Jagannath Temple

• Odisha Chief Minister recently unveiled a sprawling heritage corridor around the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
• The heritage corridor is one of the two major temple projects the State government has undertaken in recent years, the other being the renovation of the Maa Samalai Temple at a cost of ₹200 crore in western Odisha town of Sambalpur.

ABOUT JAGANNATH TEMPLE

• The Jagannath temple located in Puri, Odisha is a sacred temple devoted to Lord Jagannath (a form of Vishnu) along with his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra.
• Constructed by- Ananta Varman Chodaganga Deva of Eastern Ganga Dynasty dating back to 12th century.
• It is known as the “White Pagoda” and one of the four pilgrimage sites of Char Dham Pilgrimage.
• It is also called as ‘Yamanika Tirtha’ where, according to the Hindu beliefs, the power of ‘Yama’, the god of death, has been nullified in Puri due to the presence of Lord Jagannath.
• Famous for its Annual Ratha yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three principal deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars.
• The temple is built in the Kalinga style of architecture, with the Pancharatha (Five chariots) type consisting of two anurathas, two konakas and one ratha.
• Jagannath temple is a pancharatha with well-developed pagas.
• It is enclosed by a high wall with four gates, each facing a cardinal direction.
• This is the first temple in the history of Kalinga temple architecture where all the chambers like Jagamohana, Bhogamandapa and Natyamandapa were built along with the main temple.