Who Built the Puri Jagannath Temple?
The Jagannath Temple in Puri, India, is one of the most important Hindu temples in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a major pilgrimage destination for Hindus from all over India. The temple is dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu, and is said to have been built by King Indradyumna in the 10th century.
However, there is some debate about who actually built the temple. According to legend, the temple was originally built by King Indradyumna, son of Bharata and Sunanda, and a Malava king, mentioned in the Mahabharata and the Puranas. The legendary account as found in the Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana and other Puranas and later Odia works state that Jagannath was originally worshipped as Nilamadhava by a savara king (tribal chief) named Vishvavasu.
The present temple was rebuilt from the tenth 10th century onwards, on the site of pre-existing temples in the compound but not the main Jagannatha temple, and begun by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, the first king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.
So, who really built the Puri Jagannath Temple? The answer is not entirely clear, but there is evidence to suggest that both King Indradyumna and Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva played a role in its construction.
King Indradyumna
According to legend, King Indradyumna had a dream in which Vishnu told him to build a temple to Jagannath. The king set out to find a suitable location for the temple, and eventually came to Puri. He was impressed by the beauty of the site and decided to build the temple there.
The construction of the temple took many years, and it was finally completed in the 10th century. The temple was a magnificent structure, and it quickly became a popular pilgrimage destination.
However, the temple was destroyed in a fire in the 12th century. King Indradyumna’s descendants rebuilt the temple, but it was not as grand as the original.
Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva
The Eastern Ganga dynasty ruled Odisha from the 10th to the 15th centuries. During this time, they built many temples, including the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva was the first king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. He was a powerful and ambitious ruler, and he set out to expand his kingdom. He also made a number of religious reforms, and he was a great patron of the arts and architecture.
Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva began the reconstruction of the Jagannath Temple in the 11th century. He commissioned the construction of a new temple that was even grander than the original. The temple was completed in the 12th century, and it has remained a popular pilgrimage destination ever since.
The Present Temple
The present Jagannath Temple is a massive structure. It is made of sandstone and granite, and it is decorated with intricate carvings and sculptures. The temple is 123 feet (37 m) high, and it has a 108-foot (33 m) long chariot.
The temple is divided into three parts: the Jagamohana, the Natamandira, and the Garbha Griha. The Jagamohana is the main hall of the temple, and it is where the deities of Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra are worshipped. The Natamandira is the dancing hall, and it is where the deities are taken out in procession during festivals. The Garbha Griha is the inner sanctum, and it is where the deities are enshrined.
The Jagannath Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. The temple is open to all visitors, but there are some restrictions on who can enter the inner sanctum. The temple is busiest during the annual Rath Yatra festival, when the deities of Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra are taken out in a procession on three giant chariots.
Conclusion
The Jagannath Temple is a magnificent structure that is both a religious and a cultural landmark. It is a testament to the power and influence of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, and it is a reminder of the rich history of Odisha. The temple is a must-see for any visitor to India, and it is a place where people from all over the world can come to worship and to experience the beauty of Hindu culture.