Jagannath Temple is located in Puri, a coastal city in Odisha, on the eastern coast of India. The temple is situated near the Bay of Bengal and is one of the four sacred Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Hindus.
The temple’s presiding deity is Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna. He is worshipped along with his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra. The idols are made of neem wood and are replaced every 12 to 19 years during a ritual called Navakalevara. Lord Jagannath’s idol is known for its unique shape, with large round eyes and stumpy limbs.
The temple is a stunning example of Kalinga architecture, built in the Rekha Deula style. It stands around 65 meters tall and is built on an elevated platform. The temple complex is surrounded by a huge 20-foot-high wall called Meghanada Pacheri. A towering shikhara tops the main sanctum (Garbhagriha), and the temple has elaborate carvings and intricate stone sculptures. The Singhadwara (Lion Gate) is the main entrance, one of four grand gateways.
The present temple structure was built in the 12th century by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. However, it is believed that the worship of Lord Jagannath existed even earlier. Over the centuries, the temple has faced several invasions but has continued to be a major center of Vaishnavite tradition. The temple is also associated with the saint Adi Shankaracharya, who established one of his peethas here.
Long ago, in Satya Yuga, there lived a pious king named Indradyumna, who was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. He had heard about a unique and divine form of Vishnu called Nila Madhava, worshipped by a tribal chief named Vishvavasu in a forest near the seacoast. King Indradyumna sent his priest, Vidyapati, to search for this deity.
Vidyapati reached the forest and stayed with Vishvavasu, eventually marrying his daughter Lalita. Vishvavasu secretly worshipped Nila Madhava deep inside the forest. After much persuasion, he agreed to take Vidyapati, but blindfolded him. Clever Vidyapati dropped mustard seeds along the way. Later, these seeds grew into plants, helping the king’s men trace the path.
When King Indradyumna arrived at the spot, Nila Madhava had vanished, as per divine will. Disappointed, the king prayed to Lord Vishnu, who appeared in a dream and instructed him to build a grand temple in Puri. Vishnu also said that a divine wooden log would float in the sea, and from it, the king should carve idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.
The sacred log (called Daru Brahma) was found on the seashore. A mysterious carpenter (believed to be Lord Vishwakarma in disguise) agreed to carve the idols but insisted on complete privacy for 21 days. He warned that if anyone opened the door, he would leave the work unfinished.
After 14 days of silence, the queen grew anxious and opened the door. As promised, the carpenter disappeared, leaving the idols incomplete, with no arms or fully formed limbs. However, a divine voice assured the king that this was the desired form, and the idols were sacred. They were installed in the temple with great devotion.
Thus, the Jagannath form came to be — mysterious, unique, and full of divine grace — and worship has continued in Puri ever since.
The most famous festival of the temple is the Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, held annually in the month of Ashadha (June-July). During this festival, the deities are taken out of the sanctum and placed on three massive wooden chariots. These chariots are pulled by thousands of devotees from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple, about 3 km away. After nine days, the deities return to the main temple in a return journey called Bahuda Yatra.
Other Festivals celebrated are Snana Yatra marks the ceremonial bathing of the deities with 108 pots of water. Chandan Yatra is observed with sandalwood paste rituals and boat rides for the deities. Nabakalebara, a rare ritual held every 12 to 19 years, involves the replacement of the wooden idols with newly carved ones. Other significant occasions include Makar Sankranti, Magha Saptami, and various other Vaishnavite festivals, each celebrated with deep devotion, rituals, music, and dance, attracting thousands of devotees from across India and the world.
