Purī — Jagannāth

Jagannātha, Balabhadra and Subhadrā · Purī, Odisha

Purī is the eastern dhām, where Kṛṣṇa is worshipped as Jagannātha, “Lord of the Universe”, with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadrā. The images are carved from wood and are renewed in a ceremony called Navakalevara in certain years.

The great event is the Ratha Yātrā in Āṣāḍha (June–July), when the deities ride huge chariots through the streets. The temple kitchen’s mahāprasāda, cooked in clay pots, is shared by all. Govardhana Maṭha of the Śaṅkara tradition is here. Entry to the main temple is traditionally restricted to Hindus.

Tradition says King Indradyumna was guided to build a temple for Viṣṇu. A divine craftsman, often identified with Viśvakarmā, agreed to carve the images if no one disturbed him. When the anxious queen opened the door early, he vanished, leaving the images unfinished — and that is how Jagannātha is worshipped to this day.

Odisha · East · Govardhana Maṭha · Ratha Yātrā · Mahāprasāda

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