The Jagannath Temple of Puri is one of the most sacred temples in India. In this holy temple, Lord Bishnu is worshiped as Lord Jagannath. Lakhs of devotees from the corners of the country visit the Jagannath Mandir every year. Lord Jagannath is present with his elder brother, Lord Bhalbhadra, and his sister, Goddess Subhadra.
There are several interesting facts and miracles associated with this sacred temple. In this article, let’s discover some astonishing facts about the temple.
5 mysterious facts about Jagannath Temple of Puri:
1. The mystery of the flag
The first and foremost interesting fact about this temple is that the flag at the top of the Jagannath Temple flies in the opposite direction of the wind. Another fact about this flag is that there is an 1800 years old tradition.
According to tradition, a priest climbs to the shikhara of the temple in order to change the flag every day. That is to say, if this ritual is left out even for a day, then the temple will remain closed for 18 years.
2. The Wisdom Lords
The wisdom deities are replaced with new ones during Nabakalebara. This ceremony happens every 8, 12, and 19 years. The idols are made up of sacred neem trees with certain specific attributes.
3. The riddle of the Sudarshan Chakra
There is a wheel of fortune, or the Sudarshan Chakra, at the top of the mandir. There are basically two fascinating facts about the Sudarshan Chakra. Firstly, no matter from whatever direction you see the temple, the chakra always faces back with the same layout.
To put it another way, the chakra looked the same from any direction. Secondly, it is still a mystery how the 12th century people set down this heavy chakra at the top of the temple without help from machinery.
4. A temple with no shadow
We all know that only transparent or a few translucent objects do not cast any shadow. However, do you know that the Jagannath temple also does not cast any shadows? Yes. You heard it right. This famous shrine of Lord Jagannatha does not project any shadow in any direction or at any time of the day.
5. The unique method to prepare Mahaprasad
One of the most amazing facts about this temple is the way of preparing Mahaprasad. Thousands of priests prepare for the Mahaprasadam. Seven pots are put one above another and prepared on firewood. The fascinating thing is that the pot at the top is cooked first. The rest are cooked in the same order.
Apart from these, the Jagannath Temple of Puri has many unsolved mysteries. Nestled in the attractive city of Puri, the Jagannath Temple is a symbol of the region’s cultural and religious heritage.
