The
Sun Pillar
In front of the entrance to the eastern gateway there is the beautiful Sun
Pillar (Aruna Stambha), which originally stood before the temple of the Sun at
Konark and was shifted here by the Marathas.The Sun Pillar is a monolithic
shaft of chlorite with sixtten sides.It is 25 feet and 2 inches in height,2
feet in diametre,and 6 feet and 3.5 inches in circumference.It stands on an
exquisitely carved pedestal (made of chlorite) of 7 feet 9 inches square and 6
feet high,and has a capital on the top 2 feet high,over which squats the
praying Aruna. The capital is formed of two rings surmounted by a series of
lotus petals. The measurements thus give a total height of 33 feet & 8 inches
from the ground to the top of the capital.In its present situation the pillar
is about two part of the 13th century.
The temple has two big concentric
walls and four gates both in outer and inner walls.The outer wall of the temple
is known as Meghanada Prachira (665 ft. x 640 ft.) and the inner wall is known
as Kuruma Bedha (420 ft. x 315 ft.).The height of the outer wall varies from 20
ft.to 24 ft. with serrated battlement on its top.The loftiness of the walls
proves that the temple had served the purpose of a fort.This is corroborated by
the fact that at the time of the Muslim invasion the civilians as well as the
soilders took shelter inside the compound when certain portions of it were
damged.There is no historical evidence to prove when the outer and the inner
walls were constructed.But from the Madala Panji and the local tradition it is
known that these were bulit not earlier then the 15th century A.D.
The
Gates
In the temple of Jagannath there are
four gates both in outer and inner enclousers.The eastern entrance of the outer
enclousure is called Simhadwara or the Lion Gate. The entrance on the
Southern,Western and Northern sides of the out enclousure are known as
Aswadwara, Vyaghradwara and Hastidwara respectively. They are also called as
Purbadwara, Dakhinadwara, Paschimadwara and Uttardwara according to their
directions.Worshipping the gates also forms a part of the daily ritualistic
service of the temple.The eastern gate is beautifully ornamented.Navagraha
reliefs are carved on the architraves of all the gates.
Eastern Gate/Lion's Gate/Simha Dwara
The Simhadwara or the Lion Gate has
on each side a colossal crouching lion of the usual Orissan make with a crown
on its head,which gives the gate its name.In the proylaeum at the Lion Gate on
the northern side there is the image of Patitapavana.In front of Patitapavana a
small image of Garuda has been installed. the idols of phatya
Hanumana,Radha-Krishna,and Nursimha have been installed in the inches of the
side walls.Formerly the untouchables who were not allowed to go inside the
temple used to offer their prayers to Patitapavana (Jagannath) remaining
outside the Simhadwara.Inside the outer enclosure is the inner
enclosure,approached by 22 flights of steps (Baisipahacha) from the eastern
gateway of the outer enclosure.The width of the middle 15 steps varies from 5
feet and 10 inches to 6 feet 3 inches and the rise is 6 inches to 7 inches.The
size of the remaining 7 steps are smaller both in length and width.The steps
are made of felspar and Khondalite.The idols of
Kasi-Biswanath,ramachandra,Nursimha, and Ganesh have been installed on the
southern side of the Baisipahacha.
Southern Gate/Horse Gate/Aswa Dwara
The Aswadwara or the Horse Gate has
on each side a galloping stallion of masonry work with the figures of Jagannath
and Balabhadra on their back in full military array.These sculptures depict the
legendary Kanchi expedition of Jagannath and Balabhadra,and have been installed
recently.The inner enclosure is approached by ten flights of steps,made of
khondalite,from the southern gateway of the outer enclosure.
The images of Sadhabhuja
Gouranga,Ramachandra,Gopala,Barabhai Hanumana and Nursimha have been installed
in small shrines in the outer enclosure.Towards the eastern direction of it is
the kitchen of Lord Jagannath which can feed thousands of people at a time. The
process of cooking done in the kitchen has some peciliarities.In the same over
nine earthern pots are placed and cooking is done simultaneously.There are 200
hearths in the kitchen and 400 supakars work here daily.The present kitchen
building dates from the regin of Divyasimha Deva (1690-1713 A.D.) and was built
by a private person.The colossal image of Mahavir Hanuman is installed outside
the temple enclosure to the east of Aswadwara.
Western Gate/Tiger Gate/Vyaghra Dwara
The Vyaghradwara or the Tiger Gate
has on each side a figure of a tiger made of mortar.The inner enclosure is
approached by seven flights of steps,made of khondalite,from the western
gateway of the outer enclosure.The deities of Rameswar-Mahadeva,Sri Jagannath
Dwarakanath,and Badrinath are installed in the outer enclosure in a shrine
known as Chaturdham.
Flower garden have been set up both
the sides from which flowers are collected for the daily worship of the
deities. The shrines of Chakranarayana, Sidheswara, Mahabir Hanuman, and
Dhabaleswar Mahadeva are located in this area.On the northern side, the Niladri
Vihar has been constructed which depicts the popular legends on Jagannath
through models and paintings.
Northern Gate/Elephant Gate/Hasti Dwara
The Hastidwara or the Elephant Gate
had on each side a colossal figure of elephant,which is said to have been
disfigured during the Muslim inroads.Subsequently,these figures were repaired
and plastered with mortar and placed at he northern gate of the inner enclosure
(Kurma Bedha).
The inner enclosure is approached by
thirteen flights of steps made of khondalite,from the northern gateway of the
outer enclosure.The deities of Lokanath,Uttarani,Lakshmi-Nursimha,Baraha and
Sitala have been installed in the outer enclosure.There is also the sacred
Suna-Kuan from which 108 pitchers of water are taken for the ceremonial bath of
Lord Jagannath during the Snana Yatra.On the western side of the outer
enclosure,near the gate of the kurma bedha,stands a banian tree,and on a raised
platform,the favour Koili Baikuntha or Kaivalya Baikuntha.During the
Nabakalebara,the images of Jagannath,Balabhadra and Subhadra are being
constructed here.
