Jagannath Temple: The Shrikshetra of Puri

The Jagannath Temple at Puri is one of Hinduism’s four dhams and the beating heart of Odia identity. Built in the 12th century by Ganga king Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, its 65-metre deula dominates the skyline of one of the oldest living cities in India.

Architecture

The complex is the fullest expression of Kalinga architecture: a rekha deula sanctum (216 ft), jagamohana, natamandapa and bhogamandapa on a raised platform. The Neelachakra — an eight-metal disc atop the spire — flies a flag that famously flutters against the wind. The temple kitchen is the world’s largest open-air kitchen, turning out 56 offerings (mahaprasad) daily for thousands.

The festival year

Cultural reach

Jagannath worship shaped Odissi dance (mahari seva), Odia literature (Jayadeva to the Panchasakha poets), even the English word “juggernaut” — which derives from the massive English sight of the rath. Plan visits around the temple’s morning mangala arati and the evening sandhya arati; non-Hindu visitors can view the complex from the roof of the nearby Raghunandan Library and the Rath Yatra, which is open to all.

References | ଆଧାର

• Archaeological Survey of India
• Odisha Tourism — Puri and Jagannath