Jagannath Temple, Puri

The Jagannath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu. It is located in Puri, Odisha, on the eastern coast of India. As per temple records, King Indradyumna of Avanti built the main temple. The present temple complex was rebuilt from the eleventh century onwards on the site of the earlier shrines, excluding the main Jagannath temple, and was begun by Anantavarman Chodaganga, the first ruler of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Many of the temple rituals are based on Shabari Tantras which are evolved from tribal beliefs respectively. The local legends link the idols with Nilamadhaba deva worshipped by tribala and the daitapatis (servitors) claim to be descendants of the tribes. The temple is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of the Sri Vaishnavite tradition.

The temple is renowned for its annual Ratha Yatra, chariot festival, which honors the three deities - Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. During the festival, the three principal deities are pulled on large and elaborately decorated raths, or temple cars. The worship is performed by the Bhil Sabar tribal priests, as well as priests of other communities in the temple. Unlike the stone or metal icons found in most Hindu temples, the image of Jagannath is carved from margosa wood and is ceremoniously replaced every 12 or 19 years with an identical replica, with an elaborate month long ceremony called nabakalebar. The temple is one of the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. It is also famous because many legends believe that Krishna's heart was placed here, and it is the true Jagannath within the wooden idol. Since wood deteriorates, they have to change it every several years.

The temple is sacred and holy to all Hindus, and especially in those of the Vaishnava traditions. Many great Vaishnava saints, such as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu,Ramanujacharya, Madhvacharya, Nimbarkacharya, Vallabhacharya and Ramananda were closely associated with the temple. Ramanuja established the Emar Matha in the south-eastern corner of the temple, and Adi Shankaracharya established the Govardhan Math, which is the seat of one of the four Shankaracharyas. It is also of particular significance to the followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, whose founder, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, was attracted to the deity, Jagannath, and lived in Puri for many years.