Jagannath
Temple
The
temple of Lord Jagannath ('Lord of the Universe') at Puri is one of the most
sacred pilgrimage spots in India, one of the four abodes (dhamas) of the divine
that lie on the four directions of the compass. The present temple structure
was built in the twelfth century by the Ganga king, Chodagangadeva, replacing
an earlier structure which probably dated to the tenth century.
Long before one reaches Puri, the 214 feet spire of the temple can be seen towering
over the countryside. This visual dominance is symbolic of the influence which
the temple commands over almost every aspect of life in Puri. The huge temple
compound, each side of which measures 650 feet, is surmounted with a 20 foot
wall.
Within the compound is a city, or, more accurately, a universe unto itself.
With 6000 direct temple servitors, a temple kitchen which feeds 10,000 people
daily and a central deity who has become the focus of religious life throughout
Orissa, the Jagannath temple is truly an institution unique in the world.
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