About Jagannath Temple
The world famous Jagannath Temple (ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ମନ୍ଦିର) of Puri is a divine Hindu Temple devoted to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Maa Laxmi. It is situated on the east coast of India, at core heart of city Puri in Odisha. In the 12th century it was established. The total area of this temple surroundings is more than 4,20,000 sq.ft. Total platform is having four gates with four directions. The east gate called as Lions Gate because there are two stone statues of lions. The west, south and north gates are looking similar that’s why they are called Tiger gate, Horse gate and Elephant Gate. The north gate designed with wood with fabricated with images and the God meant himself with this gate. At Navakalevara festival, make their entrance into the temple bounds throughout the North Gate. The main gate is called east facing or Lion Gate.
When we arrive at the front area of the Lion Gate, we can see a gigantic 10 meters high pillar, it is known as Aruna Stambha (ଅରୁଣ ସ୍ତମ୍ଭ). In Hindu tradition Aruna is the chariot of the God Sun and also world famous Sun Temple, Konark was constructed in the form of a breathtaking chariot and gigantic pillar with the wonderfully sculptured Aruna placed. Thare was no goddess in Jagannath temple when the it was deserted. That time the pillar Arun Stambha was removed from sun temple Konark to puri jagannath temple and it was settled in front of the Temple.
When we crossed away the Arun Stambha and entered with main gate, we see on a take-off steps. That is called Baisi Pahacha (ବାଇଶୀ ପାହାଚ)/it means of twenty two steps. For getting their blessings peoples bring their children & gradually spin over the twenty two steps from top to bottom. Really it is a spiritual excitement for believed devotees.
When we cross the east main gate and take off the steps to the main temple, we can see a vast kitchen house of temple on the left hand side. The puri temple is called as a tremendous kitchen of the world that’s why every tourists exactly observe that on process of the kitchen. This kitchen can serve Lakhs of people within two to three hours. It such a unbelievable process to make the healthful and conventional preparation of food within a short period. The right side of puri temple, we have find food selling market in the short campus, it is called Anand Bajara (ଆନନ୍ଦ ବଜାର).
MYSTERIES OF PURI JAGANNATH TEMPLE:-
1- No birds fly above Jagannath Temple in Puri.
2- The shadow of the main Dome of Jagannath Temple is not visible whatever be the time of day.
3- The flag at the top of the temple has been observed always flaps in the opposite direction of air flow.
4-“MAHAPRASAD” is prepared by 600-700 cooks and partaken by up to 50,000 Pilgrims generating business of RS 8-12 lakhs per day.
5- The quantity of Mahaprasad cooked inside the temple remains the same for the entire year. But that same quantity of prasad can feed few thousand people to a few lakh of people, there has never been shortfall.
6- The Mahaprasad or Holy offering to the lord is cooked on fire wood in 7 vessels or pots kept one above the other. The miracle is that the food kept in the top most vessel gets cooked first,followed by the second and so on till the seventh.
7- Jagannath Temple, Puri is one of the oldest and biggest temple in India.