About Sri Jagganath Puri Dham
The waves pounding on the beach, the refreshing sea breezes, the colossal hand-carved 12th century stone temple, the relaxed and happy ambience of the local folk, the bright red, yellow and blue cloth appliqué, and that bewitching pair of big smiling eyes looking out from every wall, every billboard, every poster, every calendar, every wedding invitation, every sticker, every button, every bead bag, every taxi and rickshaw, every windshield, every t-shirt, every shoulder bag – “This is Jagannatha Puri Dhama”, one of India’s most popular pilgrimage sites located in Orissa, 300 miles south of Kolkata and 60km from Bhubaneswar.
In Skanda-Purana (Utkala-khanda) it is mentioned that this most beautiful Sri Ksetra is spread over 10 yojanas (128km or 80 miles) and surrounded by sands. Utkala is another name of Orissa. Utkala is described in scriptures as the most holy place on this planet. Utkala is divided into four parts which represent the weapons of Lord Visnu. These four ksetras are known as Sankha-ksetra (Puri town), Padma-ksetra (Konark), Cakra-ksetra (Bhubaneswar) and Gada-ksetra (Jajapura, where the Viraja Devi temple is). Within this area of 10 yojanas, Puri is known as Sankha-ksetra because its shape resembles a conch shell. This Puri-ksetra covers an area of 5 krosa, 3 of which are immersed under the ocean, and 2 on land. This land is covered with golden sands and decorated with a blue mountain. The Lord Himself in His arca-vigraha form is residing here on the bank of the ocean atop the blue mountain. Sankha-ksetra spreads from east to west. Its head is towards west where Lokanatha Mahadeva resides.
Puri-dhama is known by different names: Purusottama-ksetra, Sri Ksetra, Nilacala-dhama, Jagannatha dhama, Yamanika-tirtha, Martya Vaikuntha, Nilagiri, Sankha-ksetra, Dasa-avatara-ksetra and Nrsimha ksetra. Glories of Sri Purusottama-ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama are mentioned in different Puranas: Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, Vamadeva Samhita, Kapila Samhita, Padma Purana and Niladri Purana.
RELATIONSHIP OF THREE-DHAMAS – VRINDAVAN, NAVADVIPA-MAYAPUR &
JAGANNATHA PURI
(teen dhama sambandha)
It is generally thought that, Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama represents the Aisvarya (opulence, power &
grandeur) of Dvaraka and Kurukshetra.
Sri Navadvipa-Mayapur Dhama represents Audarya (compassion).
Sri Vrindavan Dhama represents Madhurya (sweetness).
· – Jagannatha Puri and Navadvipa-Mayapur are two bhajana-sthalis for sadhaka cultivating Krishna-prema
because they contribute two important ingredients.
· – Navadvipa-Mayapur Dhama gives the mercy of Sri Krishna’s Holy Names and Gaura-Nitai kindly remove
anarthas and aparadhas from the heart.
· – Puri embodies the mood of separation – awakening deep longing and yearning to be with Sri Krishna
which forcefully carries one into Krishna’s association.
· – Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu displayed this mood in Jagannatha Puri. Through the door of Gauranga’s
Puri pastimes, one can enter the land of eternal enchantment, Sri Vrindavan Dhama.
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