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Sri Mandir :
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The celebrated Temple of Lord Jagannath now
existent at Puri was constructed by Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga Dev in 12th century A.D.
The wooden images of Jagannath Balabhadra and Subhadra were installed in that temple. The
management of the temple continued under the Hindu rulers till 1558, when the State of
Orissa was conquered by the Afghan Nawab of Bengal and the temple was attacked by the
Afgan General ‘Kalapahad’. Then, an independent Khurda kingdom was established
by Ramachandra Deb, who assumed the management of the temple. He consecrated the temple
and reinstalled the deities. Raja Mansingh, a General of the Mughal King Akbar, defeated
the Afghans and annexed Orissa in to the Mughal dominion. It remained under the Mughals
till 1751 A.D. Till 1760, the temple continued under the Khurda Raja, who was paying
tribute to Mughals and Marhattas. Marhattas took up direct management of the temple till
1803. The Britishers annexed Orissa into British empire in 1803 and allowed Puri Raja to
manage the temple. The position continued till 1947.
Temple Architecture
The architecture of the temple follows the pattern of many Orissan temples of the
classical period. The main shikhara, or tower, rises above the inner sanctum where the
deities reside. Subsidiary shikharas rise above ante-halls. The temple complex is
surrounded by a wall, on each side of which (that is, east, south, west, north) is a
gopura or gate, over which rises a pyramid-shaped roof. The Jagannath temple is one of the
largest in Orissa. The temple complex covers several square blocks and contains dozens of
structures, including a mammoth kitchen. Truly, the Jagannath temple at Puri is an
architectural and cultural wonder.
The main temple structure is 65m (214 feet) high and is built on elevated ground, making
it look more imposing. The temple complex comprises an area of 10.7 acres and is enclosed
by two rectangular walls. The outer enclosure is called Meghanada Prachira, 200m (665 ft)
by 192m (640 ft). The walls are 6m (20 feet) high. The inner wall is called Kurmabedha,
126m (420 ft) by 95m (315 ft). The walls were built during the 15th or 16th century.
This temple is said to have the largest kitchen in the world, and feeds thousands of
devotees daily. The kitchen can prepare food for 100,000 people on a festival day and
25,000 is not unusual on a normal day. There are thirty-six traditional communities
(Chatisha Niyaga) who render a specific hereditary service to the deities. The temple has
as many as 6,000 priests.
There is a wheel on top of the Jagannath Temple made of an alloy of eight metals
(asta-dhatu). It is called the Nila Chakra (Blue Wheel), and is 3.5m (11 ft 8 in) high
with a circumference of about 11m (36 ft). Every day, a different flag is tied to a mast
attached to the Nila Chakra. Every Ekadasi, a lamp is lit on top of the temple near the
wheel.There are four gates: the eastern Singhadwara (Lion Gate), the southern Ashwadwara
(Horse Gate), the western Vyaghradwara (Tiger Gate), and the northern Hastidwara (Elephant
Gate). There is a carving of each form by the entrance of each gate. The Lion Gate, which
is the main gate, is located on Grand Road.
Thirty different smaller temples surround the main temple. The Narasimha Temple, adjacent
to the western side of the Mukti-mandapa, is said to have been constructed before the present temple.
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