ATTRACTIONS OF JAGANNATH TEMPLE

PLACES BETWEEN SOUTH GATE INNER COMPOUND AND WEST GATE INNER COMPOUND

Ananta Vasudeva/Ananta Purusottam

Ananta Vasudeva temple is situated at the southern entrance gate of the Kurma Bedha (inner enclosure/compound). Ananta Vasudeva, otherwise known as Ananta Purusottam is the symbol of initial creation of the world. This temple seems to be very old one. The main structure of the temple (Vimana) is smaller than its Mukhasala (entrance or audience hall). Inside the temple, Lord Narayana is sleeping on the Ananta Naga, Goddess Laxmi is doing pada-seva, one lotus has come up from the navel of Narayana and Lord Brahma is sitting on that lotus and planning for creation of the world.

Kuatamchandi

Kuatamchandi temple is situated on the north side of the Khetrapala temple and on the east side of the Mukti Mandapa. Goddess Kutamachandi is the in-charge of purification of food in the temple Kitchen. If the food is cooked in an impure way in the temple kitchen, a dog will appear mysteriously on the temple compound. This dog is said to be Goddess 'Kutama Chandi', a tantric Goddess. The dog always appears and disappears mysteriously.

Bajreswari

Goddess Bajreswari, the Sakti of Indra, who is popularly known as Indrani also finds her place in the temple inner enclosure. She is worshipped in the Bajreswari Temple. She regulates the motion of rain. Her south-facing temple is situated close to the southern side of Nata Mandapa. Her idol is made of black granite stone, is seated on a simhasana in the middle of the temple and below the simhasana a Shiva Linga is there, he is Bateswara Mahadev.

Khetrapala

Khetrapala is the guardian of the main temple and the entire complex. There is a legend behind the establishment of Khetrapala in Srikshetra. After beheading King Daksha, due to excessive anger Lord Shiva carry the dead body of beloved Parvati and started moving all over the world. To reduce Lord Shiva's anger, Sri Narayana started praying Him, Shiva cooled down, stopped his Tandava nrutya (Dance of Destruction), transformed himself to Bhairava and resided in the name of Khetrapala in the south side of Jagannath Temple. During this, Nandi, Bhrungi, Kirtimukha and Brishava, no one was with Lord Shiva at that time. Here as per the direction of Sri Narayana, in place of Kirtimukha mother Mahalaxmi and in place of Nandi and Bhrungi, Jaya and Vijaya have been established in the temple of Khetrapala.

This south facing temple is located at the backside of Mukti Mandapa for which it remains out of the sight of the devotees. But Researchers state that this temple is older than the present Jagannath Temple and Khetrapala Shiva is the Bhairava of Bhairavi Goddess Vimala.

Surya Narayana/Surya Yantra

The temple of Suryanarayana is also known as Surya Yantra temple. Everyday morning after Rosha Ghara (temple kitchen) Homa (fire sacrifice), first Surya Puja is completed here, then the Puja of the three Deities on Ratna Simhasana is done.

Mukteswara

This south facing Mukteswara temple is located at the backside of Mukti Mandapa for which it remains out of the sight of the devotees. Lord Mahadev is worshipped here and known as Mukteswara Mahadev. Mukteswara means someone who forgives. It is believed that one should not go for a darshana of Lord Jagannath with hate and sin in his/her heart and mind. Prior to visiting Lord Jagannath, one must visit Lord Mukteswara temple, pray Him with great devotion for forgiving him/her if he/she did any mistakes in life either knowingly or unknowingly, then he/she can go to Lord Jagannath with clear heart and mind.

Mukti Mandapa

Mukti Mandapa is otherwise known as Yagnya Mandapa and Mokhya Mandapa. Mukti Mandapa is situated in front of the Beharan Dwara (southern gate) of the temple's Jagamohana, so also in between the Surya Puja Mandapa and Mukta Nursingha temple of the inner southern side of the Kurma bedha. As per the legend, on request of King Indradyumna, Lord Brahma along with many Demigods came to Srikshetra from Brahmaloka, conducted Yagnya (fire sacrifices and other ancillary rituals) on this Yagnya Mandapa and consecrated Chaturdha Murti (Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana) by the side of this Mandapa, so this is also known as Pratistha Mandapa. Brahma stayed at Mukti Mandapa for some time during this ceremony, hence it is also called Brahmasana or Brahmavedi.

Jagatguru Sankaracharya is its permanent President and Jagannath Temple Purohit was the Adhikari. The Pandits of Mukti Mandapa were the Chief Advisers of Gajapati (King of Puri) regarding smooth administration and spiritual activities of the temple. Detailed information on Mukti Mandapa.

Mukta Nrusimha /Yagnya Nrusimha

Mukta Nrusimha temple is situated on the western side of the Mukti Mandapa. This is also known as Yagnya Nrusimha. Nrusimha is the important deity of Jagannath Temple. During the Nabakalebara, Nrusimha is recognised as the presiding deity of Jagannath Temple. This temple faces towards east. The temple is a single structure without Jagamohana (Audience Hall). The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Nrusimha and a very small image of the deity is placed inside the temple on a high seat. As many as 61 stone inscriptions are found inscribed on the body of the temple at different places, but mostly on the door jambs. Some research scholars have opined that the Nrusimha temple was the abode of Lord Jagannatha before the present temple was constructed.

Rohini Kunda

Rohini Kunda is one of the five Panchatirthas of Jagannath Puri Dham. The Daru-Brahma, sacred log from which the original idol of Lord Jagannatha was carved is said to have been found floating in this holy tank. The kunda is said to contain 'Karana' or the water of creation and is sprinkled on devotes for purification. In its original form, Rohini Kund was a large water tank. Vedic scriptures mention the quartz steps leading down from its banks to the water. Skanda Puran mentions that during the great deluge (Mahapralaya), water flows out from this Kunda and after Mahapralaya vanishes within it.

The original Rohini Kunda is no more in existence. Instead, a small kunda (small tank) has been prepared. The present Kunda is situated in front of the temple of Goddess Vimala and in the north side of the Jalakrida Mandapa. The size of the present Kunda is 10 feet in length and 4 feet in breadth, the height of the kunda from the surface is one feet. Inside the kunda, devotees find a carved stone image of 'Bhusundi Kaka' lying flat in the floor of the tank. In Sanskrit language, 'Kaka' means crow. According to legend, a crow named 'Bhusunda' fell into this tank which contained Karana water and was suddenly transformed to four-armed devotee of Lord Narayana. In the other section of the Kunda, there is Nabhi Chakra in the shape of Neela Chakra.

The story of Bhusandi Kaka is told in the Skanda Purana. Bhusanda Kaka was cursed by the sage Lomasa. Anticipating his death, he flew to Jagannath Dham, going to Rohini Kunda to take bath in the sacred waters and see Lord Jagannath in His temple. The crow sat upon a branch of the ancient Kalpabata, a wish-fulfilling tree, praying for liberation from the curse. Suddenly Bhusanda Kaka died and fell into the Rohini Kunda, turning into a four-armed form. Since the time of his liberation, he has been worshipped here as Bata Narayana.

Natua Ganesha/Nrutya Ganapati

Infront of Goddess Vimala temple there is a temple of Nrutya Ganesha (Dancing Ganesha) made of black granite. He is dancing on the rat, his carrier. The temple faces towards South. Height of Ganesha idol is about 6 feet, he has eight hands, he holds one serpent in his two upper hands, and dances in a joyous mood putting his trunk on a laddu.

Goddess Vimala

Temple of Mother Vimala is situated in the south-west corner of the Kurma Bedha (inner enclouser) and towards the right side of Rohini Kunda. The chief Goddess of Jagannath temple is Vimala. The food offering given to Lord Jagannath becomes Mahaprasad only when it is again offered to Goddess Vimala. As per the legend, after Dakhyayajnya, the dead body Sati on Lord Shiva's shoulders was turn into pieces with the wheel of Lord Vishnu. The severed feet of Sati and dropped here. Each such place where parts of Sati's body fell down was recognized as a Sakti Pitha. Under this context Puri is considered as the Pada (Feet) Pitha.

Chaturbhuja and Trinayana (four hands and three eyes) Goddess Vimala is seen in a standing pose on a lotus. Chaya and Maya are in her south and north sides. Mother Vimala has been considered as the Khetreswari or Pitheswari (Principal Deity) of Srikshetra. Here in this Khetra, Lord Jagannath is acknowledged as Maha Bhairaba and Goddess Vimala as Bhairabi. During Durga Puja, Vimala is worshipped according to sixteen codified worshippers rights of Durga.

Mandani Ghara

The name of the temple is Mandani Ghara. It is situated on the western side of the Kuruma Bedha (inner compound) and facing the east, in between Goddess Vimala and Sakhigopal temples. Here Gopeswara Mahadeva, Nanda, Yashoda, Vasudeva, Devaki, Ram, Balaram, Sudama, Gopala, cows, calves and many other deities are being worshipped.

Sakshi Gopala

Radha and Krishna are worshipped in Sakshi Gopala temple. This temple is situated on the western side of the Kuruma Bedha (inner compound) and facing the east. According to a legend, King Purusottam Deva had become victorious in Kanchi due to the blessings of Lord Jagannath. On the way back from Kanchi he has brought the image of Sakhigopala and installed it in Srimandira. But later Sakhigopala was shifted to Satyabadi village (20 kilometers away from Puri) and replica idols of Radha and Krushna have been installed in this temple to continue his memory. Detailed information on Radha Krishna Temple in Sakshigopala

Kanchi Ganesha

Kanchi Ganesha Temple is situated at western side of inner compound of Jagannath Temple. This temple is facing towards east and situated to the south of Sakhigopal temple. This Ganesha is also known as 'Uchista Ganesha', 'Bhanda Ganesha' and 'Kamada Ganesha'. It is said that King Purushottam Deva after victory over Kanchi Naresh (King), while returning to Odisha brought this Ganesha Idol with him, subsequently established Him in Sri Jagananth Temple. This Ganesha is worshiped for the fulfilment of desires. King Purusottam Deva brought him from Kanchi, so he is Kanchi Ganesha. The Deity is four-armed, height of the Idol is around five feet and made of black muguni stone. This Ganesh has some peculiarity in his appearance. A woman seated on the left thigh of Ganesha and his trunk is placed at her private site, because of his peculiar actions he is called Bhanda Ganesha and Kamada Ganesha.

Content Navigation

Last Page

Bedha Parikrama - Part 2

Next Page

Bedha Parikrama - Part 4