Jagannath temple mystery - 10 Mind Blowing Facts About Puri Jagannath Temple!

Jagannath Temple mystery 

Numerous unexplained phenomena, mysteries, and inexplicable events are associated with this temple, and they defy scientific explanation. For years, historians, scientists, priests, and ordinary individuals have made persistent efforts to unravel these enigmas, but they continue to baffle us, shrouded in mystery to this day. In this blog we are discussing each associated Jagannath temple mystery.

Mysterious Chakra Direction 

First Jagannath temple mystery is Chakra Direction & its weight. Atop the temple, a colossal wheel of fortune or chakra weighing around a ton is positioned. Remarkably, regardless of where one views it from within Puri, the chakra consistently appears to face inward, a perplexing achievement for the 12th-century builders.

Other than this, The Sudarshan Chakra, positioned at the apex of the temple, is crafted from a substantial amount of metal, weighing in at more than 1000 kilograms! It remains a mystery as to how such a heavy object was raised to that height during an era devoid of electricity or advanced technology.

Flag's Unique Direction & Daily Changing 

Second Jagannath temple mystery is Flag's Unique Direction & Daily Changing. At the pinnacle of the Jagannath Temple, an intriguing tradition unfolds as the temple's flag flutters against the prevailing wind direction. This ancient custom, dating back 1800 years, involves a priest ascending the Shikhara daily to change the flag. Legend has it that a single missed ritual would result in the temple's closure for a daunting 18 years. This awe-inspiring structure reaches the height of a 45-story building, and the flag-changing ritual is performed without any protective gear, relying solely on bare hands.

Absence of Shadow in Jagannath Temple 

Third Jagannath temple mystery is Absence of Shadow in Jagannath Temple. Remarkably, the Jagannath Temple does not cast a shadow, regardless of the time of day or the sun's position in the sky, leaving observers puzzled about whether this phenomenon is a architectural marvel or a divine miracle.

Silence of the Sea - Honoring Lord Jagannatha / Goddess Subhadra 

Fourth Jagannath temple mystery is Silence of the Sea honoring Lord Jagannatha / Goddess Subhadra.

Kanapata Hanuman is situated at the western entrance of the Jagannatha Temple, also known as Vyaghra Dvara. 

Following His marriage to Laxmi Devi, the daughter of the ocean, Lord Jagannatha became the ocean's son-in-law. 

During the night, the ocean's waves create a thunderous sound that echoes throughout Puri. Once, this noise intruded into Jagannatha's temple, disturbing the Lord's slumber. 

In response, Lord Jagannatha instructed the ocean, Samudra, not to produce any sound that could disrupt His peace. Since then, the reverberations of the ocean crashing on the shore have never entered Jagannatha's Temple.

To ensure this, Lord Jagannatha entrusted His devoted Hanuman to stand at the south gate, listening attentively and preventing the sound from entering the temple. "Kanapata" signifies the act of using the ears (kana) for hearing, which is why Hanuman is revered as Kanapata Hanuman at this sacred site.

Other Legend suggests that Goddess Subhadra desired a serene temple environment, and to honor her wish, the temple silences the sea's tumultuous sound.

Reverse Sea Breeze

Fifth Jagannath temple mystery is Reverse Sea Breeze.

In coastal areas, it's customary for the sea breeze to blow towards the land during the day and reverse towards the sea in the evening. However, in Puri, this natural phenomenon unfolds in the opposite manner, adding to the mystique of the region.

No Flying Above Temple

Sixth Jagannath temple mystery is Reverse Sea Breeze.

Unusually, no birds or aircraft are seen hovering above the temple dome, confounding any logical explanation for this phenomenon.

Wooden Idols and Nabakalebara

Seventh Jagannath temple mystery is Wooden Idols and Nabakalebara.

The temple's sacred wooden idols undergo a transformative process known as Nabakalebara every 8, 12, or 19 years, where new idols replace the old ones. Neem trees meeting specific criteria are carefully chosen for this purpose. Skilled carpenters carry out the intricate carving in secrecy over a span of 21 days. The retired idols find their final resting place near Koili Vaikuntha. The most recent Nabakalebara occurred in 2015, witnessed by millions of devotees.

Abadha Mahaprasadam

Eighth Jagannath temple mystery is Abadha Mahaprasadam.

The Mahaprasad offered to Lord Jagannath consists of 56 delectable dishes, served in 5 phases. It comes in two varieties, sukhila (dry confectioneries) and shankhudi (including rice, dal, and other items). Devotees can savor this divine cuisine at Ananda Bazaar, a market within the temple premises.

Mahaprasadam Preparation

Ninth Jagannath temple mystery is Mahaprasadam Preparation.

Thousands of priests collaborate to prepare the Mahaprasadam, which involves stacking seven earthen pots on top of one another and cooking the food over firewood. Surprisingly, the topmost pot cooks first, a culinary enigma.

Prasadam Abundance

Tenth Jagannath temple mystery is every devotee receives Prasadam.

Despite the fluctuating number of pilgrims, the temple consistently prepares the same quantity of food (Jagannath Prasadam) daily, ensuring that no food goes to waste, and every devotee receives nourishment.