Jagannath Puri Pastime Places
Jagannath Puri Pastime Places
Parikrama 2016
Every year during the month of November/December, few days after the end
of Kartik masa (month) ISKCON organizes Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri
Dhama Parikrama. This year’s Parikrama will be from 16th to
19th November 2016. More details are on: www.mayapur.com/2016/sri-ksetra-
parikrama-2016
The waves pounding on the beach, the refreshing sea breezes, the colossal
hand-carved 12th century stone temple, the relaxed and happy ambience of
the local folk, the bright red, yellow and blue cloth appliqué, and that
bewitching pair of big smiling eyes looking out from every wall, every
billboard, every poster, every calendar, every wedding invitation, every
sticker, every button, every bead bag, every taxi and rickshaw, every
windshield, every t-shirt, every shoulder bag - “This is Jagannatha Puri
Dhama”, one of India’s most popular pilgrimage sites located in Orissa, 300
miles south of Kolkata and 60km from Bhubaneswar.
2. Sri Tota Gopinatha Mandira (most unique Krishna Deity in the world
“sitting down”);
6. Jagannatha Vallabha Garden (Lord Caitanya used to take rest here after
Rathayatra);
10. ISKCON Bhakti Kuti (Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura spent his last 4 years
here);
22. Ahulya Math (home of Lord Nityananda and Sri Advaita Acarya at
Jagannatha Puri);
1. GAMBHIRA
“Gambhira”, the small room in which Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu lived during
His 18 years in Jagannatha Puri. This is located on Svargadvara Road, the
main street running by the Lion Gate toward the ocean. It is 5 mins walk to
the Jagannatha Temple. Sign above the entrance gate reads, “Sri Sri Radha
Kanta Math Gambhira”. When Mahaprabhu came to Jagannatha Puri after
taking sannyasa, He stayed at Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya’s House. But
After he toured South India, on His return to Puri he then stayed at Kashi
Mishra’s House. Kashi Mishra was Rajguru of King Prataparudra, and King
had gifted him a house with a large garden near the temple. King
Prataparudra was a great Devotee of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu; He
suggested to Sarvabhauma that Mahaprabhu can stay in Kashi Mishra’s
house.
Main Deities: Sri Sri Radha Kanta is worshipped in Kasi Mishra’s house.
King Prataparudra’s father, Sri Purusottama Deva, conquered the king of
Kanchipura in battle and returned with three deities: Radha Kanta, Saksi
Gopala, and Bhada Ganesha. Bhada Ganesha is still worshipped in an
inner courtyard just behind Jagannatha temple. It is said Radha Kanta was
also worshipped inside the Jagannatha Mandir for some time. But in dream
Lord Jagannatha informed the King Prataparudra to remove Radha
Kanta deity because He is taking all nice items from his bhoga plate and so
king requested to his Gurudev Kasi Mishra to take the Radha Kanta to his
house.
Lord Caitanya’s room at Gambhira
Main Deities: Sri Tota Gopinatha graces the centre altar with Sri Radhika
playing vina and Lalita sakhi playing flute on His left and right. Being deeply
absorbed in syama-rasa - the mellow of satisfying all of Krishna’s conjugal
desires - Radhika and Lalita-sakhi appear black. Holding Her kacchapi-vina,
Srimati Radharani curiously stands in a three-fold bending form dancing in
time with Her beloved syamam tri-bhanga-lalitam. The left altar features
Lord Balaram with Revati and Varuni on His left and right. On right altar are
Deities of Gaura-Gadadhara and Sri Sri Radha Madana-mohana installed by
Mamu Thakura. He is the nephew of Sri Nilambara Cakravati, Lord
Gauranga’s grandfather.
Sri Tota Gopinatha has such a charismatic bewitching quality that draws one
to His darshana over and over again. Srila Vrindavana Thakura extols His
power: “Even an extreme atheist will be changed upon seeing the Deity of
Gopinatha.”
At 7am during darshan time, upon request, the pujari can show a small
golden streak on Gopinatha’s right knee where Mahaprabhu entered the
Lord.
One day here, Sri Caitanyadeva experienced immense separation from Krishna. Crying
out, “Where us My Prananatha,” Gauranga started digging the earth to search of His
Lord. Feeling the carved stone mukuta of a murti below the ground, Gaurahari
declared, “Gadai, I have found a most precious treasure here. Would you like to accept
it?” Noticing the head of a murti emerging from the sand, Gadadhara helped Gauranga
uncover a most beautiful Deity of Supreme Lord Sri Krishna. Mahaprabhu named the
Deity, Gopinatha, and because He appeared in a garden (tota in Oriya) the devotees
called Him, Tota Gopinatha. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu engaged Gadadhara Pandita in
Gopinatha’s service by awarding him ksetra-sannyasa.
Sri Tota Gopinatha graces the centre altar with Sri Radhika playing
vina and Lalita sakhi playing flute on His left and right. Being deeply
absorbed in syama-rasa - the mellow of satisfying all of Krishna’s
conjugal desires - Radhika and Lalita-sakhi appear black. Holding
Her kacchapi-vina, Srimati Radharani curiously stands in a three-fold
bending form dancing in time with Her beloved syamam tri-bhanga-
lalitam. Sri Tota Gopinatha has such a charismatic bewitching
quality that draws one to His darshan over and over again. Srila
Vrindavana Thakura extols His power: “Even an extreme atheist will
be changed upon seeing the Deity of Gopinatha.” Mahaprabhu
attended regularly and heard recount the stories of Dhruva Maharaj
and Prahlada Maharaj at least 100 times.
The left altar at Sri Tota Gopinatha Temple features Lord Balarama
with Revati and Varuni on His left and right. On right altar are
Deities of Sri Sri Gaura-Gadadhara and Sri Sri Radha Madana-
mohana installed by Mamu Thakura. He is the nephew of Sri
Nilambara Cakravati, Lord Gauranga’s grandfather.
3. SRI SIDDHA-BAKULA
Bhajana Kutir of Namacarya Srila Haridasa Thakura
Siddha Bakula is located near Gambhira Temple on Bali Sahi road. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu personally arranged for Srila Haridasa Thakura to
reside at this place. This is the place where he performed his
daily bhajana of chanting 192 rounds (3,00,000 names) of Hare
Krishna maha-mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||
Since Haridasa could not enter the Jagannatha Temple, being of a Muslim
family, Sri Caitanya requested Haridasa, "Remain here and chant the Hare
Krishna maha-mantra. I shall personally come here to meet you daily.
Remain here peacefully, and look at the cakra on top of Lord Jagannatha's
temple and offer obeisances. As far as your Prasadam, I shall arrange to
have that sent here." In order to provide shade for Thakur Haridasa, Sri
Caitanya planted a used tooth stick of Lord Jagannatha. All of a sudden it
grew up and appeared as a great shade tree. When Srila Rupa Goswami
visited Jagannatha Puri, Mahaprabhu allocated him a residence here with
Thakura Haridasa. Rupa Gosvami recited Lalitha Madhava and Vidagdha
Madhava under this tree before Sri Gauranga and his followers. During his
stay Sanatana Gosvami also lived here. Haridasa Thakur left his body here.
4. GUNDICA TEMPLE
Every year the Rathayatra culminates at this temple which is surrounded by
lush gardens and tall cooling coconut trees. Fragrant flowers and shady trees
create a Vrindavana atmosphere which Lord Jagannatha enjoys for 7 days
before returning to Sri Mandira. This temple is located at the opposite end of
main road about 3 km northeast of the Jagannatha Temple. The temple at
Gundica is called Sundaracala and Jagannatha Temple is called Nilacala.
During Rathayatra festival, Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra along
Sudarshan, leave Jagannatha Mandira for nine days: one day for travelling
to Gundica, Seven days spent there, and one day to return home. This
Journey is known as to Gundica Yatra, Nava Dina Yatra (“nine days
Journey”), or Ghosa Yatra. It is most auspicious to have darshana of Lord
Jagannatha at this time.
Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu used to meet Sri Ramananda Raya who was His
very dear and confidential associate. A great-devotee and King, King
Prataparudra was delivered by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu here. Towards
the later part of Mahaprabhu’s life, when He was feeling intense separation
from Lord Sri Krishna, He came to this garden on a full moon day during the
month of Vaisakha, along with His associates. Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja
Gosvami has explained this pastime very nicely in Caitanya-Caritamrta
Antya 19-76-100. The wonderful pastime of Mahaprabhu’s Bhojan
Lila (Mahaprabhu’s honouring of Prasada) took place here. A
great pandita Pradyuma Misra came here to learn to look beyond the
material covering and he heard Bhagavata-Katha from Ramananda Raya.
This large garden, full of coconut trees and cooling pond, is very dear
(vallabha) to Lord Jagannatha because it produces varieties of flowers and
fruits for His service. Lord Jagannatha’s utsava murti, festival Deity, come
here on different auspicious functions and relish many spectacular festivities
performed here. It is believed that this garden existed since the construction
of Lord Jagannatha’s Temple.
Immediately to the left entrance of the garden is Jagannatha Vallabha
Matha, which is said to be established by the Sri Visnuswami Sampradaya.
Inside the temple there are three altars. In one, Sri Radha Gopala murtis are
worshipped. These Deities are extraordinarily beautiful. The Gopala
murti has four hands: in two hands He holds sankha and cakra, and in other
two His celebrated flute. Second altar has Deities of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu in sannyasa dress sitting before Ramananda Raya. Third altar
has large Deities of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra and Sudarsana
Cakra. This temple is half km walk up the Grand Road towards Jagannatha
Mandira. Garden has distinctive dark red boundary wall. Above main
entrance gate there is a colourful diorama of Lord Visnu lying on Ananta
Sesa.
Lord Caitanya and Sri Ramananda Raya at Jagannatha Vallabha
Matha
Here Lord Caitanya used to meet Sri Ramananda Raya who was His
very dear and confidential associate. King Prataparudra was
delivered by Lord Caitanya here. Towards the later part of
Mahaprabhu’s life, when He was feeling intense separation from
Lord Sri Krishna, He came to this garden on a full moon day during
the month of Vaisakha, along with His associates (Caitanya-
Caritamrta Antya 19-76-100). This large garden, full of coconut
trees and cooling pond, is very dear (vallabha) to Lord Jagannatha
because it produces varieties of flowers and fruits for His service.
Lord Jagannatha’s utsava murti, festival Deity, come here on
different auspicious functions and relish many spectacular festivities
performed here. Immediately to the left entrance of the garden is
Jagannatha Vallabha Matha, which is said to be established by the
Sri Visnuswami Sampradaya. Inside the temple there are three
altars. In one, Sri Radha Gopala murtis are worshipped. These
Deities are extraordinarily beautiful. The Gopala murti has four
hands: in two hands He holds sankha and cakra, and in other two
His celebrated flute. Second altar has Deities of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu in sannyasa dress sitting before Ramananda Raya.
Third has large Deities of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subdhara and
Sudarsana Cakra.
8. NARANDERA SAROVARA
This large tank is located north-east of Jagannatha’s temple. This pond is
also known as Sri Chandan Pukur, because Lord Jagannatha comes here
every evening for 21 consecutive days during Chandan-yatra, from Aksaya-
trtiya (in month of Vaisakha or April/May) up to Suklastami-tithi in the
month of Jyestha (May/June) to enjoy His Nauka-Lila (boating pastime).
Towards the west of the samadhi there are three altars where deities of Lord
Gauranga, Lord Nityananda, and Sri Advaita Acarya are worshipped. After
the disappearance of Srila Haridasa Thakura, Lord Caitanya would come here
every day after taking bath in the ocean, offer prasada to
Haridasa’s samadhi and do nilma-bhajana for some time. Thus all the deities
are in a sitting posture and doing nilma-bhajana.
One day during his samudra-snana (sea bath), King Indradyumna saw 7
exalted sages doing bhajana in a lonely place on the beach. When asked
about their identity, they remained silent, absorbed in meditation. That
night, Lord Jagannatha told King Indradyumna in a dream, “They are the
universally famous Sapta-rsis. You must give them some land and daily send
My maha-prasadam.” Although the king offered land, the rsis refused saying,
“We are detached sadhus only interested in bhajana. But if you desire, you
may send Lord Jagannatha maha-prasadam every day.” In time,
7 mathas (temples) were established to honour the 7 sitting places of these
exalted saints. Today however, only four temples remain.
Mother Cow creates a huge lake: Millions of years ago during Satya-yuga, King
Indradyumna performed asvamedha-yajna (horse sacrifice) here. At that time he
honoured the assembled Brahmins by donating 1000’s of cows. While all those heavy
cows were standing here, their hooves made a deep depression in the earth; creating a
large lake. Lake became filled with water and cow urine. Since then it became a tirtha,
a purifying place of pilgrimage. Skanda Purana says that this is the best of all tirthas.
Chandana Yatra and Sitala-sthali festival are pompously celebrated here.
Chakra Tirtha
Puffed Rice Can’t Match Ladoos: Puri residents of yore complained to Lord
Jagannatha that cyclone whipped sea often washed away the town. Lord Jagannatha
posted Hanuman here to protect Puri and prevent future inundations. The faithful were
daily offering some puffed rice and jaggery to Hanuman but he longed for laddoos. One
day Hanuman leaped to Ayodhya to see his beloved Lord Rama and received some
delicious laddoo maha-prasadam. Angry seas took advantage of Hanuman’s absence
and once again flooded the town of Puri. When Hanuman returned, Lord Jagannatha
promised to daily give him laddoos. But just to make sure that this mischievous
monkey would not leap away again, Lord Jagannatha bound Hanuman’s leg with a
heavy steel ball and chain. Henceforth, Hanumanji was called Bedi Hanuman.
“At Sri Purusottama [Jagannatha Puri], on the northern shore of the ocean,
resides the Supreme Absolute Truth. Full of ecstatic bliss, He has assumed a
transcendental body that appears wooden.”
The eyes of Lord Jagannatha conquer the beauty of blossoming lotus flowers and His
neck defeats the luster of a mirror made of blue sapphires. The chin of Jagannatha
Svami, tinged with a buff color conquers the beauty of bandhuli flower. This increases
the beauty of Jagannatha’s mild smiling, which is like lustrous waves of nectar. Luster
of Jagannatha Deva’s beautiful face increases at every moment, and the eyes of 100’s
and 1000’s of devotees drink its honey like bumblebees. Feeling such great pleasure
upon seeing the face of Lord Jagannatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu forgot everything.
(Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 12.210-19)
Cakra and Flags: The cakra (Sudarsana disc) above Lord Jaganantha’s
temple is called “Nila-Cakra” (blue wheel). Nila-cakra is made of an alloy of
8 different metals. It is 11 feet 8inch high and has circumference of 36 feet.
On every Ekadasi a lamp is lit near the wheel. Daily around 6:30pm, the
Garuda Sevaka (a pujari flag bearer) fearlessly climbs up 214 feet to the
Nila-cakra and fastens a number of flags to the mast fixed to Nila-cakra.
Flags, which are bright red, white or bright yellow in color, are embroidered
with a crescent moon and a sun in the middle, signifying that Lord
Jagannatha is our ever-watchful, loving guardian both in the day and night.
It alsom means that Lord Jagannatha rules the universe wherever the sun
and moon shine. Nila-cakra sevaits, begin this hereditary service from age of
8, get the ability to perform this very difficult service by the mercy of
Garuda, whose name they chant while scaling the shikara.
In front of main gate is a pillar 11m high called Aruna Stambha. On top of
this single-stone pillar is Aruna, the charioteer of the sun god. In passage
room of main gate is a Deity of Lord Jagannatha called Patita
Pavana (saviour of the most fallen). It is visible from the road. One can
stand behind Aruna Stambha and respectively gaze at the Nila-Cakra, flags
billowing atop Jagannatha’s temple and Patita Pavana Jagannatha in front,
and then offer humble obeisances. Seeing Nila-Cakra, flags and Patita
Pavana Jagannatha is equal to direct darshana of Lord Jagannatha in the
temple. (Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 11.195 purport)
All bhoga is cooked in earthen pots. Nine clay pots full of bhoga are
cooked simultaneously upon one oven with 9 burners. Every pot of bhoga
is placed before Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, unlike most
temples in India where only small portions of the entire meal are offered
before the Deities.
Ananda Bazaar: Near the northeast corner, after climbing 22 stairs from
Lion Gate on right side is where one can get Jagannatha maha-prasadam
and experience the bliss (ananda) of tasting Lord’s unprecedented mercy
remnants. There are 36 traditional communities (chatisha niyaga) who
render a specific hereditary service to the Deities. Temple has as many as
6000 priests.
There is blank color umbrella in front. For Lord Balabhadra umbrella is black
color, for Lord Jagannatha it is white color and for Subdhara Devi it is red
and black color.
Importance:
The devotees could not understand why Nityananda Prabhu broke the staff,
why Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu permitted him to do so, or why, after
permitting Him, Caitanya Mahaprabhu became angry. This Dandabhanga
pastime, of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda Prabhu, is
supremely deep, supremely grave and supremely hidden. Only to him, who
is unflinchingly surrendered and soberly fixed at the Divine Lotus Feet of the
two Lords, in his heart of hearts, can the immeasurable glories of this great
eternal pastime be revealed. Danda Bhanga is located in the village of
Candanpur on main road to Bhubaneswar, 10km, from Sri Jagannatha Puri
Dhama. After the occurrence of this wonderful pastime, the river
subsequently came to known as river Dandabhanga, meaning breaking of
the staff.
#3) Sri Alarnath Temple: Lord Alalanatha is an ancient four-handed Visnu Deity
installed by one of the Alvars. This temple is in Brahmagiri, one hour taxi ride from
Jagannatha Puri. Lord Alarnath is the representative of Lord Jagannatha at Puri. Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at this temple during anavasara, the two-week period
after Snana-yatra when Lord Jagannatha rests in seclusion before the annual
Rathayatra (chariot festival) in Jagannatha Puri. Lord Caitanya couldn't bear staying in
Puri without seeing His beloved Lord, and at Alarnath He would reveal the highest
spiritual emotions, pining in ecstatic separation. While doing the Temple’s Parikrama,
one can take darshan of the incredible prema-sila (stone slab) of Lord Caitanya, on the
right side of the temple when entering the main gate from the road. This stone slab
bears impressions from Lord Caitanya's body. When Lord Caitanya first lay in full
obeisance before Lord Alarnath, the stone beneath Lord Caitanya melted from His
ecstatic touch.
#4) ISKCON Bhubaneswar: ISKCON Bhubaneswar was the last founded project of
Srila Prabhupada's worldwide established temples and the 108th temple of ISKCON.
Srila Prabhupada stayed here continuously for 17 days in a humble cottage in Jan-Feb
1977. His Divine Grace finished the English translation of 9th Canto of Srimad
Bhagavatam and started 10th Canto Srimad Bhagavatam translation here.
Bhubaneswar is only 2 hours from Puri.
Between 5am-7am visitors can have full darshana of the Deity while the pujari baths
and dresses Gopinatha. One can clearly see cows, cowherd boys and asta-sakhis carved
in black stone bas-relief Deity of Ksira-cora Gopinatha. On Gopinatha’s right and left are
black stone Deities of Govinda and Madana-Mohana brought. There are also Deities of
Radha-Rasabihari, Lord Jagannatha and Mahaprabhu. All Vaishnavas are welcome here
for Gopinatha’s special darshana, and the indescribably mouth-watering milk sweet
known as amrta-keli, prepared from condensed milk, cream, sugar and a smidgen of
raisins.
How Sri Gopinatha became Ksira-cora Gopinatha? This very wonderful pastime is
described in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila
4.21: http://vedabase.net/cc/madhya/4/21/en or other ref: http://www.dandavats.com/?
p=16963
#8) Nila-Madhava: This is a small village in the interior hilly region of Orissa state,
about 6-7 hours from Jagannatha Puri. Very nice pastime about Nila-Madhava took
place here. Local devotees at ISKCON Puri temple can tell more on this.
#9) Varaha-Ksetra at Jajpur: In Satya-yuga Lord Varaha dev appeared here who
killed demon Hiranyakhya. In other kalpas also different Varahadev appears here, and
because of that this is called Varaha Ksetra. Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed here
for a day or two and offered worship to Lord Varaha on his way to Puri in the first
decade of 16th century. Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya’s Lotus foot print by the melting of
stone at varaha kshetra inside Varaha temple. Jajpur is very close to Kapilesvara, the
birthplace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s grandfather. It is the place from where His
grandfather’s family had moved to Bengal. This is one of the four most holy places
(Char Dhams) in the religious tradition of Vaishnavism located in Orissa. According to
the tradition, Lord Vishnu after killing the demon Gayasura (at Gaya city of Modern
Bihar), to commemorate the glory of His victory, placed his Sankha (Conch) in Puri,
Chakra (Disc) in Bhubaneswar, Gada (Mace) in Jajpur and Padma (Lotus) in Konark and
they were later known as Sankha Ksetra, Chakra Ksetra, Gada Ksetra and Padma
Ksetra respectively in spiritual and religious tradition.
#10) Sridham Mayapur: The Appearance Place of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Jagannatha Puri to Sridham Mayapur is little more than overnight tourney by train via
Howrah. www.Mayapur.com
Every year during the month of November/December few days after the end
of Kartik masa (month) Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama Parikrama
organized by ISKCON. Please contact HG Ananga Mohan Das
([email protected]) or HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami Maharaj
([email protected]) for more details.
Rail: Many fast trains link Puri to different parts of India. Puri is overnight
tourney from Howrah (Kolkata) station. A number of overnight trains run
from Howrah to Puri which are very convenient. Once a week (on Friday -
#15644 Kyq Puri Express) a direct train from Nabadwip Dham goes to Puri.
Map of Orissa and Holy Places
Valuable references:
I. Book: Practical Guide to Puri and Navadvipa Dhama by Jada Bharata Das