The
name Jagannatha or Jagannath literally means "Lord of the Universe".
It is said that the present temple was begun by King 'Chora Ganga Deva'
and finished by his descendant, 'Anangabhima Deva', in the 12th century.
The
Main Temple StructureThe main temple structure is 65m (214
feet) high and is built on elevated ground, which makes it look even
larger and adds to the imposing impression you get as you first come
within sight of the temple. The temple complex comprises an area of 10.7
acres and is enclosed by two rectangular walls. The outer enclosure is
called "Meghanada Prachira". The walls are 6m (20 feet) high.
The inner wall is called "Kurmabedha". The walls were built
during the 15th or 16th century.
This temple is said to have
the largest kitchen in the world and feeds thousands of devotees every
day. The kitchen can prepare food for 100,000 people on a festival day
and 25,000 are not unusual for a normal day. There are 36 traditional
communities ('Chatisha Niyaga') who render a specific hereditary service
to the Deities. The temple has as many as 6,000 priests.
The
Blue Wheel - Jagannath TempleThere is a wheel on top of the
Jagannatha Temple made of an alloy of eight different metals known as "Asta
- Dhatu". It is known as the "Nila Chakra" (blue wheel).
It is 11 feet 8 inches high and has a circumference of about 36 feet. A
flag is tied every day on a mast attached to the Nila Chakra. On every
'Ekadasi' day a lamp is lit on top of the temple near the wheel. The
main temple is surrounded by 30 different smaller temples. The "Narasimha
temple" adjacent to the western side of the 'Mukti-Mandapa' is said
to have been constructed before the present temple.
In front of
the main gate is an 11m pillar, called "Aruna Stambha", which
used to be in front of the Sun Temple in Konark. It was brought to Puri
during the 18th century. The figure on top of the pillar is Aruna, the
charioteer of the Sun God. In the passage room of this gate is a Deity
of Lord Jagannatha called "Patita Pavana" (Savior of the most
fallen). This Deity is visible from the road so non Hindus can take
'Darshana' of the Lord.
