In addition to being a place of pilgrimage, Jagannath Puri in the Indian state of Odisha is also a mysterious and historic place. The Jagannath Temple, the focal point of this hallowed territory, is where Lord Jagannath, together with his siblings Balbhadra and Subhadra, are reverently worshipped. Apart from the fascinating Nabakalebara ceremony, this sacred site is linked to a number of other mysterious stories and legends.
Let’s dive deep into the depth of the mysteries of this holy temple. This shrine is linked to a number of inexplicable scientific puzzles and marvels that defy scientific explanations. For many years, scientists, historians, priests, and regular people have all worked hard to attempt and unravel these mysteries, but to no avail.
The wooden idols are changed out for fresh ones during Nabakalebara. One performs this rite once every eight, twelve, or nineteen years. Rigid requirements are followed in the selection and use of sacred neem trees. Within 21 days, a select group of carpenters complete the carving in secret. The ancient idols rest in the vicinity of Koili Vaikuntha. It is believed that the head of the priest of the temple goes to the old idol first and then takes out an object from the old idol and places it to the new one. According to the priests who have participated in this, the object feels like a rabbit or something which is moving and has very high energy associated with it. Mythological belief is that the object is the heart of Sri Krishna, which gets transferred from one idol to another during the auspicious event of Nabakalebara. The most recent Nabakalebara was held in 2015, and millions of followers were present.
There is something unusual about the Jagannath Temple that draws in interested tourists. The temple's building seems unfinished despite its majesty and splendour. It is thought that the temple is purposefully left unfinished to emphasize the ephemeral character of the holy realm and to symbolize the imperfections of the mortal world.
The flag atop the Jagannath Temple flaps in the opposite direction of the wind's direction. A priest changes the flag at the Jagannath Temple every day, following an 1800-year-old custom that requires them to ascend to the top of the Shikhara. According to legend, the temple will stay closed for a whopping eighteen years if this ceremony is neglected, even for a single day. The temple towers over a building of 45 stories. The task is completed with just the hands and no safety equipment.
The Nila Chakra, a huge disc formed like a wheel and composed of an alloy of eight metals, is one of the most fascinating features of the Jagannath Temple. The fact that it is visible from all around Puri and is perched atop the main spire of the temple is what makes it so remarkable. According to legend, the Nila Chakra is endowed with heavenly abilities and may ward off bad forces from the temple. Its history and the mysteries it conceals are still fascinating and enigmas.
Another amazing fact about this temple is that thousands of priests prepare the Mahaprasad, which is cooked in seven earthen pots arranged one above the other over firewood. The food in the pot at the top cooks first, then the food in the pots below it, scientists couldn’t find a suitable answer to this as well.
There are five stages involved in serving Lord Jagannath with the 56 delicious treats that make up the Mahaprasad. There are two varieties: the Shankhudi and the Sukhila. Rice, dal, and other foods make up the shankhudi, whereas all the dry confectionaries make up the sukhila. It tastes wonderful and is available to devotees in the Ananda Bazaar market, which is situated within the temple premises.
Numerous thousands of visitors visit this sacred sanctuary each year. More pilgrims travel on the Rath Yatra of Jagannath worship days than on other days. However, the same quantity of food—Jagannath Prasadam—is prepared each day; meals are never wasted, and no devotee goes without meals on any given day.
The temple never has a shadow, no matter what time of day it is or where in the sky the sun is shining. It remains to be seen if that is an architectural marvel or just a miracle. There isn't even a single bird visible atop the dome of the Jagannath Temple in Puri. Not a single bird, not a single plane, is hovering above. This still lacks a rational explanation for this phenomenon.
On top of the temple lies a chakra, or wheel of fortune, that weighs almost a ton. The most remarkable thing is that the chakra always faces in the direction of itself when viewed from a height at any location in Puri. How the inhabitants of the 12th century managed to place a chakra that heavy at the summit of the temple that high is even more enigmatic. This defines the architectural brilliance of ancient Indian culture.
Mysteries and divinity coexist in Jagannath Puri, which is home to the Jagannath Temple. Every facet of this hallowed region, from the mysterious Nila Chakra to the submerged kingdom, has mysteries that remain to be discovered. The spiritual aura and allure of Jagannath Puri only intensify when devotees and explorers delve further into these mysteries. Plan your trip to this historic pilgrimage destination now to discover the alluring fusion of mystery and devotion that awaits you in Lord Jagannath's land.