The Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri is among the  4 very holy shrines (called Chaar Dhaams), which every Hindu must visit in his/her lifetime. These 4 shrines are located in 4 corners of India. The Jagannath Puri Temple, located at Puri is one of the four dhaams, the other 3 being located at Rameshwaram, Dwarika, and Badrinath. As per the belief, the Chaar-Dhaam yatra should be started from here, and then once you proceed in the clockwise direction, covering Rameshwaram, Dwarika, and Badrinath in this order.

Shree Jagannath Temple, Puri

Jagannath temple is one of the most revered and visited temples in Odisha and is devoted to Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu. In this temple, people worship, a trio of deities is worshipped i.e., Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Devi Subhadra.

The word Jagannath is a combination of 2 words ‘Jagat’ + ‘Nath’, where Jagat means universe, and Nath means lord. So, Jagannath means The Lord of the Universe. Puri temple is very popular for its annual Rath Yatra. During this yatra, all the three deities are pulled on huge and highly decorative temple cars. The image of the Jagannath is made of wood and this is replaced every 12 or 19 years in the exact form. For all the Hindus Puri temple is a very sacred one, especially for the Vaishnava tradition.

The Jagannath Temple in Puri is one of India’s most renowned and revered temples. Situated in the coastal city of Puri, Odisha, the temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu. Its construction dates back to the 12th century, attributed to the Ganga dynasty’s King Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva.

Legend says the temple was originally conceived by Lord Vishnu in the form of King Indradyumna, who dreamt of a wooden idol of Lord Jagannath floating in the sea. Inspired by this vision, the king began the temple’s construction, which took nearly 200 years to complete.

The temple is famous for the annual Rath Yatra festival held in June or July. During this event, the deities Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra are placed on massive wooden chariots and pulled through the streets by devotees. The festival draws millions of people from across the globe and is one of the largest religious gatherings in India.

Architecturally, the Jagannath Temple is a masterpiece of Kalinga architecture. The main spire soars almost 200 feet high, and the sprawling temple complex covers 400,000 square feet, enclosed by a fortified wall. The temple has four main gates, each dedicated to a different deity, showcasing the grandeur and intricate craftsmanship of ancient Indian architecture.

Legend Associated with Jagannath Temple, Puri:

There are numerous legends linked to the Jagannath Temple in Puri. The temple’s origins are mentioned in ancient texts such as the Brahma Purana, Narada Purana, and the Utkal Khanda (Purushottam Mahatmya) of the Skanda Purana. According to these scriptures, during the Satya Yuga, there was a king named Indradyumna, who was a devout follower of Lord Vishnu.

King Indradyumna learned of Viswavasu, a tribal king (Savar) who secretly worshipped Lord Jagannath, originally known as Lord Neel Madhaba, in a dense forest. The king sent his priest, Vidyapati, to learn more about the deity. Although Vidyapati couldn’t initially find the location, he eventually married Viswavasu’s daughter, Lalita. After much persuasion, Viswavasu agreed to take Vidyapati to the cave where Lord Neel Madhaba was worshipped. However, he imposed the condition that Vidyapati would be blindfolded during the journey. Vidyapati agreed but cleverly carried mustard seeds, scattering them along the way. Later, when the seeds sprouted, he was able to trace the path to the cave.

Upon hearing Vidyapati’s report, King Indradyumna embarked on a pilgrimage to Odisha (then known as Odra Desha) to see and worship the deity. However, upon his arrival, he discovered that the deity had vanished into the sand. Distraught, the king vowed not to leave until he had a vision of the deity and began meditating at Mount Neela. During his penance, he heard a celestial voice (Aakashvani) assuring him, “You shall see Him.” Uplifted by this message, the king returned to his kingdom and built a grand temple for Lord Vishnu. Narasimha’s idol, brought by the sage Narada, was placed in the temple.

One night, King Indradyumna had a dream in which Lord Jagannath appeared. A divine voice instructed him to visit Bankamuhana, where he would find a log of neem wood on the shore, from which he was to carve the idols. Following the guidance, the king retrieved the sacred log and had the images of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and the Sudarshan Chakra carved from it. This explains why the idol of Lord Jagannath is made of wood. King Indradyumna then constructed a grand temple near the sacred Kalpabata tree and installed the deities within it.

Architecture of the Jagannath Temple, Puri :

The Jagannath Temple spans an area of 400,000 square feet and showcases classic Oriya architecture. The temple is enclosed by two concentric walls: the outer wall, called Meghanada Pacheri, stands 20 feet tall, while the inner wall, known as Kurma Bedha, surrounds the main temple and features 120 shrines and smaller temples.

The temple comprises four main structures:

1. Vimana or Bada Deul (Garbha-gruha) – The sanctum where the deities reside on the Ratna Vedi.
2. Mukhasala – The front porch.
3. Natamandir (Nata Mandir) – The hall for dancing and public gatherings.
4. Bhoga Mandapa – The space designated for offerings.

At the top of the main temple sits the Nila Chakra (blue wheel), which is crafted from Ashta-dhatu, an alloy of eight metals.

The temple has four entrances, with the main gate being the Singha Dwara (Lion Gate), guarded by two crouching stone lions. The other three gates are the Hathi Dwara (Elephant Gate), Vyaghra Dwara (Tiger Gate), and Ashwa Dwara (Horse Gate).

There are several important mandapas (pillared halls) within the temple complex. The Mukti Mandapa serves as a seating area for distinguished Brahmins, while the Dola Mandapa is used for the annual Dol Yatra festival and key decision-making events. The Snana Bedi is where the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are ceremonially bathed during the Snana Yatra festival.

Significance of the Jagannath Temple:

The Jagannath Puri Temple has held immense significance for Hindus for centuries. According to belief, when the Pandavas embarked on their journey to meet Yamraj in heaven, the Saptarishis advised them to first visit the ‘Chaar Dhaam’ (four holy places), of which the Jagannath Temple is one.

The temple’s significance is further highlighted by several occurrences that defy scientific explanation, often regarded as miraculous blessings of Lord Jagannath. Some of these intriguing facts and mysteries include:

• The temple is constructed in such a way that it does not cast any shadow on the ground at any time during the day.
• The flag atop the temple flaps in the direction opposite to the wind, which remains a mystery.
• The 20-foot-high chakra (wheel) on the top of the temple is positioned such that it is always visible facing you, regardless of where you stand in the city.
• It is believed that no birds or airplanes fly over the temple. This is not due to any government regulation but is attributed to divine power.
• According to an ancient ritual, the temple flag must be changed daily. A priest climbs to the top of the temple—equivalent in height to a 45-story building—every day to perform this task. It is believed that if this ritual is skipped even once, the temple will remain closed for the next 18 years.
• When entering the temple through the ‘Singha Dwara’ (Lion Gate), the sound of ocean waves can be distinctly heard. However, after passing through the gate, if you turn around and walk in the same direction, the sound disappears and remains inaudible while inside the temple.
• Despite the varying number of visitors each day, ranging from 2,000 to 20,000, the quantity of prasadam (sacred food offering) prepared remains consistent. Remarkably, there has never been a day when prasadam was insufficient or went to waste.
• For cooking prasadam, seven pots are stacked one on top of the other. Surprisingly, the contents of the topmost pot cook first, followed by the lower pots.
• The Neela Chakra, a symbol of Lord Jagannath’s protection, is made of eight metals. It stands 3.5 meters tall with a circumference of 11 meters, representing divine protection over the temple.

These facts continue to draw millions of devotees who believe in the divine presence and blessings of Lord Jagannath at this sacred temple.

Main Festival:

The biggest festival celebrated in the Puri temple is Rath Yatra also known as car festival, which is celebrated in June or July, once during the month of Asadha of the Hindu calendar in this celebration all the trios are specially decorated and pulled throughout to the main street of Puri (Bada Danda) to the Shri Gundicha temple so that devotees have the glimpse of the scared Rath Yatra.

Snaan Yatra is a bathing festival (On the Purnima of the month of Jyeshta), Sayan Ekadasi is celebrated on the evening of the 11th day of the bright fortnight of Asadha and some more major festivals are Chandan Yatra (in Akshaya Tritiya annually), Netrotsava, Chitalagi Amavasya, Srikrishna Janma, Bahuda Yatra, and Dussehra.

Best time to Visit Jagannath Temple

The Jagannath Temple in Puri is open every day of the week, with visiting hours from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. Visiting the temple before 10:00 am is generally recommended for a more peaceful experience.

The best time to visit Puri is between October and February when the weather is cool, pleasant, and comfortable. However, if you wish to witness the world-famous ‘Rath Yatra’ festival, you should plan your visit during June or July, which falls in Odisha’s rainy season.

How to Reach Jagannath Temple, Puri:

How to Reach Jagannath Temple, Puri:

• By Air: The nearest airport is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar, located just 3 km from the city. Regular flights connect Bhubaneswar to major cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Bangalore, and New Delhi.
• By Train: The nearest railway station is in Puri, just 3 km from the Jagannath Temple. There are regular direct trains from major cities like Kolkata, Patna, New Delhi, Chennai, and Bhubaneswar.
• By Road: Puri is well-connected by road, with regular public and private buses and taxis available. Buses run between Puri and nearby cities like Bhubaneswar (48 km), Cuttack (63 km), Brahmapur (124 km), and Jamshedpur (335 km).

Pooja Vidhis and daily food offerings: 

The daily rituals at the Jagannath Temple begin with Mangal Aarti at 5:00 AM. Following this, at 8:00 AM, the deities are dressed according to the occasion during the Beshalagi. The Sakala Dhupa takes place at 10:00 AM, where the morning pooja is performed along with the offering of bhog. After this, during Mailam and Bhoga Mandap, the deities’ clothes are changed following the morning pooja and bhog.

The Madhyanha Dhupa is the midday pooja, conducted between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, with traditional Upachars. In the evening, from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the Sandhya Dhupa is performed along with the preparation of bhog. During Mailam and Chandana Lagi, the idols are anointed with sandalwood paste. The day concludes with Badashringara Bhoga, the final bhog and pooja of the day.

Frequently Asked Questions about Shree Jagannath Temple: