About The Puri Jagannath Temple

Puri Jagannath Temple:-

The Jagannath Temple of Puri is one of the most popular temple.

The basic structure of the temple has a total height of about 65 meters. It is supposed to be established in the 12th century.The Jagannath Temple in Puri is situated on the Nilgiri Hills. One of the main attractions of this temple of Orissa is the bhoga that it distributes.The Bhoga Mandir and the Nata Mandir were put up later on in the 15th century and the 14th century respectively. This temple is one of the tallest temples that have been established in the country of India.

The Puri temple is built on a gigantic raised platform in the heart of the city, The temple complex 

is enclosed by a wall about seven meters high -including the height of the platform. The area of 

this platform is more than 4,20,000 sq.ft. The wall is pierced by four gates ,facing the four 

directions. On the east-facing gate, there are stone images of two lions and it is called the Lions 

Gate. The north, south and west facing gates are similarly known as the Elephant Gate, the 

Horse Gate and the Tiger Gate (also called the Khanja Gate) respectively. The north gate is 

mainly meant for the God himself in as much as, the logs of wood out of which, the images are 

fabricated, make their entry into the temple premises through this gate, when the Navakelevara 

ceremony takes place. The east-facing Lions Gate is the main gate. There are pyramidal 

structures over the four gates, which are not very old.

Jagannath Temple Architecture :-

The main temple structure of this architectural and cultural wonder is 65m (214 feet) high and is built on elevated ground, making it look more imposing. Comprising an area of 10.7 acres, the temple complex is enclosed by two rectangular walls. The outer enclosure is called Meghanada Prachira, 200m (665 ft) by 192m (640 ft). The inner wall is called Kurmabedha, 126m (420 ft) by 95m (315 ft). There are thirty-six traditional communities (Chatisha Niyaga) who render a specific hereditary service to the deities. The temple has as many as 6,000 priests.


There is a wheel on top of the Jagannath Temple made of an alloy of eight metals (asta-dhatu). It is called the Nila Chakra (Blue Wheel), and is 3.5m (11 ft 8 in) high with a circumference of about 11m (36 ft). Every day, a different flag is tied to a mast attached to the Nila Chakra. Every Ekadasi, a lamp is lit on top of the temple near the wheel.

Walls of Jagnnath Swami Temple:- 
  There are two Rectangular walls

.
1.The outer enclosure is called Meghanada Prachira, 200m (665 ft) by 192m (640 ft). 2.
The inner wall is called Kurmabedha, 126m (420 ft) by 95m (315 ft). 

Four Gates Of Puri Jagannath Temple:-

1. Theeastern Simha Dvara (lionGate), these is the main entrance to the Jagannatha temple on the Grand Road:-

Lion Gate, the main entrance of Jagannath temple in Puri would remain closed for at least fifteen days from Wednesday in view of the ongoing repair work by archeological survey of India (ASI). Devotees can use the other three gates as entry and exit routes.

The vast open area in front of the Lions Gate (eastern gate),there is a monolithic pillar about 10 meters high. This pillar is known locally as the Aruna Stambha. In Hindu mythology Aruna is the the charioteer of the Sun-god, The world famous Konarka temple was designed in the form of a stupendous chariot and this monolithic pillar with the beautifully carved Aruna seated on its top was installed right in front of the porch of that temple. When the temple was abandoned and there was no presiding deity in it, this pillar was removed from Konarka to Puri and was fixed in front of Jagannatha temple where we see it now.

Immediately after we get into the main gate and proceed forward, we find ourselves on a flight of steps. Locally, they are called Baisi Pahaca, which literally means, twenty-two steps. The history or rather the mystery of this flight of steps has not been unveiled. It is interesting to note that great reverence is shown to this flight of twenty-two steps. The parents bring their children & make them slowly roll over the steps from the top to the bottom ones in expectation of spiritual bliss in as much as countless devotees have walked on the steps which are believed to be throbbing with spiritual animation.

The main entrance on the east and ascend the flight of steps leading to the main temple, on the left-hand side, a vast kitchen area of the temple. Some tourists rightly observe that on account of this kitchen, the Puri temple may be described as the biggest hotel of the world. It can feed even one lakh persons with only two to three hours’ notice. The method of preparation is most hygienic and the traditional process of preparation of food for so many people in so short a time, takes many by surprise. To the right, we have the Ananda Bajara which is the popular name of the food selling market within the enclosure. Ananda Bajara literally means, the pleasure market.

2. The Southern Asva Dvara (horse gate):-

3. The Western Vyaghra Dvara (tiger gate):-

4. The Northern Hasti Dvara (elephant gate):-

 Nila Chakra:-

The Nila Chakra (Blue Discus) is the discus mounted on the top shikhar of the Jagannath Temple at Puri. As per custom, everyday a different flag is waved on the Nila Chakra. The flag hoisted o.

n the Nila Chakra is called the Patita Pavana (Purifier of the Fallen) and is equivalent to the image of the deities placed in the sanctum sanctorum