Jagannath Temple: History & Rath Yatra

The Jagannath Temple at Puri, Odisha — one of the four Char Dham — is known for its uniquely wooden deities, its enormous kitchen, and the world-famous Rath Yatra, the very festival that gave the English language the word "juggernaut."

History of the Temple

Legend credits King Indradyumna of the Satya Yuga with building the original temple — but that belongs to tradition rather than documented history. The historically recorded fact is that King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty initiated a major reconstruction of the present temple around 1112 CE, and an inscription dated 1134-35 CE records a donation he made to it.

The Legend of the Unfinished Idols

The deities — Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra — are carved from sacred neem wood (daru) and installed on a jewelled platform. A well-known legend surrounds them: the divine architect Vishwakarma is said to have agreed to carve the images on the condition that he be left undisturbed. When the queen's impatience led to the door being opened early, Vishwakarma abandoned the work unfinished — leaving the deities without hands. Tradition holds that a divine voice instructed that they be installed exactly as they were, since the Lord watches over the world even without hands.

Navakalevara — Renewing the Idols

Every 8, 12 or 19 years, depending on a particular lunar alignment, the temple observes Navakalevara ("new body") — a ritual in which the old wooden idols are replaced with newly carved ones, and the old images are ceremonially buried at a site called Koili Vaikuntha. The 2015 Navakalevara drew more than three million devotees.

The Temple's Architecture

The temple's main spire rises about 65 metres above the inner sanctum, built in the Kalinga architectural style. Atop it sits the Nilachakra, an eight-spoked wheel made of ashtadhatu (an eight-metal alloy). The full complex spans roughly 10 acres and contains more than 120 smaller shrines and temples.

The World's Second-Largest Temple Kitchen

The temple's kitchen (Rosaghara) is often described as the second largest in the world, where 56 varieties of purely vegetarian food — the mahaprasad — are prepared without onion or garlic. Tradition holds that Goddess Lakshmi herself oversees the quality of the offering; a "shadow dog" is said to appear as a sign of her displeasure if a batch is flawed, and such a batch would be buried and remade.

Restrictions on Non-Hindu Entry

Non-Hindus — with the exception of Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists — along with foreign nationals, are not permitted inside the temple's inner complex. The rule is said to date back to the temple's founding, and remains a subject of ongoing discussion and debate.

The Rath Yatra

Held during the month of Ashadha (June-July), the Rath Yatra is one of India's largest and most-watched chariot festivals. Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are each placed on their own massive chariot and drawn from the main temple to the Gundicha Temple. Jagannath's chariot alone stands about 14 metres tall and 11 metres wide, and takes roughly two months to build each year. These enormous chariots are the source of the English word "juggernaut," used for an unstoppable, overwhelming force.

The yatra also includes the Chhera Pahara ritual, in which the Gajapati king of Puri dresses as a sweeper and ceremonially cleans the chariot path with a gold-handled broom — a symbolic reminder that everyone, from the king to the common devotee, is equal before Jagannath.

The Rath Yatra is regarded as one of the earliest Hindu festivals to be documented for a Western audience — the Italian friar Odoric of Pordenone, who travelled through India between 1316 and 1318, described it in his 1321 account. Today, through ISKCON, the festival is celebrated in more than 100 cities worldwide, from Moscow to Dubai, a tradition that began in 1968.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who historically built the Jagannath Temple?

Legend credits King Indradyumna, but the documented history is that King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty led a major reconstruction of the present temple around 1112 CE.

Why don't Jagannath's idols have hands?

According to legend, the divine sculptor Vishwakarma had to abandon his work partway through after being disturbed against the agreed condition, leaving the idols unfinished and without hands.

What is Navakalevara?

It's the ritual, held every 8, 12 or 19 years, in which the temple's old wooden idols are replaced with newly carved ones.

How large are the Rath Yatra chariots, and where do they go?

Jagannath's chariot is about 14 metres tall. All three chariots travel from the main temple to the Gundicha Temple, and it's these massive chariots that gave rise to the English word "juggernaut."

Who is not allowed to enter the Jagannath Temple?

Non-Hindus other than Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists, along with foreign nationals, are not permitted inside the temple's inner complex.