Jagannath Temple in Puri
Not for nothing is the Jagannath Temple at Puri said to be a great architectural wonder; for many centuries, this place has been a guiding light for spiritual seekers. This temple was commissioned in the 12th century by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva and is dedicated to one of the forms of Lord Vishnu, known as Lord Jagannath. The temple is not only an architectural wonder but is also mysterious in nature, with historical importance conjured in Sanskrit records and tempers of legends.
Mystery about the Flag
The flag at top of the Jagannath Temple always flows in the opposite direction of the wind. Despite strong winds, the flag seems to defy the laws of physics.In keeping with a tradition that spans over 1,800 years, a priest ascends the temple daily to replace the flag.
No Shadow of the Temple:
One of the most mysterious aspects of the Jagannath Temple is that it casts no shadow at any time of the day and at any position of the sun.
The Sudarshana Chakra:
The Sudarshana Chakra is 20 feet high, weighs a ton, and can be viewed from any point in Puri. It appears to face the viewer, regardless of the direction from which it is seen.
Unique Cooking Techniques:
This is the world’s biggest temple kitchen, where 56 varieties of ‘Mahaprasad’ are prepared every day in Jagannath Temple . The cooking is done in earthen pots stacked on top of each other, and surprisingly, the pot on the top cooks first.
Mystery of Food Supply:
The quantity of ‘Mahaprasad’ remains the same throughout the year. Still, the food is neither insufficient when thousands come, nor does it ever go waste when there are only a few devotees.
Silence of the Sea:
As soon as one enters the Singhadwara or the main entrance of the temple, one cannot hear the sound of the ocean, which is otherwise pretty loud outside. This phenomenon has been intriguing devotees for centuries.
Reverse Breeze:
Daytime winds from the sea blow towards the land, and in the evening, it blows from the land towards the sea. However, at Puri, the opposite happens.
Ever-Living Deities:
Unlike most of the other Hindu temples where stone or metal idols of the deities can be found, in the Jagannath Temple one can find wooden idols. These wooden idols get replaced every 12 to 19 years by another set of idols in a ritual known as ‘Nabakalebara.’
Jagannath Puri – Rath Yatra:
The annual Rath Yatra is a big festival in which Jagannath, accompanied by the gods Balabhadra and Subhadra, is taken out in gigantic chariots. The number of participants runs into millions, and it is said that whoever pulls the chariot gets all his sins forgiven.
Disappearance of the Deities:
The deities are said to fall sick every year during the ‘Anavasara’ period and hence are removed from the public eye for 15 days. This is the only time in the year when the temple is closed to devotees.
Brahma Padartha:
There is something mysterious and sacred inside the idols of Lord Jagannath, which is called Brahma Padartha. It is regarded as a concentration of divine energy, and only the head priest is allowed to touch it during the Nabakalebara ritual.
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