ATTRACTIONS OF JAGANNATH TEMPLE

PLACES BETWEEN NORTH GATE OUTER COMPOUND AND INNER COMPOUND

The north gate route to enter into Jagannath Temple is known as 'Brahma Yana Marga' or 'Deva Yana Marga'. This is the route through which all Devatas/Devas (Deities) go for Lord Jagannath darshan every day. This route is also used by Chaturdha Murti (Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra & Sudarshana) during Navakalebar festival, so this zone has its own importance. After Pataleswara temple, Devotees have to move out of the inner north gate of Kurma Bedha to visit below places.

Tapasvi Hanuman

Tapasvi Hanuman Shrine is located at the north gate (elephant gate or Hasti Dwara) of Jagannatha Temple for the protection of the Temple. He is also called as Chari Chakra Hanuman and Asta Bhuja Hanuman. Chari Chakra means he is holding four Chakras in his hands. This deity of Hanuman is four feet in height and faces east. Four Hands holding Sudarsana Chakra, Two Hands were chanting the holy name of Lord and other two hands were offering pranams. He is in Padmasana posture.

Aishaneswara

The temple of Aishaneswara is situated near the elephant gate. Major portion of the temple is below the surface level. The festivals like Sivaratri and Ashokastami are observed here every year.

Lokeswara

Lokeswara is the other name of Lokanath (Lord Shiva) placed at the outer bedha, he is the protector of the Ratna Bhandar (treasury) of Lord Jagannath Temple.

Sitala, Uttarayani & Suna Kua

Goddess Sitala is the curer of small-pox and chicken-pox. There is one famous well within her temple popularly known as 'Suna kua' (Golden Well). In local Odia language, 'Suna' means gold and 'Kua' means well. On the day of Snana Yatra (bathing festival of the Trinity), the deities are bathed with 108 pitchers of water brought from this well on Snana Mandapa. Goddess Uttarayani is Katyayani Durga. She is the protector of the north gate.

Koili Baikuntha

It is situated near the north gate. Here Lord Krishna had appeared in the form of a Cuckoo bird to Sri Radha and hence this place is known Koili Baikuntha. In local Odia language 'Cuckoo' bird is called Koili. It is otherwise known as "Deba Nirbana Bhumi". Here the Pandavas has buried the sapphire like body of Lord Krishna after his accidental demise by hunter Jara Savara. There is an age-old Salmali creeper here. During the Nabakalebar ritual, new idols of Lord Jagannath are carved out of wood and the old ones are buried there. Janama Kunja is also situated beside Koili Baikuntha. This is a pit where the old bodies of the deities are buried during "Nabakalebara" (assuming of new bodies). As the deities assume their new bodies here, it is known as "Janama Kunja". In Odia language, Janama means birth. This place is surrounded by trees and creepers. East facing Baikuntheswara (Lord Shiva) is the protector of Baikuntha kshetra.

After completing the north gate parikrama, devotees have to come back to Pata Agan (open and wide inner courtyard in the northern side of the main temple) and visit the Grabha Griha (Sanctum Sanctorum), via Nata Mandapa, for the darshan of the Holy Trinity.

Visit to Main Temple (Bhoga Mandapa, Nata Mandapa, Jagmohana & Garbha Griha)

Devotees enter the main temple using the Sata Pahacha (7 Steps) of Nata Mandapa (Dancing Hall). They proceed towards the back side of Garuda Stambha, which is installed just in front of the Bhoga Mandapa. Getting a glimpse of the three Deities, standing behind the Garuda Stambha is considered as the best form of darshan. Thereafter, devotees enter the Jagamohana (Audience Hall) through the Jaya Vijaya dwara (door). After climbing the steps of Jaya Vijaya door, devotees will reach the elevated platform from where you can get a clear view of the three deities. Entry to the Garbha Griha (sanctum sanctorum) is only allowed during the "Sahanamela".

Sahanamela is the time when devotees are allowed to enter the Garbha Griha to have extreme close darshan of three deities. In Odia language, this word "Sahanamela" means doors opened for all. It is the time when no rituals were performed at Pokaharia (the space in front of Ratnavedi). During Sahanamela, for around one hour devotees are permitted to cross the Kalahat Dwara (door) to enter the Garbha Griha, but are not allowed to touch the deities. On the Ratnavedi, Lord Balabhadra is on your left side, Goddess Subhadra in the middle and Lord Jagannath is on your right side. To your extreme right stands Lord Sudarshan, the celestial Chakra of Vishnu. After darshan of the deities, devotees do parikrama (circumambulation) of the Ratnavedi and then come out of the Pokharia.

Thereafter, devotees come back to Pata Agana through Sata pahacha (7 steps), stands on "Kutachakra", in northeast corner of inner Kurma Bedha, in front of the temple office. From this point they get the darshan of Goddess Mahalaxmi in front of him, Lord Satya Narayana in his left side, and Nilachakra and Patitpabana bana on the top of the temple. Here the devotees again prays Chaturdhamurti from the core of his heart and completes the darshan.

Ananda Bazar and Snana Mandapa

After completion of darshan, devotees can proceed to Ananda Bazar situated in the north east corner of the bahara bedha (outer comound), using the small gate located behind the "Kutachakra". Ananda Bazar is the food court of Jagannath Temple. Mahaprasad and other offerings made to the deities are sold to public in Ananda Bazaar, where everyday thousands of devotees buy and eat Mahaprasad. It is believed that both Lord Jagannath and the Mahaprasad share an equal status. partaking of Mahaprasad is considered as a blessing through which devotees get salvation from their sins. Therefore, visit to the Lord Jagannath temple is incomplete without having the Mahaprasad.

Devotees can visit the Snana Mandapa (Bathing pandal). This bathing platform is situated to the north-east of Ananda Bazar and besides the outer wall of the temple (called Meghanada Pacheri). The length and breadth of this bathing platform is 76 feet. It is at such a height that visitors standing outside the temple also get a clear view of the Deities on the 'Devasnan Purnima', also known as Snana Yatra. During Snana Yatra, the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra along with the idol of Sudarshana are ceremonially brought out from the Garbha Griha (inner sanctum) of the main temple to the Snana Mandapa.

Devotees leave the temple through Baisi Pahacha (22 steps) and Lion's Gate and reaches Aruna Stambha, his initial entry point. This concluded the Bedha Parikrama of Lord Jagannath Temple.

Jai Jagannath

NOTE: Most of the content are taken from the book Purushottam Shree Jagannath written by Shri Padmanabha Mahapatra

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