Jaganath Puri Bhajans - Orissa India

The Sudarshan Chakra, deities of Madanmohan, Sridevi and Vishwadhatri are also placed on the Ratnavedi.The deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan Chakra are made from sacred Neem logs known as Daru Bramha. Depending on the season the deities are adorned in different garbs and jewels. Worship of the deities pre-date the temple structure and may have originated in an ancient tribal shrine. Minor Temples There are numerous smaller temples and shrines within the Temple complex where active worship is regularly conducted.The temple of Mahalakshmi has an important role in rituals of the main temple.It is said that preparation of naivedya as offering for Jagannath is supervised by Goddess Mahalakshmi, The Kanchi Ganesh Temple is dedicated to Ganesh. There are other shrines namely Muktimandap, Surya, Vimala, Narsimha, Ramachandra, Hanuman and Eshaneshwara.The Mandapa There are many Mandapas or Pillared halls on raised platforms within the temple complex meant for religious congregations.The most prominent is the Mukti Mandap the congregation hall of the holy seat of selected learned brahmins.Here important decisions regarding conduct of daily worship and festivals are taken.The Dol Mandap is noteworthy for a beautifully carved stone Torana or arch which is used for constructing a swing for the annual Dol Yatra festival. During the festival the idol of Dologobindo is placed on the swing.The Snana Bedi is a rectangular stone platform where idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are placed for ceremonial bathing during the annual Snana YatraThe Temple Kitchen & Mahaprasadahe temple's kitchen is considered as the largest kitchen in India.Tradition maintains that all food cooked in the temple kitchens are supervised by the Goddess Mahalakshmi, the empress of Srimandir herself.It is said that if the food prepared has any fault in it a shadow dog appears near the temple kitchen. The temple cooks take this as a sign of displeasure of Mahalakshmi with the food which is promptly buried and a new batch cooked.All food is cooked following rules as prescribed by Hindu religious texts.Cooking is done only in earthen pots with water drawn from two special wells near the kitchen called Ganga and Yamuna. There are total 56 varieties of naivedhyas offered to the deities,near ratnavedi as well as in bhoga mandap on five particular muhurtas.The most awaited prasad is kotho bhoga or abadha, offered at mid-day at around 1PM,depending upon temple rituals. The food after being offered to Jagannath is distributed at reasonable amount as mahaprasad, which considered as divine to devotees in the Ananda Bazar located to the North-east of the Singhadwara inside the temple complex.FestivalsThere are many festivals each year attended by thousands of people. The most important festival is the Rath Yatra or the Chariot festival in June.This spectacular festival includes a procession of three huge chariots bearing the idols of Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra through the Bada Danda meaning the Grand Avenue of Puri till their final destination the Gundicha Temple. Early European observers told tales of devotees being crushed under the wheels of these chariots, whether by accident or even as a form of meritorious suicide akin to suttee.In a year that has two months of Ashadh which is usually once in twelve to nineteen years the wooden idols of the deities are replaced during the Nabakalevara ceremony.On Akshaya Tritiya every year the Chandan Yatra festival marks the commencement of the construction of the Chariots of the Rath Yatra.On the Purnima of the month of Jyestha the Gods are ceremonially bathed and decorated every year on the occasion of Snana Yatra.Many other festivals like Dol Yatra in spring and Jhulan Yatra in monsoon are celebrated by temple every year.Pavitrotsava and Damanaka utsava are celebrated as per panchanga.There are special eremonies in the month of Kartika and Pausha.The annual shodasha dinatmaka or 16 day puja beginning 8 days prior to Mahalaya of Ashwin month for goddess Vimala and ending on Vijayadashami, is of great importance, in which both the utsava murty of lord Madanmohan and Vimala take part. Anavasara à Literally means vacation. Every year,the main deitys of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra,&Sudarshan after the holy Snana Yatra on the jyestha purnima,go to a secret altar named Anavasara Ghar where they remain for the next dark fortnight i.e. krishna paksha. Hence devotees are not allowed to view them.
Purushottama Kshetra and Its Siginificance Lord Jagannath is the Purushottama as per the scripture, Skanda Purana. In order to teach human beings how to lead life full of virtue he has taken the form of Darubrahman.He is the best brother to his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.