Hello Friends, You must have heard about Jagannath Rath Yatra is world famous. But there is a lot of information that you may be would not know like Jagannath Story, Wonders of Jagannath, How to reach Jagannath, Jagannath Rath Yatra etc. So we are giving this information, so let’s know.
Jagannath Puri
Hindus believe that Jagannath Puri is one of the seven holiest places in India. According to people, the Hindu pilgrimage to India is incomplete without a visit to Jagannath Puri. Jagannath Temple is the only temple in India where Lord Krishna along with Radha, Durga, Lakshmi, Parvati, Sati, and Shakti dwell. It is considered to be the holy land of Lord Jagannath and it has been given many names in the Puranas like Purushottam Puri, Purushottam Kshetra, Purushottam Dham, Neelachal, Neeladri, Shree Shrestha and Shankashreshtha.
Jagannath Puri is considered a mixture of culture, mind and soul where people live with their art, customs and practices. It is believed that the Pandavas of Mahabharata also came here and worshiped Jagannath Ji.
The Jagannath temple has many deities, but it is called the ‘Jagannath Temple’. But along with Jagannath, two other gods, elder brother Balabhadra and his sister Goddess Subhadra are also worshiped here. These three constitute the original and fundamental trinity and consider them all to be forms and forms of the all-present, all-scientific and omnipresent supreme power. In the Puranas, Jagannath Puri has been called the Baikuntha of the earth. Let us tell you that Lord Vishnu had done many leelas here. Jagannath Dham also talks about the sacred relationship of brother and sister.
Rath Yatra
The grand Rathotsav of Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri: Every year a large number of travelers come here to be a part of Jagannath Rath Yatra or Rath Festival. In this, the three principal deities of the temple, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Bhagini Subhadra are seated in different chariots and the Rath is taken towards the Gundicha temple and brought back to the Jagannath temple.
This festival is usually celebrated in the month of July. Currently, the practice of Jagannath Rath Yatra is also in full swing in other Vaishnava Krishna temples in India. Now even in small cities, Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra is organized.
Best Time to visit
October to February is considered the best time to visit Puri. Because at this time you get a pleasant climate. At this time scorching heat and high humidity do not interfere with your travel plans. At this time there is a little cold in winter which will make your trip more exciting. If you want to join the chariot journey of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, then you can go here during June-July.
How to reach in Jagannath Puri
By Air: The nearest airport to Puri is at Bhubaneswar and it is only 68 kilometers from Puri. So you can go to Bhubaneshwar by flight, and then you can reach Puri by taxi from there.
By Train: Puri has a major railway junction of its own. Which is well connected to all major cities of the country.
By Road: Puri is connected to major cities of India. If you want to go to Puri by road, you can travel to Puri by bus from Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar etc.
Story of Jagannath Temple
It is said that Lord Jagannath, the lord of Lord Jagannath, was found under the Indranil, or sapphire, of Lord Vishnu, under an Agaru tree. Seeing the grandeur of the idol, religion hid it under the earth. It is believed that Shri Hari himself appeared to the Malwa King Indradyumna, who was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu, and said that on the beach of Puri you will find a daroo (wood) log, make an idol from it.
When the king reached the shore, he found a log of wood. Now the question before him was, who should get the idol built. Lord Vishnu himself is said to have appeared as an old sculptor along with Sri Vishwakarma. They said that they will build the idols within a month but will do this work in a closed room. For one month no one will enter it nor will anyone stare, even if he is a king.
It was the last day of the month, there was no voice coming from the room for many days, so Kotuhavasha could not stay away from the king and looked inside, but then the old sculptor opened the door and told the king that the idols were still incomplete. Hands are not made. The king was very sorry for his act and even apologized to the old man but he said that this is the will of God. Statues were then installed at the same stage. Even today the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are in the same condition.
Wonders of Jagannath Puri
- Jagannath Temple is the only temple in the world where the idol of God is taken out of the temple.
- The flag on the summit of Jagannath temple always wave in the opposite direction of the wind. Another amazing thing is associated with this flag is that it is changed everyday and the one who changes it reaches the flag by climbing upside down. It is believed that if the flag is not changed one day, then the gates of the temple will be closed for 18 years.
- At the top of the temple is the Ashtadhatu-built Sudarshan Chakra. This cycle is also called the Neel Chakra and is considered very sacred. Its special thing is that if you see this chakra from any direction from any corner, then it seems as if its mouth is on your side.
- In the temple kitchen, 7 utensils are placed on top of each other to cook the offerings. This prasad is cooked on wood only in pottery. During this time, the dish of the utensil placed at the top is cooked first and then the prasad is cooked one after the other from the bottom.
- You cannot hear the sound coming from the waves of the sea only if you keep the first step inside the temple’s lion gate. The surprising thing is that as soon as you step out of the temple, the sound of the sea starts to be heard. This experience feels even more uncanny in the evening.
- We have seen birds sitting and flying on the summit of most temples. This thing of Jagannath temple will surprise you that no bird passes over it. Even the airplane does not leave the top of the temple.
- Often in the sea areas, the wind moves from the sea to the earth during the day when it changes its position in the evening, it starts flowing from the earth towards the sea but here Lord Maya of Lord Jagannath turns it upside down and the day In the wind flows from the earth towards the sea and in the evening from the sea to the earth.
- The prasad made every day in the temple never diminishes for the devotees, as well as the prasad also ends as soon as the temple is closed.
- The shadow of the main peak of the Jagannath temple is not formed at any time of the day.
World's Largest Kitchen
The kitchen located in the temple of Shri Jagannath is considered to be the largest kitchen in the world. Together, around 500 cooks and around 300 cooks prepare the offerings of God. To cook the second prasad, 7 pots are placed on top of each other and the process of cooking prasad starts from the topmost vessel. In pottery, the prasad is cooked on wood itself. The prasad of the lowest vessel is finally cooked.
There are two wells near the kitchen, namely Ganga and Yamuna and water is extracted from these two wells to prepare prasad. The kitchen located in the temple is considered to be the largest kitchen in the world. 56 different dishes are prepared in this kitchen and all the dishes are prepared according to religious books. Surprisingly, the offerings never fall in the temple and the offerings also end as soon as the gates of the temple are closed.
Activities in Jagannath Puri
1. Puri has many beautiful beaches, which is an ideal place for many activities like angling, boat rides, swimming, surfing, jet ski rides, sea cruising.
2. Get lost in the biodiversity of wildlife sanctuaries.
3. Become photography and bird watchers in these sanctuaries. Enjoy seeing many rare avian species like white-bellied sea eagles, flamingos, golden plots etc. in the wildlife sanctuaries of Puri.
4. Go to see cultural festival.
5. Witness the Jagannath Rath Yatra to be held in June or July every year. Decorated chariots, singing and dancing of devotees must be experienced once in a lifetime of full enthusiasm and general emotional enthusiasm.
6. You can buy traditional saris like Pochampally Sarees, Bomkai Sarees and Ikat Sarees here.
i. Shell and oyster based handicrafts.
ii. Palm Leaf or Leash Painting Painting.
iii. Silk and cotton handloom fabrics.
iv. Other items such as stone bowls and stone sculptures can also be purchased.
Events in Jagannath Puri
1. Jagannath Rath Yatra
Jagannath Rath Yatra is world famous. The grand Rathotsava of Jagannath Puri is visited every year by a large number of pilgrims to be a part of Puri’s Jagannath Rath Yatra or Rath Festival. In this, the three main deities of the temple, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Bhagini Subhadra are seated in different chariots, every year, lakhs of devotees in the Jagannath Rath Yatra complete the chariot of Lord Sri Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra and take their darshan to every corner of the world. Let’s reach here. Every year new chariots are made for the Jagannath Rath Yatra.
2. Puri Beach Carnival
The annual Puri Beach Festival showcases the sand art that attracts many tourists. The art by local award-winning local sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik is relaxing to the eye and do not forget to visit the art if you are in Puri during this festival.
