Puri · Sri Jagannatha · Yatra

Puri – The Abode of the Lord of the Universe

Nestled on the banks of the majestic Bay of Bengal lies a town renowned and revered as Puri – the abode of the Majesty of the cosmos (Jagath – Universe and Natha – King).

Why “Puri” Means Jagannatha

The common usage of the word Puri in Sanskrit refers to the place of dwelling of an Archa Avatara of Bhagavan; for example: Dwaraka Puri and Ayodhya Puri. But when only the word “Puri” is uttered, it is understood to be the abode of Jagannatha.

Analogy – One Name Says It All

To understand this analogy, we must take a look at Adi Shankara’s famous work Bhaja Govindam, where he says: “Geyam Gita Nama Sahasram.” Although there are many types, the word Gita is commonly referred to as the Bhagavad Gita, and Sahasranamam is commonly understood as the Vishnu Sahasranamam.

A Kshetra Where Everything Has Meaning

Everything in this pious Kshetra, from gate to pot, has a meaning.

The First Appearance – Neela Madhava

All this began when Bhagavan appeared as Neela Madhava in this mundane world

(Archa Avatara). King Indradhyumna, a pious ruler, ordered one of his courtiers, Vidhyapati, to go and have the Darshan of the Lord. Vidhyapati had the Darshan of the beautiful Neela Madhava, who was worshipped by the tribal king.

The King’s Longing and the Vanishing Lord

Indradhyumna, with an intense desire to see the Lord, began his sojourn but found the Lord missing. He then ordered Vishwakarma, the architect of the Devas, to carve out beautiful deities of Bhagavan.

Vishwakarma’s Condition

Supplementing the phrase “Nothing comes without a price,” the skilled architect laid down a condition: until he had finished carving the deity, the king should not look at his work. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, yet the Lord was still not carved.

Curiosity That Changed Eternity

After a period of time, the king could not hear any sounds from the site of carving. Curiosity overflowed within him like boiling milk, and he hastily went to see what Vishwakarma was working on.

The Divine Form We Worship Today

This act led to the form of Bhagavan we worship today — with big, rounded red eyes with no eyelids, symbolizing His eternal gaze upon His devotees; half sculpted hands; and no legs, symbolizing His resolve to remain in Puri forever for His devotees.

PURI’S PUZZLING POT (Facts Section)

The Miracle of the Temple Kitchen

• Did you know that in the Jagannath Temple kitchen, pots are stacked one above the other for cooking, and the pot on the top surprisingly gets cooked first?

The Flag That Defies the Wind

• The flag atop the temple defies the direction of the wind and is changed daily, irrespective of the weather.

Nabakalebara – The Sacred Renewal

• The “Nabakalebara”, or new embodiment, takes place every 19 years, during which the divine deity of the old Jagannath is buried in a sacred grove inside the temple, while a new deity of Bhagavan is sculpted.

The Eternal Chariot Festival

• The Jagannath Rath Yatra takes place every year, with a new Rath constructed beginning on the day of Akshaya Tritiya.

Divine Sightings by Poojaris

• Many Poojaris of this temple have witnessed Devas like Indra in the Anand Bazar and Vibhishana worshipping Bhagavan during closing hours.

The Mysterious Black Step

• The entrance to the temple has 22 steps, and the third step is coloured black and carries special significance. The Sthalapurana of Puri Jagannatha Kshetram states that whoever visits this Kshetram is freed of all sins. Locals believe that Yama once came to Puri and complained to Bhagavan that nobody remained in Naraka, as all were freed of sins due to Jagannatha’s grace. Bhagavan then asked Yama to take his place on the third step, and whoever stepped on it while returning would have to go to Naraka.