7 Interesting Facts about Jagannath Temple in Puri
The incredible Shree Jagannath temple is located in the heart of the city at Puri, and it’s known to be a famous destination of the Hindu Pilgrimage. The architecture of this temple looks extremely stunning with Kalinga style architecture. This temple is built on a raised platform in an area more than 420,000 square feet, the complex of the temple is surrounded by enclosed seven-meter high walls, which has four gates in four different directions. This place is visited with countless pilgrimages throughout the year. The spiritual vibe of this temple will leave you with the thought of paying a second visit. Here are some of the important details about the temple that you must know before visiting.Quick Glance
Location: Puri, Odisha, India
Deity: Jagannath
Festivals: Nabakalebara, Ratha Yatra, Chandan Yatra, Snana Yatra
Type of architecture: Kalinga Style Architecture
Built by: Anantavarman Chodaganga (King of Ganga Dynasty) in the 12th century CE
Entry Fee: None
Restrictions: Camera, leather items, phones, camera hats are not allowed inside the temple
Preferred by: God Lovers, Spiritual people, pilgrims
Timing: 6:00 am - 7:30 pm
More about the Deity
The deity worshiped in this famous temple is known as Puri Jagannath Temple, but it’s not the only deity worshiped. The temple also worships Subhadra, Balabhadra, Sudarshan, Sridevi, Madhava, and Bhudevi on the Ratnabedi platform. Countless things are unusual about the Puri temple, people have tried to understand the logic behind few but failed, here are seven interesting facts about the Jagannath temple in Puri:1. The climb
This mentions the daily climb of the temple wall that is equal to climbing a 45 storey building. The climbing of the wall is done to change the flag of the temple dome. This ritual is been followed from the day the temple was built, this act is done without any safety harness with bare hands. This ritual is so crucial that if it is missed one single day, the temple will be closed for 18 years.2. Defying the force of gravity
The flag mounted on top of the Jagannath Temple in Puri flows in the opposite direction defying the force of gravity. There is no scientific explanation to this unusual fact, unlike the principle followed by all the natural things where the piece of cloth flows towards the direction of the wind.3. The riddle of the Sudarshan Chakra
The Sudarshan Chakra present on top of the temple has two mysterious stories to explore. The first being the presence of that heavy structure itself, the Sudarshan Chakra is a heavy metal made a structure that weights tones and it is still mysterious to think about how that structure got to the pinnacle of this temple. The second unusual thing is the architecture of this structure because it gives the same appearance on looking from any direction.4. Nothing flies above the dome of Jagannath Temple
The area around the temple is a bird domain; however, not a single bird is found resting of flying above the Puri Temple dome. This unusual fact about the Puri Jagannath Temple is present because there’s nothing above lord.5. The food is never futile
Wasting food is not just bad in the eyes of the normal people but it is considered wrong even in Hindu Mythology. There are uncountable visitors in the temple with a rough count of 2,000 to 200,000 people every day. The natives in this place call it the effective management of god’s will because not a single bite is wasted of the Prasad that is prepared. Another unusual thing about this practice is that the pots are fixed one on top of the other, and miraculously, the uppermost pot is cooked first, and the rest follows.6. Mute water inside the temple
This is another unusual thing about the Puri temple. People reported that on visiting the Singha Dwara entrance, the audibility of the ocean waves disappear, and it is more prominent in the evening time. This fact also has a back story, the folklore explains that the sister of two lords names Subhadra Mayi prayed for complete serenity inside the temple and she was granted her wish. The sound of the waves returns on stepping out of the temple.7. Reverse Gears of the breeze
The breeze in Puri is contradictory and it flows in an opposite direction, unlike any other place. During the day, the breeze is said to flow from land to sea and the opposite direction in the evening.These unusual facts can make any person interested and curious to know the mystery behind and explore this place in person. However, there are several things that you still need to know about the stunning Puri Temple.
3 Things to Remember When in Puri
Traveling to this holy destination also includes some important things. Apart from the mesmerizing architecture of the Puri Jagannath temple, other surrounding things need to be kept in mind. The three things are as follows:• Stay away from greedy pundits
There are many related stories where people stumble upon greedy pundits who ask for unusual amounts from the devotees. Stay very alert while you are around the temple and do not fall for anyone asking you for big donation amounts, you can stay with a reliable guide inside the temple.• You must avoid the beaches after 8:00 pm
Exploring the beaches is highly suggested because it gives a brilliant view of the surrounding places. However, you should limit your tour till 8:00 pm and avoid the beaches late at night. There are numerous reasons why you should be away from the beaches at night and one of which is the high tides. It is better to keep a safe distance from the beach at that time.• Avoid eating the fishes from locals stalls
Even though Puri is famous to serve famous Bengali Cuisine, and you will be tempted to taste some of the tempting food but restrain yourself as not every cuisine on the streets are hygienic.These three things should be kept in mind while you are traveling to the Puri temple. Apart from all the odds, you will find a great sense of peace and harmony around the most worshiped god of the Hindus. Visit this famous pilgrimage to experience the spiritual vibe of the place. There are other surrounding temples that deserve a visit like Astachandi temple, Panchtirtha, Loknath temple, Chakranarayan temple, and many others. On visiting Puri, you can also visit these temples to add up to your peace of mind.
See More: 7 Stunning Puri Temples
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