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Jagannath Puri Temple
Jagannath Puri, on the east coast of
India, in the state of Orissa is a hoary pilgrimage center,
enshrining Jagannath, in a colossal temple. Puri is well connected by
rail and road with
Calcutta and with Bhubaneshwar. Bhubaneshwar, Konark and Jagannath
Puri constitute the Golden triangle of Orissa, visited in large numbers
by pilgrims and
tourists.
Puri is the forerunner of the Jagannath cult in Orissa, which
saw the flowering of several temples dedicated to Jagannath all over the
state.
Jagannath Puri is an ancient shrine, enshrining Krishna - Jagannath in the
form of a wooden image. Also enshrined are wooden images of Balabhadra
(Balarama) and Subhadra brother and sister of Krishna respectively.
Interestingly, the Rig Veda refers to Purushottama in the form of a wooden
image, prepared from a log of wood floating on the ocean. Puri is also referred
to in the Bhrama purana.
Orissa has Konark as the Surya Kshetra, Puri as
the Vishnu kshetra, Bhubaneshwar as the Hara Kshetra and Jaipur as the Parvati
Kshetra.
The main temple of Jaggannathji is vast by any standards. Made
of solid stone, the temple has been added to over the years
by numerous kings and devotees. Visitors pass through a series of 3 halls
to obtain darshan of
the Lord Jagannath, Baladeva and their beloved sister Subhadra
(wife of the heroic Arjun). The solid mass of the main spire of the temple
is crowned by an
enormous flag. Fluttering high above the town, the flag beckons
pilgrims from all corners of the town to come and visit the shrine of the
Lord of the
Universe.
The rest of the temple complex consists of various shrines
dedicated to Lord Shiva, Narashimha, goddess Vimala etc. A number of halls have
been built over the centuries, where people can gather for bhajans and
religious discourses. The kitchen of the Lord provides the enormous amount of
food consumed by the pilgrims. A beautiful garden is also attached to the
temple, providing fresh flowers for the Lord everyday. This sea side town has
numerous other shrines and temples, belonging to various Hindu
sects.
Nearby villages are a treasure trove for the lovers of arts and
crafts. Craftsmen of all sorts live within a computable distance from Puri and
Bhubeneshwara (capital of Orissa). These villages house the master painters,
masons, carvers, weavers, tailors etc. who service the numerous temples in the
region. Tourists and pilgrims are their other great source of
income.
Orissa is an ideal place to shop for raw silks, paintings (on
silk, cloth, local handmade paper), appliqué work (of cloth as well as
mirror work), festival umbrellas, gold filigree work, silver jewellery,
traditional "bidari" ware etc.
Orissa is also an ideal holiday
destination and as yet, undiscovered by majority of the Western tourists. It's
long deserted beaches (an average Indian is not in need of a sun tan),
picturesque villages and wildlife is the stuff books and post-cards are made
of. It has pleasant climate all year round and is cheaper than some of the more
popular destinations destination. It has great deal of history and
architecture.
TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS
Bada Danda » This is the Grand Road and is
as wide as a modern freeway. It extends from the Jagannath Temple to the
Gundicha Temple, and is the scene of the great Festival of the Chariots or
Ratha Yatra.
Chilka Lake » Situated southwest of Puri, Chilka is
the largest fresh water lake in Asia (65 kms long, 8-20 kms wide, about 2 m
deep). One can enjoy boating on the shimmering blue waters and in leisure one
can enjoy fishing.
Ramgarh Lake » A huge artificial lake
created by constructing a high bund amidst tree-covered hills. While the temple
of Jamwa Mata and the ruins of the old fort are some of its antiquities, its
beautiful landscape makes it an idyllic picnic spot.
The Beach
» The fine white sands of Puri beach and the roar of the breakers
rolling in from the Bay of Bengal have fascinated visitors throughout the
years. The local fishermen, with their catamarans and wide-brimmed cane hats,
are also expert masseurs. With excellent hotels and guesthouses, the Puri beach
is an ideal holiday spot.
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