There are innumerable shrines, big and small, dedicated to the Hindu God, Jagannath, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The Puri Jagannath Temple is the most revered of them all without a speck of argument. In the Hindu religion, Char Dham (char-four,dham-abode) signifies four hallowed pilgrimage sites visiting, which Tenables a Hindu to attain Moksha or salvation.
This ritual is as old as the temple itself.
These sites are Badrinath in Uttarakhand, Dwaraka in Gujarat, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, and Puri in Orissa owing to none other than the sacred Jagannath Temple. Every day, 20,000 to 200,000 people throng the Jagannath Temple to be absolved of their sins. The colossal temple complex covers an area of 400,000 square feet near the Swargadwar Beach in Puri. The temple is ensconced in a web of intriguing history, splendid architecture, ancient customs, elaborate rituals and the unwavering faith of millions of devotees. It is a must-visit whenever you are in the eastern part of India.
In and around the Puri Jagannath Temple complex It was sometime in the 12th century that King Anantavarman Chodaganga Dev started the construction of the temple, which was ultimately completed by his son, King Anangabhima Deva. The temple is an architectural marvel that casts no shadow at any given hour of the day.
The dome of the main temple is 165-feet high, and its pinnacle has a Sudarshan Chakra (a circular weapon used by Lord Vishnu) and a flag tied to it. You will be fascinated to know that aman climbs 165 feet every day, without any support, to change the flag at sunset.
The temple complex has four main gates facing the four directions, and visitors are allowed through the eastern Lion Gate flanked by two stone lions.
A few meters away from the gate lies the unmistakable Aruna Stambha, an 11-meter tall monolithic tower representing Lord Surya’s charioteer. The tower was relocated from the Konark Sun Temple in the 18th century. To reach the main courtyard, you will have to climb 22 steep steps, called the Bais Pahacha.
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