 3 gates situated in the temple. Along with Lord Jagannath and his siblings, devi Mahalaxmi, Devi Durga, Lord Ganesh, Lord shiva are worshiped here. 

The temple holds a special historical and cultural significance along with beautiful architecture, history, rituals, famous festivals like Rath Yatra, Snan Yatra, Sayan Ekadasi, Chitalagi Amabasya. But Rath Yatra is the most famous one.

History of Jagannath puri temple

It is believed that the temple was built by the Ganga Dynasty king Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva in 12th century. Assembly hall or the prayer hall known as Jaga Mohan and Vimana were constructed by him. After him Anangabhima Deva completed whole remaining temple.

It is also said that the temple was built by King Indradyumna. He was a big devotee of Lord Visnhu. One day he came to know that Lord Visnhu has arrived as Neil Madhav. So he sent a priest Vidyapati to find out Neil Madhav.

Vidyapati went out and he took rest at the place of Sabaras. Vishvavau, the local chief asked him to stay with him. And later Vidyapati married to Vishvavasu’s daughter. One day from his wife he came to know that Vivavasu worshiped Neil Madhav.

So he also granted permission to visit. But when he reached to take Neil Madhav with him, he was vanished.  Vidyapati did fast at the Neela Mountain. And One day he had a dream of Lord Jagannath to make his deity by fragrant tree.

So the king took help of Lord Vishyakarma and made three deities by the wood of the tree and also the Sudarshan Chakra. Then he prayed to Lord Brahma to come and visit the temple. Pleased by him Lord Brahmma came and visited the temple.

He was very impressed by his work and asked for any wish. And the king asked for a easy life and also asked if he can be the last member of his family. Also, he wished if anyone will be present in his family, he will only work for the temple. 

There are another saying that, King Indradyumna and his wife Gundicha were great devotees of Lord Jagannath. And he got a dream of Lord to make a temple to worship him. So he made the temple with help of Lord Viswakarma.

But Viswakarma had only one condition that when he would make the idols no one can see him. But one day, King mistakenly entered in his room to see his work progression, and he saw the idols are incomplete and Viswakarma was not there. From that time, those deities are worshiped.

Best time to visit

As overall temperature of Puri remains same throughout the year, but people can visit Jagannath puri temple is from October to February. However, Rath Yatra is the best time to visit Jagannath puri temple. But this time temple is over rushed. Also from April to June also can be ideal time to visit to the temple.

Timings of Jagannath puri temple

Temple is opened everyday in the year. Every day the temple opens at 5 Am and close at 10 Pm. There is also special booking for darshan is available in the temple. Also there are so many Artis are offered to the deity.

The first Arti is Mangal Arti which is offered at 5 Am every day. And the last arti is offered Khata Seja Lagi and Pahuda at 12 Am. Between this so many other Arti like Mailam, Abakash, Sahanamela, Beshalagi, Rosha Homa Surya Puja and Dwarapal Sandhya Aarati, Badashringara Vesha are offered from 6 AM to 10:30 Pm every day.

Facts about Temple

There are some amazing and mysterious facts about Jagannath puri temple which still remain unexplained.

• Jagannath puri temple is considered as one of the spiritual places of India also as an “Char Dham”. 
• Flag direction: There is a basic principle of wind that any cloth flies according to the same direction of the wind flow. But the flag at the top of the temple is fly at the opposite direction to the wind. Which is exception of the law and it happens without any scientific reason.
• Priest Climbing: There is 1800 old tradition that everyday one priest has to climb up to the top of the temple and change the flag without any help of grip only with hands. It is believed that if it will skip for one day the temple will be remain closed for 18 years.
• Idols of the temple: The deities are made of wood and it is believed that it is changed only once in 12 years in an event called Nabakalebara.
• The temple doesn’t have any shadow no matter where is the sun and what is the time of the day.
• Nabakalebara is the event which is organized in every 12 years in Jagannath puri temple. It is time when new deities are made and old deities are get replaced by new one. This ritual is called Jirna bera parityaga. It is believed that in this time the main priest get a dream of the tree, by which the deities will be made. And it is mysterious that woods of the tree get rotten at that time. Also it is said that, the soul or the heart also get into the new deities. And no one can see the deities at this time. The last Nabakalebara was taken place at 2015.
• Sudarshan Chakra: There are two things which are very mysterious about the Sudarshan Chakra which is placed at the top of the temple. How the heavy mela take place at the top of the temple is still a mystery also the Chakra looks the same from whichever point it is seen.
• It is also a mysterious thing that no single birds or airplane flies over the temple.
• Mahaprasad: Mahaprasad is served to all visitors for the temple. Sukhila and Sakhundi are the two types of Mahaprasad. It is a mixture of dry rice and dal. And consists 56 delicacies. It is cooked in the kitchen of the temple by thousand priests.
• There is another mysterious thing of the temple. The sound of wave is gotten stop whenever someone step inside the temple. It is believed that Devi Subhadra wanted a place of peace so that the temple stops the sound of the wave.
• The Prasad is never wasted in a temple. Everyday approximately 200000 people visits the temple but everyone get the prasad. 
• Rath yatra is the annual journey of the temple to Gundicha Ghar. It is the time when three idols of the temple taken out by a chariot to their aunt’s house. This time lakhs of devotees come to Puri Jagannath puri temple to see the deities.
• There are four gates of the temple and each of the gate has their own significance. Those gates are, Lion’s gate or Simhadwar, Horse’s Gate or Ashwadwar, Vyagrharadwar or the Tiger’s Gate and Hastidwar or Elephant’s Gate. Which are believed to representative of Dharma, Jnana, Vairagya and Aishwarya.
• There are  22 steps to the temple known as Baisi Pahacha in the Lion Gate.

How to Reach Puri

Jagannath puri temple is located at Puri, Odisha. Temple is well connected with Air, Road and Train..

By Air: In distance of 53km, Biju Patnaik International airport is located in Bhubaneswar. Which is well connected by all other cities. Domestic and international flights are available from the airport to different cities.

By Train: Puri Railway station is the nearest railway station to the temple. From the station auto, buses all are available to the temple. It is located 3.33 km from the temple.

By Bus: There are lots of local and intercity buses are available to the temple from Puri also from Bhubaneswar and from other cities of Odisha.

FAQ’s – Frequently Asked Questions