
The Almighty Lord Jagannath is the Lord of the Universe, the emotion of every Odia who also has global devotees throughout the world. However, Lord Jagannath embodies the attributes of all the avatars of Lord Vishnu. Devotees worship him in various forms on different occasions. He is more than just a godly figure of Hinduism; he is the cornerstone of the cultural identity of Odisha.
The main temple of Lord Jagannath is in Puri, which is famously known as the Shri Jagannath Temple worldwide. It is one of the Char Dhams, and being the ancient pilgrimage site, it holds a special place in the hearts of devotees.
In this blog, we will discuss Jagannath culture in detail and the mystical story of Puri’s Jagannath Temple.
Let’s begin with the Jagannath Culture or Sanskruti
An Introduction To Shree Jagannath Sanskruti
The oldest Sanskruti in the Universe is the Jagannath Sanskruti. The rituals and festivals of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath form the foundation of this culture and tradition. As a result, Odisha’s unique culture is known as Jagannath Sanskruti.
In the ancient days, human beings worshipped trees as their God. In Jagannath Sanskruti, trees are worshipped as part of the traditions. The ruling deity of this culture is made from Neem trees, which is famously known as “Daru Brahma.”
Jagannath Sanskruti upholds Sanatan Dharma, which teaches that all are equal in the eyes of God. It also believes that God is omnipresent. During the Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath offers his darshan to all devotees from around the world.
Jagannath Sanskruti also follows the belief of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” which means the entire world is our family. At Jagannath Dham in Odisha, people from all over the world are welcomed with open arms. They are also encouraged to participate in the most prominent festival, Rath Yatra.
Jagannath Sanskruti is rooted in the culture and rituals associated with Lord Jagannath of Puri. According to the Puranas and Shastras, King Indradyumna established Lord Jagannath in Puri during the Satya Yuga, making this culture the oldest in the world.
Origin and Theories Related to Lord Jagannath
Puranic Historical Connection
The rich mythology of Hindus is found in the Puranas, which are multiple links to Lord Jagannath. Many narratives tie their roots to Lord Krishna, and others portray him as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. So, it is believed that Jagannath has a multi-layer identity.
Tribal Roots
According to some beliefs, Jagannath began as the deity of the Sabara tribe. The tribal origin of Lord Jagannath traces back to the worship of Nilamadhaba by the Sabara King Viswabasu in the dense forest of Nilagiri. After Nilamadhaba disappeared, he reincarnated in the forms of three deities: Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra. This transformation marks the beginning of the worship of the Holy Trinity.
History of Shri Jagannath Temple Puri
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- According to the Skanda Purana, during the Satya Yuga, King Indradyumna of the Somavamsa dynasty built the temple of Lord Jagannath in Puri. The king invited Brahma to perform the Pratistha of the deities’ idols in the temple.
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- During King Indradyumna’s absence on his journey to Brahma Loka, King Gala Madhav worshipped Madhav in the temple.
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- The name of Lord Jagannath is mentioned in the Mahabharata (Banaparba) and the Srimad Bhagavad Gita (Purushottama Yoga). These references support the Puranic view that the history of the Jagannath temple is very ancient. According to this tradition, the temple was built in Satya Yuga.
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- So, history says that King Jajati Kesari built the Jagannath Temple Puri in the period 949 to 959 A.D. Later, Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva rebuilt it. He was the famous ruler of the Ganga Dynasty from 1078 to 1147 A.D.
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- Again, later, Anangabhima Deva completed the construction of the temple in the period 1190 to 1198 A.D.
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- Therefore, as per historical records, King Jajati Kesari originally built the Jagannath temple of Puri in the 10th century. In the 11th century, King Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva reconstructed the temple, and King Anangabhima Deva completed it in the 12th century.
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- In 1568, Kalapahada defeated the Gajapati ruler Mukunda Deva. He destroyed and burned the Darumruti before throwing it into the sea.
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- The local tradition says that an Odia named Bisar Mohanty managed to secure the Brahma from the half-burnt image of Jagannath that Kalapahada had thrown into the Ganga or the sea. He secured the sacred Brahma from the remnants of the idol.
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- Bisar Mohanty has kept it secure for several years in Kujanga. It is a place in the Mahanadi Delta. He kept it until Lord Jagannath appeared in a dream to Ramachandra Deva. In the dream, Lord Jagannath commanded him to secure the Brahma from Kujanga and use it to build new images of the Holy Trinity.
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- Later, after a 20-year gap, between 1590 and 92, King Ramachandra Deva reconstructed the Darumruti of the Jagannath temple. And, he placed Brahma into the new image of the Lord.
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- Ramachandra Deva and his successors were acknowledged throughout Orissa as the new Gajapatis because of their historical and legendary achievements. Their accomplishments earned them widespread recognition across the region.
World Famous Grand Chariot Festival – Ratha Yatra
The Jagannath Rath Yatra is one of the oldest chariot festivals that are vibrantly celebrated globally and dedicated to Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra, and his sister Subhadra. Every year, devotees celebrate this grand event in Puri, Odisha, drawing millions of pilgrims from around the world.
During the festival, Lord Jagannath and his siblings leave the temple and travel on a grand chariot procession. This event allows them to bless those who cannot visit the temple for darshan. The Rath Yatra offers a unique opportunity for devotees to experience the divine presence of the Holy Trinity.
The Ratha Yatra holds a significant history. According to Odia Culture and legends, Gundicha, who was the Queen of King Indradyumna, requested the king to arrange a chariot festival. She wanted to organise this festival for the poor untouchables and sinners who were not usually allowed to enter the temple to have the darshan of Lord Jagannath. Therefore, the festival is aptly named the Gundicha Yatra after Queen Gundicha, whose house stands a mile and a half from the Jagannath temple.
When the Savaras worshipped the God Nilamadhava, they did not know about the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. The Rath Yatra was organised only after the completion of the images to transport the deities to the temple.
So, in the Purushottama Mahatmya, Lord Jagannath assures King Indradyumna that he would stay for seven days at his birthplace, located on the banks of Indradyumna Sara. Today, we recognize this Indradyumna Sara at Gundicha House. Every year, Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings – Balabhadra and Subhadra, travels to this place. Their journey begins on the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Asadha. After spending seven days at Gundicha, the deities return to the temple on the ninth day.
Originally, the Lord Jagannath was worshipped as the stem of a tree in the Gundicha Mandapa. Later, He was brought to the temple and became part of the Holy Trinity. By tracing the term ‘Gundicha’ to the ‘Savara’ word ‘Kundija,’ he seeks to establish the Savara origin of the Yatra.
The annual Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri provides an opportunity for people of all castes, creeds, and religions to have darshan of the deities. The festival symbolises equality, making no distinction between Brahmins and Chandalas. Lord Jagannath offers equal rights to all. During the event, the King of Puri – Puri Gajapati Maharaja himself- sweeps the way.
This signifies the removal of the ego and emphasises humility. This act of service, known as ‘Chhera Panhara,’ was introduced in the 12th century during the reign of King Anangabhima Deva. In this period, Lord Jagannath became the state deity, and the king assumed the role of His servant.
The most captivating part of the festival is the pulling of the chariots. Thousands of devotees hold onto the strong ropes to pull the Rathas while the air is filled with the sacred chanting of “Hari.” Throughout the journey, the deities are offered only fruits and pithas, keeping the occasion simple and devotional.
After the three Deities reach the Gundicha temple, they are transformed into ‘Dasaavatara Vesa’. Also, they are worshipped as ‘Sodasaupachara’. Along with all the modes of daily worship such as ‘Sandhya Alati’, ‘Sarvanga’, ‘Sandhya Dhupa’, and ‘Badasinghara’. And finally, on the day of Bahuda, all three deities come to their respective chariots to travel back to the temple.
On the twelfth day (Dwadasi), the deities go through the ‘Pahandi’ procession to reach their seats on the “Bejeweled Throne.” With Lord Jagannath’s re-entry into the temple, the Ratha Yatra comes to an end. During the festival, the evil of untouchability disappears, at least temporarily. The Puranas state that anyone who has a darshan of the Lord on the Ratha is granted a place in the ‘Vaikuntha Bhuvana’ of Hari. This highlights the spiritual significance of the Ratha Yatra in transcending social barriers.
Some Interesting Facts about Jagannath Temple Puri
Sudarshan Chakra
The Sudarshan Chakra lies at the top of the temple and has two mysteries. The Sudarshan Chakra is a massive metal structure weighing tons, and it remains a mystery how such a heavy structure was transported to the temple’s pinnacle. The building’s architecture presents a second mystery, as it appears identical from every angle. The Chakra is said to look the same from all directions throughout the city.
Jagannath Flag
The mystery behind the flag is when the wind blows in one direction, the flag flutters in the opposite direction. To date, no scientific explanation has been found for this mysterious occurrence. Only trained priests climb the temple’s structure to replace the 20-foot-wide triangular flag.
For the past 1800 years, a saint has climbed the temple’s 45-story dome to replace the banner. If this routine is broken for even a single day, the temple will remain shut for 18 years. This tradition has been strictly followed throughout the centuries.
Wisdom Idols
During Nabakalebara, the wooden idols are set ablaze and then replaced with new ones. This ceremony takes place every 8, 12, or 19 years. Only sacred neem trees are carefully chosen to meet strict specifications for this purpose. Handpicked carpenters complete the carving in secrecy over about 21 days. The ancient idols are laid to rest near Koili Vaikuntha, and millions of devotees attended the final Nabakalebara in 2015.
Mahaprasad Never Gets Wasted
Throwing away edible food is not only morally wrong but is also condemned in Hindu mythology. Every day, between 2,000 and 200,000 people visit the temple. Since every last morsel of the prepared Prasad is consumed, locals refer to this as the efficient administration of God’s will. Another unique aspect of this method is that the pots are stacked on top of one another, with the one on top always cooking first.
This is all about the history of Jagannath Culture, the Shri Jagannath Temple, and the Ratha Yatra. The puranic views, historical views, and theories tell a lot of different stories. Apart from this, there is so much more mystery and interesting facts about Lord Jagannath and the traditional Odia culture.