Jagannath Temple, Puri

Jagannath Temple

In the coastal town of  Puri, Orissa,  the famous Jagannath Temple is located. this temple is very important and significant to Hindus and is also an important part of Char Dham, it is very certain that Hindus once in a life time is going to make a trip to this temple.Vishnu and Krishna is the main worshiper of this temple. It is told that this temple was built in the 11th century. Rath Yatra or the chariot festival is mainly  famous in this temple, here in this festival the three main deities of this temple are carried on a huge an very elaborately decorated temple cars, and interestingly, since the medieval period, it has got that religious flavor and aroma in it.

Saint Ramananda was very much closely associated with this temple and it is believed that this temple is considered very sacred among Vaishnav traditions. Mainly this temple is mainly significant to the followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, where Chaitnya Mahaprabhu was a founder, he himself was a great devotee of Lord Jagannath and he lived in Puri for many years.

Here the central forms are Jagannath, Balabhadra and goddess  Shubhdra, they form the trinity and they are sited on the platform called Ratnavedi. The deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra and goddess  Shubhdra are made of neem logs, which is known as Daru Bramha. Depending on the season , the deities are dressed with different jeweleries and garbs. It is said that the worship of these deities, before the temple was constructed may be originated during the ancient tribal days.