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Jagannath Temple, Puri

EasternHindutempleSouth Asia1135 CE - present
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Location

Modern Name
Puri
Country
India
Region
South Asia
Coordinates
19.8135, 85.8312
Era
1135 CE - present
Site Type
Temple
View on the Sacred Geography map

About

Home of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple, one of the four sacred dhams of Hinduism. The annual Rath Yatra chariot festival draws millions of devotees.

Significance

Lord Jagannath (a form of Vishnu/Krishna) is believed to reside here as the 'Lord of the Universe'; Puri is the eastern dham of Adi Shankaracharya's four-monastery system.

History & Historical Arc

The current temple was built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga in the 12th century, though earlier shrines existed. It wit

Archaeological Notes

The temple complex covers 10.7 acres; earlier temple layers are inaccessible, though inscriptions date the current struc

Key Features & Structures

  • Jagannath Temple (Kalinga architecture)
  • Rath Yatra chariots

Visitor Information

Non-Hindus are not permitted inside the main temple; the Rath Yatra festival (June/July) is best experienced from the Gr

Related Figures

Jagannath (Krishna/Vishnu)BalabhadraSubhadraAdi Shankaracharya

In the Bible