Puri Jagannath Temple History
Lord Jagannath temple is in Puri and people visit it during their Char Dham yatra.
It is given in Shastras that Lord Jagannath himself manifested in the form of this Kshetra.
This temple is also known as Purushothama Kshetram as it won't get destroyed even during the pralaya.
It is said that Samudra Tirtha snanam(bath),darshanam, annaprasadam and death at Puri gives us Mukti.If we do any one among the four we are lucky enough.
Lord Jagannath temple is unique from other temples in many ways.
Dharu(wood)Brahma
The idols here are made of wood,So he is called Dharu Brahma.Normally we see the idols in temples made of Stone,Brass etc but nowhere of wood.
Moola virat for yatra
Ratha yatra which is conducted here is world famous,normally separate utasava idols are used for yatras but in this temple the Moola Virat himself comes for ride during Ratha yatra.New Ratha's are made every year as per shastras.
Anna prasada
It is considered very auspicious and treated as God.Mahaprasad of 56 items is offered to lord daily at the temple.
Never avoid the anna prasada irrespective of who gives it.
Nabakalebara (New idols replace old ones)
Nabakalebara is the ritual where the Main idols are replaced every 12 to 19 years,New idols are made from Neem trees which have special signs like Shanka/chakra etc on them.The old idols are buried in the temple premises named Koili Baikunta.
Samudra snanam(Bath in Sea)
Our scriptures says that we should not bath or even touch the sea water unnecessarily except on some important thiti's but here we can touch the water and take the sea bath anytime.
Preparation of Prasada
They cook the prasada in clay pots and use firewood for cooking.Five pots are placed one above the other.
Persons just add the standard quantity of ingredients to the pots,close the lids and Prasada tastes great.
No cooking smell is observed at the premises of cooking.They break the pots after usage and won't reuse.
Puranas that said about this Kshetra
Many puranas such as Skanda Purana,Padma Purana,Brahma Purana gave the importance of this kshetra.
Story of Puri Jagannath Temple from Puranas.
Brahma's worry for Jeeva's
After pralaya,Brahma has to create the creatures again and again based on there karma,so he was thinking if there is any way for this Jeeva's to know the truth and get liberated other than following the shastras.So he mediated on Lord Vishnu.
Vishnu appeared and said that Jeevas can get liberated even by Kshetra's,though all the Chara-achara(living and non living)that Brahma create may get destroyed during pralaya but there is one such place which won't get destroyed even during pralaya and that is Puri Kshetra at Neelachala Mountain.
Brahma went and mediated there under the Vata Vruksha for Lord Vishnu.
Lord appeared and said he is in the form of Neelamadhava and he will always be residing at this place though he may not be seen to everyone.
If one do tapasya for Lord they can see him.
He also said that he will take new form for the sake of a King in the future and the present form of Neelamadhava will be covered by golden sand.
King Indradyumna (Emperor)
A King named Indradyumna was a great emperor and ruled his kingdom with dharma and viragya.
He was the great bhakta of Lord Vishnu and many Rishis and Siddhas used to visit his kingdom daily.
He used to worship Lord Vishnu daily with intense bhakti and used to offer the fruits of his action to Lord(karma yoga).
One day he developed the intensity to see Lord Vishnu and he was worrying if he can found him.
Saint's Visit to King
As days passed by a Saint visited the King and said that the King was a true bhakta and he will surely get the Darshan of Lord Vishnu and he explained that Lord Vishnu is present in the form of Kshetra at Neelachal mountain as Neelamadhava which is in Uthkala kingdom(presently Orissa) and that place remains unaffected even by pralaya and Lord Vishnu resides there.
Pleased with the hearing of the saint he prostated before him and the saint left.
Indradyumna sends Vidhyadhara for search of Neelamadhava
Indradyumna wanted to go to that place at any cost and consulted the priest of his kingdom to guide him for his visit to Neelachala where Neelamadhava resides.
Priest told that he had a brother named Vidhyadhara who had the knowledge of all shastras and suggested to send him along with some of his army to search the place and to make arrangements for King's stay when he visits.King agreed and sent Vidhyadhara.
Vidhyadhara started his search for the place Neelachala and on the way of his travel he did mantra japa, meditation and ate less food.
Vidhyadhara meets Viswavasu(hunter) at Neelachala
Vidhyadhara reached Neelachala and continued his japa for Neelamadhava's Darshan,soon he happened to hear the naama Japa of Lord Neelamadhava and it was coming from the cave which was covered with creepers.One man came out of the cave,who has a shining body.
Vidhyadhara enquired his whereabouts,he said that his name was Viswavasu and he was a hunter,who lives in the surrounding place.
He was returning after completing his pooja of Neelamadhava.
He also said that many Gods and Rishis do visit the place and offer there Prayers,Fruits and Flowers to Lord Neelamadhava.Lord gives them real Darshan sometimes.
After completion of prayers by God's and Rishi's, Viswavasu would go and do his Pooja and he was blessed to have his Darshan based on his poorva karma.
But Vidhyadhara was shocked to see that Viswavasu's body was shining similar to that of God and is not normal when asked,Viswavasu replied that he took the tirtha and prasada offered to god by devatas,as he had the offerings of God he got this Tejas.
Vidhyadhara's Darshan of Neelamadhava
Viswavasu asked if Vidhyadhara would have some food and rest as he looked tired,Vidhyadhara replied that he only wants the Darshan of Neelamadhava.
Darshan of Neelamadhava is only possible by lords grace,not everyone can see him said Viswavasu. He took him to the Darshan.
Vidhyadhara was very much pleased to see Neelamadhava with Neela kanthi,pleasing smile charming eyes,Shanka, Chakra,Ghada and Padma in hands,Kaustubamani and Varamala in his neck ,Pitambara vastra with Goddess Lakshmi beside him.
Later Viswavasu gave flowers and fruits which were placed before Lord to Vidhyadhara.
Vidhyadhara took that flowers and wore in his neck and ate the Prasad with great happiness.He felt energized after having them.
Viswavasu in great shock.
Viswavasu now asked Vidhyadhara where he had come from and the purpose of his visit.
Vidhyadhara said that his brother is the guru of King Indradyumna and wanted to know the place where Neelamadhava resides.
Golden Sand covers Neelamadhava
Vidhyadhara took some rest searched the place for King to reside and left Neelachala to inform the news to Indradyumna.
As he left the place,a big air storm occurred and Neelamadhava was covered with golden sand not only the idol but also the Theertha's were covered by sand.
God's approached Brahma and said that lord Neelamadhava which they were worshipping all these years was covered by sand.Brahma consoled them not to worry and said Lord will soon take another form.
Vidhyadhara informs King Indradyumna about the place.
Though Vidhyadhara know that the place will be covered with sand by the time King visits,he did not disclose the truth to the king.
Vidhyadhara narrated what all happened and how he got the Darshan of Neelamadhava.He also offered the flowers and prasada that he got from Viswavasu and said that these flowers will not wither and the Prasada will not get spoiled as they were offered to Lord by Devatas.
King asked to describe the God he had seen.Vidhyadhara with full happiness detailed the God's charm.
Indradyumna's visit to Neelachala
King along with some important members and his army started to Neelachala,Narada Maharshi also traveled along with them.
They started there travel and reached the borders of Uthkala state,on the way they visited Goddess Charchika and Kotilingerwara temple did Abhishekam and pooja, pleased with his Bhakti,Lord Shiva said that he would help him when needed.
King of Uthkala pleased with Emperor Indradyumna's visit
King of Uthkala came for the visit of emperor Indradyumna and said that it is pleasure having him in his kingdom.Asked if he can help him in anyway,Indradyumna said that he came for the darshan of Neelamadhava.
King of Uthkala replied that it is hard to reach and find the place but recently they heard that Neelamadhava was covered by golden sand and from then on his kingdom is facing calamities.
Indradyumna was very sad hearing the news,Narada Maharshi consoled Indradyumna not to worry because Lord will definitely give Darshan to his bhaktas.
Then Indradyumna went to Neelakanta temple(Lord Shiva) and worshipped Lord Shiva,Lord appeared and asked to install Narasimha Swami idol near Ghanda Vruksha and perform thousand Ashwamedha Yaga's near to that place then king will know the way for Vishnu's darshan.
Construction of Lord Narasimha Temple
Narada said that he will get the idol of Narasimha and asked Indradyumna to take the work of building the temple for Narasimha Swami with the help of people that he had accompanied with and the directions will be given by Son of Viswakarma who will come tomorrow.
As said by Narada Muni, Viswakarma's son in the form of human approached king and asked if he had anything to do.King replied they must build a temple for Narasimha swami and need to complete it in 4 days.
Narada Muni returned to Indradyumna with the idol and the temple construction was completed by then.They installed Narasimha swami idol in the temple as said in scriptures. Indradyumna was very happy and satisfied ,offered prayers to Lord Narasimha.
Even now we can see this Temple in Puri.
Indradyumna performs Ashwamedha Yaga's
Indradyumna then decided to perform thousand Aswamedha yaga's and completed them in hundred years with strict principles as said in scriptures.
Indradyumna gets the Darshan of Lord Vishnu as Jagannath
After he completed his last yaga he sat with eyes closed and meditated on Lord, he got the Darshan of Lord as 4 idols before him namely Lord Jagannath and to his right is Subhadra and next to her is Bhalabhadra and to Lord's left is Sudershana Chakra.
Lord said his wish of seeing him will be fulfilled very soon and asked him to start the construction of temple as he would take the form of the Idols that he had seen in his mediation.
Kings men found a floating Tree with Shanka & Chakra
When Indradyumna was in some activities his men came to him and said that they have seen a tree with four branches floating on the river and they have never seen such a tree before.
All the leaves were green and the tree had the symbols of Shanka and Chakra on them.
Everyone including Narada Muni went to the place and prostated the tree then Narada muni explained that the idols that the king had seen in his meditation had come in the form of this tree.
Indradyumna asked the priests who involved in yaga to bring the sacred tree and placed it in a shelter and did Vishnu Stuti's.
Heard the voice of Lord Vishnu
Soon they heard the voice of Lord Vishnu saying that his idols must be made from the wood of that tree they found on River and an old man will come to King to make the idols and it would take 15 days for completion of idols.
Lord continued saying that Indradyumna should allot the place to him,cover it fully so that no one can see inside or listen to the sounds of idols making,he should arrange for drums and music for all that 15 days so that no one could hear the sounds while making.If they listen to the sounds it brings them bad luck.
As said by Lord an Old Man came the next day went to the king and king showed him the place,while going the Old Man said with the smile that he will make the same idols as king saw in his mediation and left into the closed area.
King was shocked to hear and thought how does he know about the idols that he had seen in his mediation.
After completion of 15 days they entered the closed area and found the idols,but old man was not seen.It is believed that Lord himself arrived to make his idols.
King was very happy to see the idols and they were same as he had seen in his mediation Lord Jagannath,Subhadra,Bhalabhadra and Sudershana chakra.
Coloring and decoration of idols
King thought of painting and decorating the idols,he gave this duty to Viswavasu and Vidhyadhara and said that there family members should only continue this procedure from here on.
He ordered that no one should see the idols without the coloring and decoration if seen it leads to calamities.
They did the coloring as directed by king black for Jagannath,red and yellow for Subhadra,white for Balabhadra.He also directed how to draw the eyes etc
Real Darshan of Lord Vishnu to King Indradyumna
Now lord Vishnu gave the Darshan to the king and said that though he can see four idols he is one and same,all are his amsha roopa's. He asked him that the idols should be installed by Lord Brahma.
Narada and King reaches Brahma Loka for invitation
King prayed Narada Muni to invite Brahma,Narada asked King to come along with him as he had got power to come to Brahma Loka with the tapsaya and yagas he had done.
They both went to Brahma Loka,prostated Brahma.Brahma was very happy to see Indradyumna for the what he had done for Lord.
King then requested Brahma to come for installation of idols.Brahma happily agreed.
Brahma asked Indradyumna and Narada Muni to go back and build the temple,he sent Padma nidhi for financial support.Brahma instructed how to build the ratha's and the prasarams of temple etc Vishwakarma and King of Uthkala also helped them in building the temple.
Brahma along with Saptharishi's install Idols in temple
Brahma came from heaven along with Brusthpati and Saptha Maharshi's performed yagas and rituals,did Abhishekam to the idols and then invoked Lord's energy into Jagannath,Subhadra,Bhalabadra and Sudershana chakra.
Story as per Scriptures.
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