Article Title: Jagannath Temple
17-10-2022
History & Art and Culture Prelims Plus
Why is in news? The Puri Jagannath Temple built by Kalinga ruler Anantavarman Chodaganga to rival the Brihadeeswara Temple built by the Cholas.
The Jagannath Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu, Puri is in the state of Odisha on the eastern coast of India.
The present temple was rebuilt from the 12th century, on the site of pre-existing temples in the compound but not the main Jagannatha temple, and begun by Anantavarman Chodaganga, the first king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
The Puri temple is famous for its annual Ratha Yatra or chariot festival, in which the three principal deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars.
Unlike the stone and metal icons found in most Hindu temples, the image of Jagannath is made of wood and is ceremoniously replaced every twelve or 19 years by an exact replica.
This temple was called the “White Pagoda” and is a part of Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, Rameswaram).
Jagannath Puri temple is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’.
The temple is sacred to all Hindus, and especially in those of the Vaishnava traditions.
Ramanuja established the Emar Mutt near the temple and Adi Shankaracharya established the Govardhan Math, which is the seat of one of the four Shankaracharyas.
It is also of particular significance to the followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, whose founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was attracted to the deity, Jagannath, and lived in Puri for many years.
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