Mysterious facts on Jagannath temple of Puri
On 7th December 2023, I woke up in early morning and took bath in my hotel at around 6 am to get ready for my visit to one of the most sacred places in India, the Jagannath temple, of Puri, which is also one of the four Chardhams in India.
When we reached the hotel (Hotel Shree Gopal) on 6th December 2023, we were given the contact ID of one of the Pandas of the Jagannath temple and I called him over the phone to discuss about the Puja that we were going to offer on the next day in the Jagannath temple. The Panda told me to get ready on the next day and reach Jagannath temple within 7 am morning, since, the gate of the temple would be closed after 8 am. As such, I woke up at 6 am morning on 7th December 2023 and took an auto from the nearby of the hotel that charged Rs. 100/- for 4 persons, along with my family to reach Jagannath temple. Within 10 minutes, we reached Jagannath temple and I was overwhelmed to see the 1st sight of the iconic Jagannath temple. The road around the temple premises was undergoing some construction, due to which, every visitors were forced to go the front gate by walking some distance. I called up the Panda and he was also waiting for us near the out gate of the temple. He then assisted us to keep our shoes, mobile phones, and bags to an outlet before entering into the Jagannath temple. So, after keep our shoes, mobile phones, and bags, we entered into the temple. Since my father cannot walk properly due to his cerebral stroke, I opted a wheel chair for him from the temple premises and got him off the wheel chair just before the entry gate of the temple. As we entered the temple, I was feeling a soothing atmosphere around the temple. While you will make steps to go upwards after entering the temple, you will find a small black stone just before the first step of the rock stairs. The Panda told us to step on the black stone and then move forward, as, it's a belief of dominating the evil. As soon as we entered the 2nd inner gate of the temple, we were taken to the main entrance of the Jagannath temple where the main idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are there. We were very fortunate that we got the view of the sacred dieties of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. You would only be allowed to see the dieties from a distance and not touch the dieties. So, after taking the sight of the main idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, we were taken to the "Rannaghar" where the Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath is being made. The price of Mahaprasad varies from Rs. 100 to Rs. 500/-. We ordered Mahaprasad and after that spend some time sitting inside the temple premises. Believe me, there was such a cool and calm atmosphere prevailing inside the temple that I thought of staying in the temple for long time.
So, now, let me tell some facts related to Jagannath temple of Puri which I got to know from the Panda who assisted us. Just beside the "Rannaghar" , there is a small place (Koili Vaikuntha) where the wooden idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, are burried with the rituals of placing the old dieties on top of one another. This is followed by making new idols, that are placed infront of the old dieties and this transformation ceremony takes place just three days prior to the famous chariot festival, Ratha Yatra.
Another important and interesting fact about the Jagannath temple of Puri is, there is an wooden idol of Lord Krishna in the form of Jagannath and in that idol, the heart of Lord Krishna still exists. This fact dates back to roughly more than 5000 years ago during the end of Dvapara Yuga when Lord Krishna died of being killed by a hunter. Even though the body of Lord Krishna was burnt, His heart was intact and didn't burn at all. Instead Lord Krishna's heart took the shape of a metal and began to vibrate. Seeing such an unsual happening, the placed the heart in a wood and threw it in the river. This wood was later found in Puri when the then King of Puri created an idol and kept that heart inside it. This entire idol that contains the heart is being replaced every 12 years by the priest of Jagannath temple and this ritual is being performed since then. Infact, according to the Panda whom we met, we got to know that the electricity of entire Puri town is turned off during this day when the idol containing Lord Krishna's heart is being replaced.
Another mysterious fact about the Jagannath temple is that, the flag that is being placed at the top of the temple, waves on the opposite direction of which the wind blows. This flag is being replaced every day by a priest and this practice has never been missed a single day as it's a bilief that if this practice of changing the flag misses a single day, the temple will remain close for the next 18 years.
The other mysterious fact about the Jagannath temple is that, the Mahaprasad which is being prepared everyday for innumerable number of devotees, is made in 7 earthen pots which are kept one after another and is cooked only on the firewood. The earthen pot which is kept on the top is being cooked first folllowed by rest of the pots.
Another interesting fact about the Jagannath temple is that, once you enter the temple premises inside any of the 4 gates, you will not hear any sound of the waves from the sea.
Last and not the least, the important and interesting fact about the Jagannath temple of Puri is that, the Government has declared "no flying" zone above the Jagannath temple. Hence there are no flights that passes over the temple. Even the more surprising fact is that, even the birds do not fly over the top of the Jagannath temple. Though I have not seen any birds flying over the temple.
