Jagannath Temple,Orissa - जगन्नाथ मंदिर
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Puri is one of the four 'dhams' of the Hindus along with Varanasi,Dwarka and Rameshwaram. Puri is well-known for a 12th-century temple called "Jagannath" erected in honor of the Hindu god Vishnu. The temple of Lord Jagannath is a colossal one. Since the town is a religious place and a sea resort,it attracts devotees in large numbers. Puri is also famous for its car festival.
Lord Jagannath,the symbol of universal love and brotherhood is worshiped in the Temple along with Balabhadra,Subhadra,Sudarshan,Madhaba,Sridevi and Bhudevi on the Ratnabedi or the bejeweled platform. The Deities,Lord Jagannath,Balabhadra,Subhadra and Chakra Sudarshan are made of margosa wood. These three together are the principal deities of the temple,whose images reside in the temple's sanctuary. The temple was originally built by the Kalinga ruler Anantavarman Chodaganga (1078 - 1148 CE). Much of the present structure was built by King Ananga Bhima Deva in the year 1174 CE. It took 14 years to complete and was consecrated in 1198 CE. It is believed that the image of Jagannath was buried thrice in the Chilka lake for protection from invaders.
Jagannath Temple The vast temple complex occupies an area of over 400000 square feet,and is bounded by a 20 feet high fortified wall. This complex contains about 120 temples and shrines. The shikhara of the Jagannath temple towers to a height of 192 feet.
The temple shows the characteristic form of the Orissan variant of the Nagara architectural style. It was begun around the 12th century and has been added to and repaired in the time since then. The most important element in the Nagara style is the "shikhara" ( temple tower ) and in the Orissa variant these towers are soaring and tall,in contrast to the smaller entrance-halls leading up to them.
Structurally the temple has four chambers. The outermost is the Bhogmandir,the next is the Nata-mandir pillared hall for music and dance,the next is the Jagamohana - or the mandapa where devotees gather for worship and the last is the sanctum or the Deul enshrining the deities. Car Festival,The Ratha Yatra : A famous festival related to the Jagannath temple is the ratha yatra,or chariot festival,which occurs yearly in June or July. The city reverberates with activity when spectacular wooden images of the deities kept at the temple are taken out in the streets on giant chariots nearly 14 metres high,in honour of Lord Jagannath amidst mammoth gathering. After they have stayed in that temple for seven days,the deities again ride the chariots back to their home temple.
Jagannath's chariot is a 35 feet square,rising to a height of 45 feet,with 16 wheels,7 feet in diameter. More than 4000 people drag the chariot. Hundreds of thousands gather from all over the country to witness this festival.
Konark Sun Temple is located,in the state of Orissa near the sacred city of Puri. The sun Temple of Konark is dedicated to the sun God or Surya. It is a masterpiece of Orissa's medieval architecture. Sun temple has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.
The Konark temple is widely known not only for its architectural grandeur but also for the intricacy and profusion of sculptural work. The entire temple has been conceived as a chariot of the sun god with 24 wheels,each about 10 feet in diameter,with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. Seven horses drag the temple. Two lions guard the entrance,crushing elephants. A flight of steps lead to the main entrance.
The Nata Mandir in front of the Jagamohana is also intricately carved. Around the base of the temple,and up the walls and roof,are carvings in the erotic style. There are images of animals,foliage,men,warriors on horses and other interesting patterns. There are three images of the Sun God,positioned to catch the rays of the sun at dawn,noon and sunset.
Konark derives its name from Konarka,the presiding deity of the Sun Temple. Konarka is actually a combination of two words,Kona (corner) and Arka (sun),which,when combined,means the sun of the corner. Konark was one of the earliest centres of Sun worshipping in India. The place finds mention in the Puranas as Mundira or Mundirasvamin,a name that was subsequently replaced by Konaditya or Konarka. Apart from the Puranas,other religious texts also point towards the existence of a sun temple at Konark long before the present temple.
Konark was once a bustling port of Kalinga and had good maritime trade relations with Southeast Asian countries. The present Sun Temple was probably built King Narashimhadev I (AD 1238-64) of the Ganga dynasty to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. The temple fell into disuse in the early 17th century after it was desecrated by an envoy of the Mughal emperor Jahangir.
However,legend has it that the temple was constructed by Samba,the son of Lord Krishna. It is said that Samba was afflicted by leprosy,brought about by his father's curse on him. After 12 years of penance,he was cured by Surya,the Sun God,in whose honour he built this temple.
The massive structure of the temple,now in ruins,sits in solitary splendor surrounded by the drifting sands. The entire temple has been designed in the shape of a chariot carrying the Sun God across the heavens. The huge intricate wheels of the chariot,which are carved around the base of the temple,are the major attractions of the temple. The spokes of these wheels serve as sundials,and the shadows formed by these can give the precise time of the day. The pyramidal roof of the temple,made of sandstone,soars over 30 m in height. Like the temples at Khajuraho,the Sun Temple at Konark is also covered with erotic sculptures.
Wheel of Chariot,Konark Sun Temple The Temple Chariot of the Sun God Standing imperiously in its compound of lawns and casuarina trees,35km north of Puri on the coast road,this majestic pile of oxidizing sandstone is considered to be the apogee of Orissan architecture and one of the finest religious buildings anywhere in the world. The temple is all the more remarkable for having languished under a huge mound of sand since it fell into neglect three hundred or so years ago. A team of seven galloping horses and twenty-four exquisitely carved wheels found lining the flanks of a raised platform showed that the temple had been conceived in the form of a colossal chariot for the sun god Surya,its presiding deity.
The Chandrabhaga Mela or Magha Saptami mela in the month of February,is a grand religious festival. Thousands of pilgrims converge on the pool,on this day to take a holy dip in its curative waters,and then shuffle off to the beach where,in accordance with an age-old custom mentioned in the puranas,they watch the sun rise over the sea. The event is followed by the puja of the Navagraha.
Those interested in attending the Konark Dance Festival,held in the Open air Auditorium north of the Sun Temple,should visit during the first week of December. Konark Dance Festival A dance festival is held in an open-air theatre built near the Sun Temple every year in the month of December. Known as the Konark dance festival,the event brings together eminent classical dancers of India who perform various dance forms like Odissi,Bharatnatyam,Manipuri,Kathak and Chhow. The classical extravaganza is a journey through ecstasy,and a visit to Konark during this time offers you with a combination of art,craft,fun and frolic.
Magha Saptami (Sun Festival) is held at Konark on the seventh day (saptami) of the bright half of the month of Magha (January/February). During this festival,the pilgrims bathe in the sea before sunrise and then proceed to the temple to worship.
There is an interesting legend associated with the Jagannatha temple of Puri. It is said that King Indradyumna, the ruler of the territory, saw Lord Jagannath in his dreams and following the Lord’s wishes, as told to him in his dreams, he got the Jagannath Puri Temple constructed. Situated in the heart of the holy city, the temple is visited by devotees from farthest corners of India as well as the world. It exudes splendor and its tall spires lend it a magnificent aura. The walls are embellished with exquisite carvings.
The pillars that provide support to the temple are adorned with pictures depicting the life of Lord Krishna. In the list of the most splendid monuments of Orissa, Jagannath temple occupies a supreme position. One of the most popular attractions of the Jagannatha Temple of Puri comprises of its Rath Yatra that is organized every year. It is basically a chariot festival, where idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, the main deities of Srimandir, are taken to the Gundicha temple in bejeweled chariots and are brought back to the mandir in the same way.
Ratnagiri, 7th - 11th century,Orissa, near Bhubaneshwar. The Buddhist complex atop the hill of Ratnagiri (map) was once an important Buddhist university, visited by the Chinese traveler Xuan Zong in 639 AD. It contains three monasteries, a temple, a large stupa, and numerous smaller structures. This photograph shows the entrance to Monastery 1, the largest in the complex. Originally the building had two stories, although the upper one has now disappeared. The entrance faces south, and leads to a green chlorite doorway (center of photo). Within is a large courtyard, surrounded by monks' cells. The principal shrine contains a large Buddha image and is located off the north side of the courtyard. A number of fine sculptures are kept on site and in the local museum, the remainder being distributed to museums in Bhubaneshwar and Calcutta.
The original brick structure dates to the 7th/8th century, while the stone facing on the walls and interior is from a later rebuilding. The complex fell out of use from the 12th century onward, when Buddhism disappeared from India under the twin pressures of Muslim invasion and Hindu resurgence.
Lord Jagannath,the symbol of universal love and brotherhood is worshiped in the Temple along with Balabhadra,Subhadra,Sudarshan,Madhaba,Sridevi and Bhudevi on the Ratnabedi or the bejeweled platform. The Deities,Lord Jagannath,Balabhadra,Subhadra and Chakra Sudarshan are made of margosa wood. These three together are the principal deities of the temple,whose images reside in the temple's sanctuary. The temple was originally built by the Kalinga ruler Anantavarman Chodaganga (1078 - 1148 CE). Much of the present structure was built by King Ananga Bhima Deva in the year 1174 CE. It took 14 years to complete and was consecrated in 1198 CE. It is believed that the image of Jagannath was buried thrice in the Chilka lake for protection from invaders.
Jagannath Temple The vast temple complex occupies an area of over 400000 square feet,and is bounded by a 20 feet high fortified wall. This complex contains about 120 temples and shrines. The shikhara of the Jagannath temple towers to a height of 192 feet.
The temple shows the characteristic form of the Orissan variant of the Nagara architectural style. It was begun around the 12th century and has been added to and repaired in the time since then. The most important element in the Nagara style is the "shikhara" ( temple tower ) and in the Orissa variant these towers are soaring and tall,in contrast to the smaller entrance-halls leading up to them.
Structurally the temple has four chambers. The outermost is the Bhogmandir,the next is the Nata-mandir pillared hall for music and dance,the next is the Jagamohana - or the mandapa where devotees gather for worship and the last is the sanctum or the Deul enshrining the deities. Car Festival,The Ratha Yatra : A famous festival related to the Jagannath temple is the ratha yatra,or chariot festival,which occurs yearly in June or July. The city reverberates with activity when spectacular wooden images of the deities kept at the temple are taken out in the streets on giant chariots nearly 14 metres high,in honour of Lord Jagannath amidst mammoth gathering. After they have stayed in that temple for seven days,the deities again ride the chariots back to their home temple.
Jagannath's chariot is a 35 feet square,rising to a height of 45 feet,with 16 wheels,7 feet in diameter. More than 4000 people drag the chariot. Hundreds of thousands gather from all over the country to witness this festival.
Konark Sun Temple is located,in the state of Orissa near the sacred city of Puri. The sun Temple of Konark is dedicated to the sun God or Surya. It is a masterpiece of Orissa's medieval architecture. Sun temple has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.
The Konark temple is widely known not only for its architectural grandeur but also for the intricacy and profusion of sculptural work. The entire temple has been conceived as a chariot of the sun god with 24 wheels,each about 10 feet in diameter,with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. Seven horses drag the temple. Two lions guard the entrance,crushing elephants. A flight of steps lead to the main entrance.
The Nata Mandir in front of the Jagamohana is also intricately carved. Around the base of the temple,and up the walls and roof,are carvings in the erotic style. There are images of animals,foliage,men,warriors on horses and other interesting patterns. There are three images of the Sun God,positioned to catch the rays of the sun at dawn,noon and sunset.
Konark derives its name from Konarka,the presiding deity of the Sun Temple. Konarka is actually a combination of two words,Kona (corner) and Arka (sun),which,when combined,means the sun of the corner. Konark was one of the earliest centres of Sun worshipping in India. The place finds mention in the Puranas as Mundira or Mundirasvamin,a name that was subsequently replaced by Konaditya or Konarka. Apart from the Puranas,other religious texts also point towards the existence of a sun temple at Konark long before the present temple.
Konark was once a bustling port of Kalinga and had good maritime trade relations with Southeast Asian countries. The present Sun Temple was probably built King Narashimhadev I (AD 1238-64) of the Ganga dynasty to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. The temple fell into disuse in the early 17th century after it was desecrated by an envoy of the Mughal emperor Jahangir.
However,legend has it that the temple was constructed by Samba,the son of Lord Krishna. It is said that Samba was afflicted by leprosy,brought about by his father's curse on him. After 12 years of penance,he was cured by Surya,the Sun God,in whose honour he built this temple.
The massive structure of the temple,now in ruins,sits in solitary splendor surrounded by the drifting sands. The entire temple has been designed in the shape of a chariot carrying the Sun God across the heavens. The huge intricate wheels of the chariot,which are carved around the base of the temple,are the major attractions of the temple. The spokes of these wheels serve as sundials,and the shadows formed by these can give the precise time of the day. The pyramidal roof of the temple,made of sandstone,soars over 30 m in height. Like the temples at Khajuraho,the Sun Temple at Konark is also covered with erotic sculptures.
Wheel of Chariot,Konark Sun Temple The Temple Chariot of the Sun God Standing imperiously in its compound of lawns and casuarina trees,35km north of Puri on the coast road,this majestic pile of oxidizing sandstone is considered to be the apogee of Orissan architecture and one of the finest religious buildings anywhere in the world. The temple is all the more remarkable for having languished under a huge mound of sand since it fell into neglect three hundred or so years ago. A team of seven galloping horses and twenty-four exquisitely carved wheels found lining the flanks of a raised platform showed that the temple had been conceived in the form of a colossal chariot for the sun god Surya,its presiding deity.
Lady drummer of Sun Temple
The temple is a brilliant chronicle in stone,with thousands of images including deities,the Surasundaris,heavenly damsels,and human musicians,lovers,dancers,and different scenes from courtly life.Maituna - Sun Temple
Equally as sensational was the re-discovery among the ruins of some extraordinary erotic sculpture. Konark is plastered with loving couples locked in ingenious amatory postures drawn from the Kama Sutra - a feature that may well explain the comment made by one of great poet of Mughal Dynasty,Abdul Fazl,in the sixteenth century: "Even those who are difficult to please," he enthused,"stand astonished at its sight."Sacred Pond
A stone's throw away from Konark beach lies the sacred pond where Samba was cured of leprosy - the miracle that allegedly inspired the founding of the sun temple. For a couple of days every year during the full or "white" moon phase of Magha (Jan/Feb),chandrabhaga is also the site of a big religious festival,the Magha Saptami Mela.The Chandrabhaga Mela or Magha Saptami mela in the month of February,is a grand religious festival. Thousands of pilgrims converge on the pool,on this day to take a holy dip in its curative waters,and then shuffle off to the beach where,in accordance with an age-old custom mentioned in the puranas,they watch the sun rise over the sea. The event is followed by the puja of the Navagraha.
Those interested in attending the Konark Dance Festival,held in the Open air Auditorium north of the Sun Temple,should visit during the first week of December. Konark Dance Festival A dance festival is held in an open-air theatre built near the Sun Temple every year in the month of December. Known as the Konark dance festival,the event brings together eminent classical dancers of India who perform various dance forms like Odissi,Bharatnatyam,Manipuri,Kathak and Chhow. The classical extravaganza is a journey through ecstasy,and a visit to Konark during this time offers you with a combination of art,craft,fun and frolic.
Magha Saptami (Sun Festival) is held at Konark on the seventh day (saptami) of the bright half of the month of Magha (January/February). During this festival,the pilgrims bathe in the sea before sunrise and then proceed to the temple to worship.
Jagannath Temple
Jagannath Temple is one of the most renowned as well as the biggest temples of Orissa. Established in the 12th century, the temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Lord of the Universe. The credit for laying the foundation of the Jagannath temple of Puri goes to Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga Dev. The temple is located at a distance of 60 km from Bhubaneswar, on the coast of Bay of Bengal, and is greatly revered by the devotees following the Vaishnava traditions.There is an interesting legend associated with the Jagannatha temple of Puri. It is said that King Indradyumna, the ruler of the territory, saw Lord Jagannath in his dreams and following the Lord’s wishes, as told to him in his dreams, he got the Jagannath Puri Temple constructed. Situated in the heart of the holy city, the temple is visited by devotees from farthest corners of India as well as the world. It exudes splendor and its tall spires lend it a magnificent aura. The walls are embellished with exquisite carvings.
The pillars that provide support to the temple are adorned with pictures depicting the life of Lord Krishna. In the list of the most splendid monuments of Orissa, Jagannath temple occupies a supreme position. One of the most popular attractions of the Jagannatha Temple of Puri comprises of its Rath Yatra that is organized every year. It is basically a chariot festival, where idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, the main deities of Srimandir, are taken to the Gundicha temple in bejeweled chariots and are brought back to the mandir in the same way.
Ratnagiri, 7th - 11th century,Orissa, near Bhubaneshwar. The Buddhist complex atop the hill of Ratnagiri (map) was once an important Buddhist university, visited by the Chinese traveler Xuan Zong in 639 AD. It contains three monasteries, a temple, a large stupa, and numerous smaller structures. This photograph shows the entrance to Monastery 1, the largest in the complex. Originally the building had two stories, although the upper one has now disappeared. The entrance faces south, and leads to a green chlorite doorway (center of photo). Within is a large courtyard, surrounded by monks' cells. The principal shrine contains a large Buddha image and is located off the north side of the courtyard. A number of fine sculptures are kept on site and in the local museum, the remainder being distributed to museums in Bhubaneshwar and Calcutta.
The original brick structure dates to the 7th/8th century, while the stone facing on the walls and interior is from a later rebuilding. The complex fell out of use from the 12th century onward, when Buddhism disappeared from India under the twin pressures of Muslim invasion and Hindu resurgence.
 Photo by : rabidash in Flickr |
 Photo by : east med wanderer in Flickr |
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 Photo by : subir_dass in webshots |
 Photo by : subir_dass in webshots |
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 Photo by : subir_dass in webshots |
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