ATTRACTIONS OF JAGANNATH TEMPLE

PLACES BETWEEN WEST GATE OUTER COMPOUND AND INNER COMPOUND

Kanapata Hanuman

Kanapata Hanuman is located on the western gate of Jagannatha Temple (Vyaghra Dwara or Tiger Gate). He is about 4 feet high. Lord Vishnu married Goddess Lakshmi, daughter of the Ocean. Thus, Lord Vishnu became son-in-law of the ocean. Once, during the night, the waves of the ocean make a loud sound that was heard all over Puri. Thus, the sound of the ocean was disturbing Lord's sleep. Lord Jagannatha ordered Samudra (ocean) not to make further sound.

As ordered, the sound of Samudra never entered the temple from that time. Still Lord Jagannatha engaged his devotee Hanuman to stand at the western gate and listen attentively and ensure the sound never entered the sanctum. Kanapata means to engage the ears (Kana) for hearing. Hence, Hanuman came to be called as Kanapata Hanuman. It is an astonishing fact that during night when one stands outside the temple listens the sound of the Sea. Surprisingly the sound is never heard inside the temple.

Niladri Vihar Meuseum

There is a small museum called Niladri Vihar just behind the Kanapata Hanuman temple. The museum is dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Here you can know about different incarnations of Lord Vishnu and various Beshas of Lord Jagannath. It depicts the legendary lore of Lord Jagannath with models and paintings and episodes taken from Puranas. Here you can witness the legendary emergence of Lord Jagannath as the presiding Deity of the temple with the aid of painted models.

Nilachala Upabana

Located near the western gate of Jagannatha Temple, Nilachala Upabana is the flower garden of Temple. This garden supplies flowers for the daily use of the Deities. Small shrines of Chakranarayan, Siddheswara, Mahavir Hanuman and Dhavaleswara Mahadev are located here.

Char Dham

Char Dham temple is located at the west gate (Tiger gate or Vyaghra Dwara) of Jagannatha Temple. This temple is situated just in front of the Kanapata Hanuman temple. In this temple, four Deities of India's Char Dham (four holy abodes) are worshipped. These Four Deities are Rameswara Mahadev, Badrinath, Dwarakanath and Jagannath. Devotees who can't visit the Char Dham of India, can visit this temple to get the blessings of all four Deities at one place.

PLACES BETWEEN WEST GATE INNER COMPOUND AND NORTH GATE INNER COMPOUND

Khirachora Gopinatha

Radha and Krishna are worshipped in Khirachora Gopinatha temple. This temple is situated at western side of inner compound of Jagannath Temple. This temple is facing towards east and situated to the south of Kanchi Ganesha temple. In Odia language "Khirachora" means Stealer of Milk and "Gopinatha" means the Divine Consort of Gopis. The reference is to child Krishna's love for milk and milk products.

Bhubaneswari/Panchashakti

The temple of Goddess Bhubaneswari is situated on the western side of the Kuruma Bedha (inner compound) and facing the east. In this temple five "AdiMatrukas" (primordial mothers) are worshipped in accordance with Shakti Puja, so this is also known as Panchashakti temple. These Adimatrukas/Panchashaktis are Saraswati, Gayatri, Savitri, Sasthi and Bhubaneswari. In the inner sanctum of the temple Bhubaneswari, in left side of the Nata Mandapa Saraswati, in right side of the Nata Mandapa Sasthi, Savitri and Gayatri are being worshipped. It is customary to worship these Adimatrukas prior to visiting Lord Jagannath.

• Goddess Bhubaneswari is sitting on a lotus. Height of the deity is around 5 feet. She has four hands and three eyes. In her two hands she holds Ankusha and Pasa, with another two hands she is exhibiting Abhaya and Barada posture. She is decorated with golden Kiriti (golden crown), garland, bangles and earrings.
• Goddess Gayatri is sitting on a lotus. She is the Veda Mata - regarded as the mother of the sacred Vedas and remains the divine energy that animates all things. She is revealed in the form of a mantra, called the Gayatri Mantra. Gayatri mantra is the essence of Hinduism.
• Goddess Savitri is the wife of Satyaban. She saved her husband from the clutch of Yamaraj (God of death). On Savitri Amabasya, married ladies worship her for long life and prospect of their husbands.
• Goddess Sasthi is the benefactor and protector of children of children. She is also the deity of vegetation and reproduction and is believed to bestow children and assist during childbirth. In Her left lap one child is seen. She is also worshipped as "Santana Lakshmi". In Sanskrit language 'Santana' means children. In Odisha, She is worshipped by the people as the divine Mother and the giver of good children, and also believes that She protects them throughout their life.
• Goddess Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is also known as Vagdevi -Goddess of speech and music, She plays the Veena, the Indian lute.

Nilamadhaba

Nilamadhaba temple is situated in the northern side of Bhubaneswari temple. The temple has a Vimana (Garbha Griha) and Jagamohana (Audience Hall). The icon of Nilamadhaba is made of granite stone, a small wooden idol of Lord Jagannath is there in his left side. Savara King Vishwavasu was worshipping Nilamadhaba in a dense forest. On direction of King Indradyumna, Vidyapati located Neelamadhaba, but when Indradyumna came, Nilamadhaba disappeared, and he could not get a darshan of Him. It is believed that Nilamadhaba was the founder deity of Srimandira and now has been sub-divided into three deities - 'Nila' means (Blue-Narayana/Jagannath), 'Ma' means (Mother Subhadra) 'Dhaba' means (White-Balabhadra).

Bedha Kali

Temple of Bedha Kali is situated in between the temples of Nilamadhaba and Mahalaxmi. In Odia language 'Bedha' means compound. She is known as Bedha Kali because She is the protector of Jagannath Temple compound. The look of this Kali is very furious, so devotees hesitate to come to the temple in odd times. During Maratha rule, a wall has been created in front of the original Deity with a whole on the wall and another idol of Goddess Kali has been installed. Flowers and Bhogas are offered to the original Deity through the whole on the backside wall. The height of the present Kali idol is around three feet. In one hand she holds a sword and in the other hand a skull. A garland of khapuri (human heads) is seen in her neck and Her carrier lion stands next to Her.

Mahalakshmi

The temple of Goddess Lakshmi is situated at the 'Vayu Kona' of Srimandir, the north-west corner of the inner compound. The architecture of this temple is superb, and it has four parts, such as Vimana/Garbha Griha (Sanctum Santorum), Jagamohana (Audience hall), Nata Mandapa (Dancing hall) and Bhoga Mandapa (Offering hall). The temple is facing east and it has three entrances, one each on south north and east. Goddess Lakshmi, known as Mahalakshmi, is considered as the goddess of wealth. She is Shakti of Lord Narayana. Puri is named after her name as "Shreekshetra". She is sitting on a lotus like pandal in the Garbha Griha. Her height is around three feet, and She has four hands. She is holding lotus in two upper hands and two lower hands exhibit Abhaya and Barada mudra. Two elephants, on both sides, are pouring water on Her from pitchers.

Nata Mandapa is the best place for prayer. In the Nata Mandapa there are paintings of the Ramanuja School. These paintings include the pictures of different Gods and Goddesses. Pictures of Ganesha, Hanuman, Nrusimha, Varaha, Krushna with Radha are particularly attractive. The Nata Mandapa is used for religious conversations and recitation of Mantras of Goddess Mahalakshmi. Devotees generally sit a while in the Nata Mandapa after visiting Goddess Mahalakshmi to receive the blessings of Her. Special Puja are performed during festivals like Snana Yatra, Bahuda Yatra, Niladri Bije, Jhulana Yatra, Nandostava, Kumar Purnima, Pusa Purnima and Rukmini Vibaha etc. There is a special kitchen for Mahalakshmi. Different varieties of sweet cakes are prepared daily in that kitchen and offered to Her by the servitors.

Navagraha

Navagraha temple is situated towards the north side of Mahalakshmi temple. Normally Navagrahas are placed and worshipped on the doorjambs of Hindu temples, but here they are worshipped within a separate temple and placed in an opposite seriatim, such as- Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu (north node of the moon) and Ketu (south node of the moon). Further Samaleswari, Rama, Laxman, Sita and Hanuman are also worshipped within this temple.

Surya

Surya (Sun) temple is situated on the northern side of the temple of Shree Jagannatha and faces the east. It has three parts - Vimana, Jagamohana and Nata Mandapa. The presiding deity of the temple is Surya, the Sun God. He is sitting on a chariot, drawn by seven horses. The image of the Sun God installed in the temple is stated to have been brought from Konark by King Narasimha Deva. In the Jagamohana, another movable metal idol of Lord Surya is also seen on a wooden chariot. Consorts of Lord Surya are also worshipped within this temple. Within the Grabha Griha (Sanctum sanctorum), just behind the idol of Surya, there is another west facing half-broken idol, not clearly visible to normal eyes. Researchers believed that it is an idol of Lord Indra. Hindu mythology states that Lord Indra is the elder brother of Lord Vishnu, so he was worshiped here, so Indradhwaja Puja on Indu purnima is the major festival of this temple. The main festivals of Lord Surya are Samba Dasami, Tila Saptami, Chaitra Gundicha, Saptapuri Purnima and Odhana Sasthi etc.

Pataleswara

The Pateleswara temple is situated near the north gate of Kurma bedha. The temple is facing towards the east. Half of the temple lies below the surface level. Devotees has to climb down 22 steps to reach the Grabha Griha Sanctum sanctorum. According to the legend, Lord Vishnu in His Bamana Incarnation, suppressed Bali into Patal Lok (netherworld), hence Bali in the name of Pataleswara is being worshipped in this temple. Within the Grabha Griha, Shiva Linga is surrounded by five metal snakes. King Anangavima Deva had built this temple. Ancient rock edicts relating to the period of king Anangavima Deva, containing descriptions of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, have been found near the second doorjambs of the temple.

After coming out from this temple one has to touch, with his palm, the outer wall of the Pateleswara temple thrice, then face towards the south, look at the Nilachakra and Patitpabana Flag on the top of the main temple and pay his respect.

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