The Jagannath Temple at Puri is one of the oldest and biggest Temple in India. Here are a few unknown facts about the temple. Hope you find them quite interesting.
1. It has been observed that the flag at the top of the temple always flaps in the direction opposite to the direction of the air flow.
2. The Neela Chakra at the top of the temple is visible from any part of the city of Puri, and surprisingly from any place in Puri, you will find the Chakra facing you.
3. The breeze is generally from sea to land in the daytime and vice versa in the evening. In Puri it is observed to be just the reverse.
Normally during day-time, air comes from sea to land & during evening, the vice-versa occurs. But in Puri it’s totally opposite.
4. It is remarkable indeed that planes do not fly above the temple. But more astonishing is the fact that even birds do not fly above it.
5. Whether it is an architectural feat or what the Lord ordained, the shadow of the main dome is never seen at any time of the day. The shadow of the dome is invisible.
6.There is a certain doorway or Singha Dwaara beyond which you are able to hear the sound of the sea waves. When you cross over to the other side it is just not audible. History says that Subhadra Maharani, the sister of the two Lords wished peace and tranquility within the temple abode and giving in to her wish it was made to happen that way.
7.The Prasad or holy offering to the Lord is cooked on firewood in seven vessels or pots kept one above the other. The miracle is that the food kept in the topmost vessel gets cooked first, followed by the second and so on till the seventh or lowest one above the fire gets cooked.
8. The quantity of Mahaprasad cooked inside the Temple remains the same for the entire year. But that same quantity of prasad can feed few thousand people to a few lakh of people, there has never been shortfall.
9.The Tulasi garden or holy place where the old idols and newly constructed wooden idols are brought face to face, is where the Brahma is removed from the old idol and fitted in the new one for each of the three deities. The transfer of the Brahma is a physical act done by a priest that has been doing this since traditional times. But the power that is transferred from the old to the new is a divine force that is actually felt by the very people that undertake this task.
10. The Chariot Festival at Puri was initially performed with two sets of chariots for each diety. Since there was a river flowing in between the Sri Mandira (Jagannatha Temple) and Mausi Maa (Aunty) temple, the first set of chariots used to bring the lords till the river, then the lords had to ferry across the river in three giant wooden boats and were then placed in the second set of chariots to reach the Mausi Maa temple. Amazing but True.
11.Every year there is a spot just ahead of the Gundicha Temple where the entire procession comes to a halt on its own. This is a mystery since despite the unwritten rule that the temple doors are closed to the public after 6 P.M. and elaborate planning by the organizers the proceedings have delayed beyond this time in every Yatra. This also gives the opportunity for the throngs of devotees to actually come and touch the idols which otherwise would not be possible in the precincts of the temple. Maybe it is the Lord’s way of saying that all mortals are equal in his eyes.
12.Present day structure of Sri Janagnnath Temple Puri was not the Original built up. Originally Indradyumna had constructed only the main temple. Kings and rulers in subsequent times added Meghanada Pacheri, Mukha sala, Nata Mandapa and other assets to the Temple Complex.
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