Puri Jagannatha Temple

Jagannatha means The “Lord of The Universe”

The Puri Jagannath Temple is a cultural, religious, and architectural phenomenon located in Puri, Odisha that embodies the beauty of Odia culture. Considered one of the Char Dham, or a site considered holy by the trinity of religions - Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, the Puri Jagannath Temple has hosted pilgrimages and worship for centuries. 

The origins of the temple can be traced back to the Ganga Dynasty Emperor Anantavarman Chodaganga during the 12th century CE, with construction originally starting in 1112 CE and lasting until approximately 1226 CE. The temple is built as a homage to Lord Jagannath, a form of Vishnu, along with Jagannath’s brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. Year long service and worship is offered, with increased pilgrimage during Rath Yatra, a festival that commemorates Lord Jagannath. Although Rath Yatra is conducted in almost all temples in Odisha, its performance at the Puri Jagannath Temple is considered to be the most populous and extravagant. It is estimated that over one million devotees come to the Puri Jagannath Mandir during Rath Yatra for worship. 

The Puri Temple is an architectural phenomenon. The temple complex is spanned over more than 400,000 square feet, and is surrounded by a fortified wall that was constructed after the Temple was ransacked in the 16th century with the arrival of the Muslim Mughals. The complex consists of the main temple, which stands at an impressive height of 214 feet, along with over 120 minor temples that host active prayers on a daily basis. Furthermore, the Nila Chakra, a discus mounted on the top of the main temple, is one of the most recognized features of the Puri Jagannath Temple. The Nila Chakra has a flag known as the Patita Pavana that is changed on a daily basis to signify the image of deities undergoing worship. 

Finally, the sheer volume of devotees who come to pray at the Puri Jagannath temple is astounding. During the peak Rath Yatra season, millions of devotees come to the temple on a daily basis. The kitchen of the mandir is the largest kitchen in the world - with over 500 chefs and 750 earthen stoves, the kitchen is capable of feeding 100,000 people on a daily basis, with that number reaching as high as 250,000 during peak festival times. The action of the kitchen is presented during the daily offerings, known as prasad, which are offered six times a day. 

The Puri Jagannath temple is an architectural, gastronomical, and cultural powerhouse that embodies the vibrant culture of Odisha and shows the power of collaboration towards a single faith.