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Temples inside Puri |
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Gundicha
Temple:
The most important sanctuary
of Jagannath is
the Gundicha temple, the abode to which Jagannath, Balabhadra and
Subhadra are driven each of his or her wooden cars once in a year,
during the Car Festival. Except for these few days it is unoccupied, but
there is a small establishment of servants by whom it is regularly
maintained. It is situated at the other end of the great highway (Badadanda).
The distance between the gates of Jagannath temple and the Gundicha
temple, is exactly 2,688.0696 meters (8327 feet). The temple is
surrounded by a wall and stands in the |
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middle of garden.
It consists of four pars connected with kitchen
rooms by a narrow passage. The tower, a
construction of Pidha type, is 75 feet high with a base of
55 feet by 46 feet outside, and 36 feet 8inches by 27 feet inside. All
the four structures (Vimana, Jagamohan, Natamandap, and Bhogamandap)
bear the traces of several plastering and are carved in places with
obscene figures in mortar. There is a plain raised seat, 4 feet high and
19 feet long, made of chlorite, and this is called the Ratnavedi- the
throne on which the images are placed when brought to the temple.
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Astasambhu Temple:
The eight guardians Siva's of this abode of Jagannath (Vishnu) are
Markandeswar, Yajneswara, Nilakantheswara, Vilveswara, Kapalamochana,
Baleswara, Isaneswara and Pataleswara.
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Astachandi Temple:
The eight Chandis, collectively called Astachandi, are Bata Mangala,
Bimala, Sarvamangal, Ardhasani, Alamba, Dakshinakalika, Marichika and
Harachandi.
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Panchatirtha Temple:
The sacred tanks are Indradyumna near the Gundicha temple, Manikarnika
in the Marnikarnika street, Markanda towards the north of the Jagannath
temple and Swetaganga towards the south of the Jagannath temple. These
four tirthas or sacred waters together with the sea make the Panchtirtha
or five sacred waters in which pilgrims are solemnly enjoined to take
bath. Some of these places and few other places, such as: Lokanath
temple, Atharnala Bridge, etc., deserve special mention.
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Loknath Temple:
This is the
famous Siva
temple of Puri Located about One Kilometer away from the Jagannath
Temple towards the western end. There is a popular belief that Lord Ram
had installed this lingam with a Lauka or Pumpkin. The Temple was build
during 10th-11th century A.D. The devotees come here to see Lord Loknath
in order to be cured from any kind of disease.
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There are
certain festivals observed in this temple out of
which 'Saranti-Somobar-mela' is the important one.
There is a stream on the head Sivalinga playing
the roal of the Ganges and linga, It self remains
under the water. The flowers, sandal paste, 'Bilva-patra',
etc. offered to the God remain decomposed in the
water imitating a special smell and teast being
medicated as a whole. people take it as Prasad, in
order to be cured from the disese that they
suffered for. The festival of Siva Ratri is
observed in the temple of Lokanath with great
devotion. A meet of Siva and Vishnu takes place on
the day.
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Chakratirtha Temple:
The Chakratirtha, a small and unprotected pool, is in the
South-eastof Jagannath Temple on the Sea-Beach of popularly known as
C.T. Road heading towards Pentha Kata. The fisherman village. It is evidently a
part of the old mouth of the Balagandi stream that flowed across the
Badadanda to the sea. The place is known as Bankimuhana. Near-by is the
temple of Chaitanya called Sunar-Gouranga, a place largely visited by
the pilgrims.
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Chakranarayan Temple:
Towards the northern side of the temple of Sunar-Gouranga is the temple
of Chakranarayana. The image of Lakshmi-Narasimha is worshipped here.
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Daria Mahabir Temple:
At the distance of about thirty meters to the west of the Chakranarayan
temple, Daria Mahabir is a small temple dedicated to Hanuman. He is also
known as Bedi Hanuman.
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Ardhasani Temple:
On the way to Gundicha temple, Ardhasani is a small temple dedicated to
the goddess of that name. She is also known as Mausi Maa (mother’s
sister) of Lord Jagannath.
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Siddha Mahavir Temple:
At a distance of about half a
mile (804.672 meters), to the west of Gundicha temple, there is a small
temple dedicated to Siddha Hanuman. It is believed that Tulasidas
resided at this place during his stay at Puri. It is a beautiful spot
for picnic.
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Jameswara Temple:
This is again a temple of
11-11th Century A.D. located on the extreme end of Harichandi Street. It
howed Jameswara Siva, who protects this holy land from the influence of
Yama, on the other hand it is know on as Yamanaka Tirtha. Again this
temple is one of the historical evidences, if analysed, can get lot of
evidence of the culture of Puri. Besides, there are many religious
shriness and sanctuaries found in each and every street of Puri. There
are Ashrams of saints like Pandu, Angira, Bhrigu and Nigamananda
and others also found in the different areas. Tourists if interested,
can take the name of the streets and follow the guide map enclosed
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Alabukeswara Temple:
Alabukeswara is a Saiva shrine situated to the west of the Yameswara. It
is spoken of in high terms by the Kapila Samhita for making barren women
fruitful.
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Kapalamochana Temple / Manikarnika:
Kapalamochana is a small Saiva temple in the immediate neighborhood of
the Alabukeswara in the Manikarnika Sahi. The sacred pool of Manikarnika
is also located here. Besides all these temples and sacred places as,
Sama Kali, Dakhina kali, Barahi in Bali Sahi; Ramachandi in Kundheibenta
Sahi and Putia Rani temple near Bus stand on the Badadanda.
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Daksinakalika Temple
The temple is situated
towards south-eastern side of the Lord Jagannath temple on Balisahi.
Puranic tradition say that in Sriksetra or Puri, Sri Jagannath is
regarded as Daksinakalika. The deity is enshring in a modern
temple at an higher rasied platform. The temple is facing to east an
consist of a vimana and a Jagamohana. The deity is four armed and
seated on a corrpse. She is shown as drinking blood, with a dagger
and holding severed head in two of her hands. It is believed that
Daksinakalika is the guardian of the kitchen of the Lord Jagannath
Temple.
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Syamakali Temple:
These shrines are there in the old palace of Gajapati Kings of Puri.
Now the historical Royal Palace is situated in the grand trunk road
(Bada danda) of Puri. This is a new Place. The old Palace was there
in Bali Sahi. From the Southen door of Lord Jagannath temple one can
go to this place. |
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Dasavatara Temple:
There is a ruinous
temple of the 'Dasavatara' of Vishnu near Gundicha temple. This is the
place where the Kabi Jayadeve, the author of Gitagovindam stayed . Being
inspired with the ten incarnations of Vishnu, he wrote Dasaavatara
Strotra in his famous work Gitagovindam.
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The Temple of Seven
Mother Goddesses:
This temple is
situated on the embankment of a big sacred pond, Markandeya Soravara.
This reminds us of the similar temple build at Dasasvamedha Ghat of
Yajpur built in the 10th century by the Somavamsi Kings. Brahmi,
Maheswari, Andri, Kaumari, Vaisnavi, Varahi and Camanda are known as the
seven mother Goddesses. Sometime Narasimha replace Vaisnavi, a female
from the man-Lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu. However, the Shrine of the
seven mother goddess at the pond Markanda proves very well that once
upon a time Puri was a bonafide Sakta Pitha and Goddess Vimala was the
presiding deity of this pitha. |
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Mausima Temple:
The three chariots of
Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra start from the Singha Dwara of
the Temple of Jagannath and reach at 'Gundicha Temple', at the other
end of the Bada danda. In betweet 'Gundicha Temple' and 'Singha
Dwara' there comes the Shrin of the Goddess, Ardhamsini or Ardhasini.
Popularly known as Mousima (aunt) of Jagannath where the Lord take a
bhoga of 'Podapitha", a special cake. It is stared in Skanda Purana,
Vaisanava Knadha that during the deluge, when the sea overflooded
Puri, this goddess drank half of the flood water and saved the town.
There for her name become Arthasini.
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