History of Jagannath Temple
Table of Contents
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Introduction
The word "Jagannath" means lord of the universe also known as "Daru deva, " which means wood deity. Jagannath temple is an important holy temple for Hindus dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Krishna, located in Puri, Odisha state. According to Indian mythology, when the Pandavas started their journey to heaven to meet Yamaraja, the Saptarishis encouraged them to initially visit the Jagannatha temple, which is one of the Char-Dham temples. This temple is also known as the "White Pagoda" for its color, just as the Konark temple is also known as the "Black Pagoda" because of its dark color.
Jagannath Puri Kshetra is one of the most famous spiritual places in India. Based on ancient mythology, the supreme lord bathe at Badrinath in North India, changes his clothes at Dwarka in West India, took his food at Jagannath Temple puri in East India, and took a rest at Rameswaram in South India. It is sacrosanct to all Hindus, particularly for Vaishnava ceremonies, and renowned Vaishnava saints like Ramanjuacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Madhavacharya, Vallabhacharya, and Ramananda are also strongly connected with this temple. Near the temple Ramanujacharyas established "Emmar Math" and Adisankaracharyas established the Peetha of one of the four Shankaracharyas.
The Jagannath temple is famous for the annual Ratha Yatra or Chariotsavam, where the three main deities are pulled by huge crowds in elaborately decorated temple chariots from the Chief temple of Jagannath to Gundicha Temple. Snan Yatra is a bathing festival, Sayana Ekadashi is also main festival in puri, and some of the other major festivals are Chandana Yatra, Netrotsavam, Chitalagi Amavasya, Bahuda Yatra.
The deities of Jagannath are made of wood and are ritually replaced with a replica every 12 or 19 years. These wooden deities are painted in splendid varieties of colors and arranged close to one another sitting on the Ratna Simhasanam in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. These three wooden deities namely Lord Jagannath; Balabhadra; and Subhadra.
Origin from Vedic History
In the deep jungle of Odisha, the tribal "Savaras" have worshipped Lord Jagannath as a "Nilamadhab." The Satyuga ruler "Indradyum" ruled the area at the time. The original image of Lord Jagannath is supposedly located "by the fig tree" close to the coast in eastern India, The image materialized in the form of an "Indranila" called the Blue Jewel. The god Yama decided to bury it in the ground because it was very glittering and had the power to bring about instant salvation. Later, "Indradyum," the Satyuga ruler of Malwa, made the decision to track down that mysterious image.
To find that Image, he did austerities and made offerings to the supreme lord Vishnu to achieve his goal. Years later, Lord Vishnu advised him to go to Puri, near the sea coast of eastern India, where he would obtain a trunk from a floating log that would help him to make an image of supreme lord Jagannath. After Indradyumna found the log he performed a ritual sacrifice where the Supreme Lord appeared and instructed him how to make the images, i.e. Paramatma as Jagannath, his Vibhava as Sudarsana, and his Vyuha as Samkarshana, Yogamaya as Subhadra. To make the images, the king met Vishwakarma who appeared in the form of an artisan and prepared the images of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra out of a wooden log.
Ancient History Perspective
Anantavarman Chodagung Dev, a ruler of the Ganga dynasty and Maharaja of Kalinga, started the construction of the Jagannath temple at Puri and during 1078-1148, built the Jagmohan and Vimanabhaga in the temple complex. After King Anantavarman, King Anang Bhim Dev ascended the throne of Orissa in 1174 AD. At an early stage, a religious crisis arose because the young king slew a Brahmin. To atone for his sin, he invested heavily in building temple. Among those projects that he built, of them is the Jagannath temple ramparts construction.
Yet the construction of the Jagannatha temple was not completely done, years later the king "Anaga Bhima Deva III" in 1230 AD put the final touches and the three deities were enshrined thereafter. The functions of Lord Jagannath and his siblings were honored and worshiped without any interruption until 1568.
Medieval History Perspective
In 1568, Kalapahad, a general from Afghanistan, led the Nawab of Bengal's victorious army against the Gajapati ruler Mukunda Deva. After his invasion, temples in Odisha began to be vandalized and demolished. However, the priests of Sri Jagannath temple brought the deities out of the temple and hid them safely near the Chilika lake. But Kalapahad soon found them and ablaze them.
A devotee of Jagannath followed the army and managed to retrieve the souls of the deities in ashes. He brought that soul's ashes to the king Ramachandra Deva I, who brought the soul's ashes to his Hindu kingdom of Khurda. He conducted the Nobokolibaro to bring the deities back to their original abode. Finally, Lord Jagannath returned to Puri in 1575 nearly after a decade.
Modern History Perspective
In 1803 the British took over the temple complex and in 1809 the British East India Company officially returned the responsibility of the temple to the king of the region. The temple was recognized as the "White Pagoda" by European sailors in the 19th century. In 1975, the Archaeological Survey of India undertook a project to eliminate numerous layers of lime plaster to reveal the original designs underneath. The natural colors of the "Khondalite" stone used by Anantavarman to build the House of God in the 10th century are now proudly displayed to the public.
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Article Contributed By :
Mehar Routh
