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The Supreme Court backed Odisha government’s initiative Shree Mandira Parikrama project to redevelop the famous Puri Jagannath Temple premises to provide basic facilities for lakhs of pilgrims while dismissing a public interest litigation petition which described the work as “unauthorized and illegal constructions.
About Jagannath Temple
- Location: Located in Puri, Odisha, on the eastern shore.
- Chilika lake is one of the major wetlands located in the proximity of the temple.
- Dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Krishna
- The image of Jagannath is made of wood and is ceremoniously replaced every twelve or 19 years by an exact replica
- Jagannath Puri temple is called ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power of ‘Yama’, the god of death has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath.
- The temple is called “White Pagoda” and is one of the Char Dham pilgrimages (Badrinath, Dwaraka, Puri, and Rameswaram) that every Hindu is obliged to complete in their lifetime.
- History:
- The temple is believed to have been constructed in the 12th century by King Anatavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.
- Architecture:
- The temple was built on the basis of Oriya architecture
- The huge temple complex covers an area of over 400,000 square feet and is surrounded by a high fortified wall.
- This 20 feet high wall is known as Meghanada Pacheri.
- Another wall known as kurma bedha surrounds the main temple.
- Nila Chakra: Nila Chakra is located on the top of the temple and has eight spokes called Navagunjaras. Made up of alloy of eight metals also known as Ashtadhatu
Kalinga Architecture
Content Source : The Hindu