“The pious land of Lord Jagannath, Orissa is not a land to be conquered but to be worshipped because it is above the aspirations of human being it is the land of Gods”.  This was told by Raja Jai Singh the valiant general of Emperor Akbar during his conquest of this land in 1580 AD. 

            Legends and mysteries surround Lord Jagannath on his origin.  Long before the invasion of Aryans into the Indian subcontinent, there was the ritual worshipping of trees and tree gods.  Lord Jagannath’s idol is made up of wood which is known as ‘Darubrahma’.  Jagannath was first worshipped by the ‘Sabaras’ of Dravidian sect.  Skanda Puran elaborates the origin of Lord Jagannath vividly in its Utkalkhanda.  Later Suryavanshi King Indradyumna in his celestial dream knowing the Lord’s worshipping place had brought the deities to Purusottam Srikshetra situated on the sea shore of Bay of Bengal.

             Originally the main temple or the sanctum sanctorum was constructed first and  the other temples were later added.  A large number of deities are worshipped in the Sri Mandir premises depicting various cults and worshipping patterns of mankind.  Sri Jagannath Temple is the confluence of various cultures. It accumulates material, objects, ideas, symbols, beliefs, sentiments, values and social forms which are passed from one generation to another in the society.

            Lord Jagannath belongs to entire mankind irrespective of caste, creed and religion.  There is remarkable influence of Buddhism, Jainism, Shaivism, Baisnavism, Bhaktivaad and Ganapatya traditions in the complex rituals of Lord Jagannath.  The Jagannath cult embraces humanism which is above the narrow thoughts and has permeated from Puri to other parts of the world including USA and Australia. The presence of the Lord  is felt in legends, in ancient history, in folktales and in voluminous books of scholars

            Regarding the construction of the temple historians and scholars differ in their opinion.  The present gigantic temple of Lord Jagannath was completed by King Ananga Bhima Dev of Ganga dynasty during his rule 1175 to 1202 AD.  The construction period of the temple can roughly be calculated as 1122 to 1198 AD.

Jagannath Temple is located on a hill called Nilasaila or the blue mountain.  There is a strong stonewall called Meghanad Prachir which has four gates on four sides.  The eastern gate or lion’s gate is the main entrance to the temple.  One has to cross 22 steps to reach the main edifice.  The main temple is divided into four sub-temples.  They are known as Bimana in which the idols of Lord Jagannath. Lord Balavadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Sudarshan have been installed.  Mukshyasala or the entrance, Natamandir or Dance hall, and the Bhogamandap or the Altar of offerings are the other parts of the temple.  The Biman or the main temple is the tallest about 65.5 meters.

            Purusottam Khetra observes uncountable festivals in twelve months.  Amongst them Ratha Yatra or the chariot festival is the greatest.  This festival also known as Gundicha Yatra and is observed in the month of Ashadha Sukla dwitiya when the deities are taken out of the temple in an elaborate ritual procession called Pahandi to their respective colourfully decorated chariots.  The chariots are drawn by lakhs of devotees on the Banda danda or the grand road connecting the Shrimandir and Gundicha Mandir.  After 9 days the ditties return to Srimandir again marking the closure of this annual ceremonial  event.  Ratha Yatra is the grandest festival  where devotees and spectators beeline to have a glimpse of the Lords and pull the holy Chariot.  A glimpse of Lord Jagannath the Bamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu on the chariot is considered to be very auspicious and scriptures have repeatedly glorified it.  Sri Jagannath, Bhagwan Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra along with Lord Sudarshan travel in the chariots Nandighosh, Taladhwaja and Devadalan respectively.   Nandighosh has 832 wood pieces with 16 wheels, Taladhwaj has 763 pieces and 14 wheels, where as Devadalan has 593 pieces and 12 wheels.  The total number of wheels come to 42.  The coming and going of the wheels during the festival comes to 84.  The sound of the wheels during the pulling of chariots washes the sins and uplifts the viewers from the 84 naraks or hells according to Hindu beliefs

Other annual rituals in Jagannath Temple are also observed with religions fervor. Celestial bath ceremony of the Deities or Snana Yatra before Rathayatra is also an important festival. Chandan Yatra, Netra Utsav, Jhulan Yatra, Dola Purnima etc. are also observed with gaiety depicting the importance of rituals.  After twelve years interval, The Lords change their body in a grand festival call the Nabakalebar.  The record of rights of Lord Jagannath speaks of 250 categories of services called Nijoga and thousands of servitors.

            In the past the temple was administered by various kings of Orissa, Muslim rulers, Moghul rulers of Delhi, Marathas, East India Company of the Britishers. Now Government of Orissa and Sri Jagagannath Temple Administration are the authorities of Jagannath Temple.  Puri Maharaja is the hereditary superintendent of the temple. The Bhog or Maprasad of the Lords is prepared in special chullahs in earthen pots depicting the ancient cooking art of Oriya people.