Jagannath Temple in New Delhi

                                                      Jagannath Temple

The Jagannath Temple in New Delhi, India is a modern temple built by the Oriya community of Delhi dedicated to the Hindu God Jagannath. The temple located in Hauz Khas is famous for its annual Rathyatra festival attended by thousands of devotees.
The lord Jagannath temple houses the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Maa Subhadra besides Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Maa Lakshmi, Maa Vimala and Maa Tarini.
The Jagannath Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is located in Hauz Khas, Delhi, India. The Paramparik Vastukar from Puri, constructed this oldest Jagannath temple in NCR. This famous temple draws visitors from all over the country and it is famous for the Rath Yatra festival that is held here annually.Jagannath is considered a form of Vishnu or his avatar Krishna by the Hindus. Jagannath is worshipped as part of a triad on the ''Ratnavedi'' (jeweled platform) along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra by his devotees. The icon of Jagannath is a carved and decorated wooden stump with large round eyes and with stumps as hands, with the conspicuous absence of any legs. The worship procedures, practices, sacraments and rituals of Jagannath do not conform with those of classical Hinduism. Though in certain Oriya literary creations, Jagannath has been treated as the Ninth avatar, by substituting Buddha. Jagannath considered as a form of the Hindu God Vishnu, is non sectarian and has not been associated with any particular denomination of Hinduism in entirety, though there are several common aspects with Vaishnavism, Saivism, Shaktism, Smartism, as well as with Buddhism and Jainism. The oldest and most famous Jagannath deity is established in Puri. The temple of Jagannath in Puri is regarded as one of the Char Dham. The Puranas relate that the Narasimha Avatar of Vishnu appeared from a wooden pillar. It is therefore believed that Jagannath is worshipped as a wooden idol or Daru Brahma with the Sri Narasimha hymn dedicated to the Narasimha Avatar. Jagannath when worshipped alone is called Dadhi Vaman. Every year in the month of Bhadra, Jagannath is dressed and decorated in the form of the Vamana avatar of Vishnu. Jagannath assumes the Vamana Avatar during the annual Rath Yatra. Jagannath appeared in the form of Rama another avatar of Vishnu to Tulsidas, whom he worshipped as Raghunath when visiting Puri in the 16th century From the times of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Jagannath has been strongly associated with Krishna.Jagannath is identified with Buddha considered the ninth avatar of Vishnu by Hindus.Jagannath is said to assume the form of any God to satisfy his devotee's desire.

                                                    

Located in Thyagraj Nagar, this magnificent temple is dedicated to Shri Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu and is being managed by Shri Jagannath Mandir and Orissa Arts & Cultural Centre, Delhi (Regd.) since 1968. It was formed because of some Jagannath devotees who were establishing a platform through an association to build a temple for Lord Jagannath in New Delhi. This is the oldest form of an association formed by them here who took the initiative of building a temple.
 The foundation stone of the temple was laid on 15th January 1968 and soon a small temple was built for the consecrated triad. Later regular worship of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balbhadra, Devi Subhadra and Shri Sudarshana Chakara (as Chaturtha Moorthy) started with installation of small size idols of three Deities.
 As regards to the Rath Yatra by Shri Jagannath Mandir and Orissa Arts & Cultural Centre, Delhi (Regd.), the Chariots of the three deities are graciously taken out of the temple with a grand procession in Thyagraj Nagar and it is this precise moment when one finds the finesse of Odia culture in full flow in National Capital. For last forty-eight instances, this grand festival has been marking a persistent ritual statement of this famous tradition (called Jagannath Parampara) where everyone irrespective of one’s identity is invited and embraced. This practice unifies the devotee with the Lord irrespective of one’s caste, creed, gender and religion. The devotees are offered Anna Prasad unfailingly after each Pooja.

 This temple is also unique in the sense that it provides a platform to non-resident Odias in Delhi/NCR to come together during all prominent religious festivals like Rath Yatra and Kartik Poornima. Gradually proceeding with its increasing revenues and popularity, Shri Jagannath Mandir and Orissa Arts & Cultural Centre, Delhi (Regd.) has also built a bigger temple and a dharmasala adjacent to the temple.

Lord Jagannath:-

Shree Shree Jagannath Mahaprabhu is revered as Lord Vishnu or His avatar Krishna in South-Eastern India by the Hindus. Lord Jagannath is worshipped as part of a triad on the Ratnavedi along with His brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. Since time immemorial, His monumental and magnificent temples at Shree Purushottam-Kshetra in Odisha have been held in the highest regard as one of the four major Dhamas.
 Lord Jagannath lacks a precise Vedic mention or reference and is not a member of the traditional Dashavatara concept or the classical Hindu mythology, but finds precise mentions in certain Odia literatures wherein He has been treated as the Ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu, thereby substituting Buddha. Obviously, Lord Jagannath is considered as an incarnation of the mighty Hindu god Vishnu and is hailed as a non-sectarian because He is not associated with any particular sect of Hinduism entirely.
 Lord Jagannath is the Purushottama form of Vishnu (meaning the best possible human form) while the Gaudiya Vaishnavs have identified him strongly with Krishna. Lord Balabhadra is considered the elder brother of Lord Jagannath and is worshipped as Supreme Powerful Lord Shiva. Devi Subhadra is considered Lord Jagannath's sister who is worshipped as Adyashakti Durga. The fourth deity, the Sudarshana Chakra, symbolizes the wheel of Sun's Chariot and is the preferred weapon of Lord Jagannath. The conglomerate of these four supreme powerful, omnipotent gods, viz., Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Sudarshan Chakra are worshipped together on a common platform are called the Chaturdha Murty that means the ‘four-fold form.’


Architecture:-

The architecture of the temple follows the pattern of many Orissan temples of the classical period. The main shikhara, or tower, rises above the inner sanctum where the deities reside. Subsidiary shikharas rise above ante-halls. The temple complex is surrounded by a wall, on each side of which is a gopura or gate, over which rises a pyramid-shaped roof. Being the largest temple in the state, it has a complex covering several square blocks with dozens of structures including a mammoth kitchen.
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.

Jagannath Temple Timings:-

Summer Timings:-

 The Pahad opens at 5:00 am in the morning everyday. The morning poojas and other rituals are carried out. After the Prasad Vitaran, the Pahad reopens at 12:30 pm and closes at 10:00 pm.

Winter Timings:-

 The Pahad opens at 6:00 am in the morning everyday. The morning poojas and other rituals are carried out. After the Prasad Vitaran, the Pahad reopens at 1:00 pm and closes at 9:00 pm.

Dress Code at Jagannath Temple:-

It is advisable to wear decent pieces of apparel when entering the temple. Ladies should be in traditional attire of sari, lehenga choli or salwar kameez. Leather items are not allowed inside the sanctum. People should leave their footwear behind while entering the temple.

Festivals Celebrated at the Jagannath Temple:-

Almost all Hindu festivals and certain festivals specific to the Oriya community are celebrated at the temple. The most important festival, however, is the Rath Yatra.

Rath Yatra:-

 Rath Yatra is a Hindu festival associated with the god Jagannath which is held at the Jagannath Temple every year. It is the replication of the festival which happens at the same time in Puri.  This annual festival is celebrated on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya (second day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha month) which coincides with the months of June-July. Rath Yatra translates into ‘The Chariot Journey’ in English. Over the period, the idols of Sri Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are placed in wooden chariots which are constructed over a period of time by skilled craftsmen and the chariots are carried across the streets which are strewn with flowers and grains by the devotees. They are carried for a couple of kilometers and they are brought back to their original place after the journey. It’s a visual treat to see thousands of devotees gathering on the streets and helping in sharing the burden of the chariots of the gods.

The other festivals celebrated at the Jagannath Temple are:-

1.Maha Vishuba Pana Sankranti / Hanuman Jayanti
2.Shri Rama Navami
3.Basantika Dushhara
4.Ravinarayan Brata
5.Chaitra Purnima
6.Akshay Trutiya / Ratha Anukula
7.Harishayana Ekadashi / Sunabesha
8.Guru Purnima
9.Shrikrishna Janmasthami
10.Ganesh Chaturthi
11.Navadinatmaka Puja Arambh
12.Pithe Mahasthami Puja
13.Pithe Maha Navami Puja
14.Pithe Dushahera
15.Dipawali
16.Devabhisheka
17.Makara Sankranti
18.Saraswati Puja
19.Holi

Poojas and Rituals at Jagannath Temple:-

1.Mangal Aarti
2.Abkash
3.Balya Bhog
4.Mandir Rosoi Ghar Hawan
5.Surya Pooja
6.Dwarpal Hawan
7.Garud Pooja
8.Snana, Sringar and Sohala Upchar Pooja
9.Gopal Ballabh, Aarti and Pushpanjalee
10.Gita Paath
11. Vishnu Sahashranam Paath
12.Bada Bhog
13.Aarti
14.Pana Bhog
15.Veda Paath
16.Sri Bhagwat Paath
17.Strotra Paath
18.Sainkaleen Pooja
19.Sandhaya Aarti
20.Bhajan and Kirtan
21.Shayan Aarti
22.Bhada Bhog
23.Geet Govinda Paath

How To Reach:-

By Road:-

 The temple located in Hauz Khas. Delhi is well connected, by a network of roads and national highways, with all the major cities in India. The three major bus stands in Delhi are Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) at Kashmiri Gate, Sarai Kale-Khan Bus Terminus and Anand Vihar Bus Terminus. Both the government and private transport providers provide frequent bus services. One can also get government as well as private taxis here.

By Rail:-

 The nearest Railway Station to the temple is Hauz Khas Metro Station

By Air:-

 Delhi is well connected with domestic and international flights, to all the major cities within and outside India. Almost all the major airlines have their flights operating from Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi. Domestic Airport connects Delhi to the major cities in India.