The Jagannatha Temple At Puri

An account of the architecture, sculpture, paintings and associated festivals of the great Vaisṇava shrine of Jagannatha at Puri in Orissa, on the east coast of India, together with a new analysis of the origin of the icons of the Triad.

The book is about lord Jagannatha - the established god of Hindus and His temple at Puri known as Badadeula. The book is for general reading for those interested to know about lord Jagannatha and His temple at Puri and not a historical treatise. Many of the descriptions and anecdotes in it are from the epics, legends and folktales that may or may not have historical relevance. But at the same time, they are interesting facts about lord Jagannatha since ages. The book with the captioned name is divided into four chapters (1) Lord Jagannatha, (2) The Temple - Badadeula, (3) The Festivals of Jagannatha and (4) Mahaprasada. (the food offerings to Jagannatha). The eight annexes deal with (i) Important temples in Puri, (ii) Important mathas (monasteries) in Puri, (iii) Different beshas (costumes/dresses) of Jagannatha, (iv) Important festivals in Badadeula, (v) Fables and facts about Jagannatha,(vi) Invasion on Puri and Badadeula by Afghans and Moguls (vii) Salient facts and figures about Badadeula and Puri and (viii) Places of interest in and around Puri.

In the Rig-Veda, 10.155.3, there is mention of a Daru (log of wood) floating in the ocean. Vedic prayers have indicated for taking shelter in the Daru. In spite of the fact that Acharya Sayana, the noted commentator on the Vedas, has categorically interpreted the hymn with Jagannath as the Daru floating at the sea shores, some scholars have refuted this interpretation under the argument that the hymn deals with âAlaxmi Stavaâ of Arayi.

King Indradyumna of Utkal had only one wish - to be able to build a temple that would be the most beautiful in the world. His quest was for the image of the blue-colored Krishna or Nilamadhav. The king came very close to achieving his goal but his pride and arrogance snatched it away from him leaving him groping once more in the dark. Contained in this Amar Chitra Katha is the legend behind the temple of Jagannathapuri in Orissa and the images enshrined in it.

In this lecture, Swami Vivekananda discusses some of the crucial and most pertinent issues surrounding the practice of devotion in a succinct way. He brilliantly brings out the rationale of this practice, ignorance of which has been the main cause of the timeless conflict in the religious scenario of the world. This booklet by Advaita Ashrama, a Publication House of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math, forcefully justifies the need of Bhakti or Devotion for every man while still in the nursery of religious life.

Description of a Hindu pilgrimage center in Orissa.