Gundicha Temple
Gundicha Temple | |
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ଗୁଣ୍ଡିଚା ମନ୍ଦିର | |
Rath Yatra | |
Governing body | Shri Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri |
Location | |
Location | Badashankha |
State | Odisha |
Country | India |
Geographic coordinates | 19°49′00.9″N 85°50′25.3″E / 19.816917°N 85.840361°E |
Temple(s) | One |
Website | |
www |
Part of a series on |
Vaishnavism |
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Gundicha Temple (
Temple
Known as the Garden House of Jagannath, the Gundicha temple stands in the centre of a beautiful garden, surrounded by compound walls on all sides. It lies at a distance of about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the Shrimandira, the
The temple is built using light-grey sandstone and architecturally, it exemplifies typical Kalinga temple architecture[2] in the Deula style. The complex comprises four components: vimana (tower structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), nata-mandapa (festival hall) and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings). There is also a kitchen connected by a small passage.[3] The temple is set within a garden,[2] and is known as "God's Summer Garden Retreat" or garden house of Jagannath.[4] The entire complex, including garden, is surrounded by a wall.
The sanctum features a plain raised platform (4 feet (1.2 m) high and 19 feet (5.8 m) long) made of chlorite called Ratnavedi, where the deities are placed during the annual festivities.[3] The temple has two gates. The western gate is the main temple gate, through which the deities enter the temple during Ratha Yatra. The eastern gate, known as Nakachana gate, is used for the departure of the deities.[3]
Except for the 9-day Rath Yatra when Jagannath is worshipped in Gundicha temple, the temple remains empty the rest of the year. Tourists don't have to pay any fee to enter the temple, it's considered that Lord Jagannath ensures all of his devotees equally. There is no rich or poor inside the temple.All have to follow the same rule either it be a common man or a president. Foreigners (prohibited entry in the main temple) are allowed inside this temple during this period.[5] The temple is under the Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri - the governing body of the main temple. A small band of servitors maintain the temple.[3]
The Rath Yatra
The Rath Yatra starts on the second lunar day (
On the first day of the yatra, the deities are transported in chariots from the main temple to Gundicha temple. This is the famous Rath Yatra or Chariot Festival of Jagannath Puri. The three deities are transported in three magnificent chariots, drawn by the numerous devotees gathered there. The three chariots involved in the chariot procession are: one for each deity with central chariot called the Nandighosha, carrying the main deity of Jagannath and the second chariot known as Taladhwaja carrying Balabhadra, and the third chariot called the Darpadalana carrying Subhadra. The procession progresses down the 3 km long "Bada Danda" (long avenue) and reaches the gates of the Gundicha temple before nightfall. The deities remain in the chariots on the first day and enter the Gundicha Temple on the second day. They reside at the Gundicha temple for the subsequent seven days.[7][9]
Ratha Yatra rituals
- Worship
A particular feature in the worship of the deities at Gundicha Temple is that Brahmin temple servants offer the puja instead of daitas, the traditional non-Brahmin servitors of Jagannath who are excluded from worship. Though devadasis generally function as agents of Lakshmi, they offer worship in the Gundicha Temple in the same manner as in the main temple, while Lakshmi is left behind in a storeroom in the main temple. This connotes a different context to the role of the devadasis in the Gundicha Temple. Another unusual feature is that the images are smeared with larger quantities of sandalwood paste, twice a day, as a "cooling agent" (as is commonly done to the goddess Gundicha).[10] Every day of their stay in the temple, the deities are decorated with new dresses.[8]
- Hera Panchami
A major ceremony celebrated in the Gundicha Temple during the Rath Yatra is on the
- Dakshina Moda
The ceremony of Dakshina Moda (turning south) is observed on the day after Hera Panchami, that is, the sixth day of the Rath Yatra. The chariots of the deities are parked outside the temple, facing the main temple gate (western gate). In preparation for the return journey, the Bahuda Yatra, the chariots are turned to face towards the main temple in the southern direction and are parked near the Nakachana gate (eastern gate) of the Gundicha Temple through which the deities leave the temple. It is said the demon-king of Lanka, Vibhishana got darshan of Jagannath from far away Lanka on this day. Devotees believe one can attain salvation by witnessing this ceremony.[13]
- Rasa Lila
Dakshina Moda, marks the beginning of the three-day
- Sandhya Darshan and Mahaprasad
As per tradition, during Jagannath's stay in Gundicha temple, the kitchens of the main temple stop preparing Mahaprasad (food offered to deity and given to a devotee as the deity's blessing). The Mahaprasad consists of rice, dal, vegetables etc. The kitchens of the Gundicha temple are repaired and food is cooked there to offer to Jagannath. The day of Sandhya Darshan, (evening prayers) the second last day of the festival, is considered the most important day to have darshan of Jagannath. On this day, as thousands of devotees throng the temple to have darshan of Jagannath and partake of Mahaprasad.[15][16]
- Bahuda Yatra
The return journey of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra to the main temple, after spending seven days in the Gundicha temple, is known as the Bahuda Yatra.
Legends
There are many legends linked to the temple and the annual seven-day stay of the central icons of Jagannath and his siblings during the Ratha Yatra.
A legend links the temple to
As per another legend, when Jagannath (identified with the god
One more legend relates the temple's name Gundicha to a local goddess Gundicha, akin to
Another legend is about the mysterious disappearance of
References
- ^ Chakraborty, Yogabrata (28 June 2023). "পুরীধাম ও জগন্নাথদেবের ব্রহ্মরূপ বৃত্তান্ত" [Puridham and the tale of lord Jagannath's legendary 'Bramharup']. dainikstatesmannews.com (in Bengali). Kolkata: Dainik Statesman (The Statesman Group). p. 4. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
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: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b c "Tourism in Sonepur".
- ^ a b c d e f Shree Kshestra
- ISBN 9788176250641. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ Panda, Namita (22 June 2012). "Ready for the Trinity". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ Panda, Swarnaprava (July 2006). "Rathayatra of Puri" (PDF). Orissa Review: 25–27. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ a b "The Car Festival of Lord Jagannath, Unique in many respect" (PDF). Official Website of Government of Odisha. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ ISBN 9788128400674. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ details of the temple
- ISBN 9789004077898.
- ^ a b c "Lakshmi anger rocks Gundicha temple". The Telegraph. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ a b Kanungo, Siddharth. "The car festival of Lord Jagannath unique in many respect" (PDF). Srimandir: 61. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Holiday high at aunt's abode". The Telegraph. 27 June 2012. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ISBN 0253344875.
- ^ Mohanty, Subhashish (7 July 2011). "Lord's food served at Gundicha". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ "Sandhya darshan: Lakhs throng Gundicha temple". The New Indian Express. 29 June 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Lords Leave Sri Gundicha Temple As Chariots Start Rolling". Public Trust of India. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ Mohapatra, Debabrata (29 June 2012). "Bahuda Yatra euphoria smothers terror threat". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
- ^ ISBN 9780253344878.