The temple of Jagannatha is known as Puri Temple. It is situated at Puri. Puri is the coastal town of Odisha. Odisha is an eastern state of India. There are many small temples around the main temple premises. There was an age-old banyan tree inside the main temple premises. It is there since time unknown. Root of this tree could not be located. It is believed by devotees, its root located inside soils of Puri town.
At the foot of this tree, there is Ganesha Temple. Lord Ganesha consists of an elephant head and body of humanity. It is believed, by getting blessings from, Lord destroys all obstacles. Vehicle of Lord Ganesa is known as mouse. It is installed in front of his temple. Devotees reaching there would touch mouse installed in front of Deity give hair like thorny projections.
From Ganesa temple we would move towards Goddess Vimala temple, and on the side of it we would get the view of large upfront stage made of cement, and being seated by Brahmins.
Holy of holies:
It is known as Mukitmandapa. Muktimandapa in English is known as “place for absolute attendance to heaven”. There many so called scholars would be sitting there and most times on controversial issues where opinions are sought after, though in modern times, it is the court of justice which matters the most at decisions on controversial issues.
On important controversial issues, opinions from so called scholars from Muktimandap and from Nijog (associations of inner Brahmin servitors of Lord Jagannath) are sought. The Vimala temple is one of the most prominent and important place of Sakti worship of India. Sakti worships relates with Goddess of Hindu beliefs. From there, we would like to visit Laksmi temple. Lakshmi is wife of Lord Jagannath. Lakshmi temple is situated at the right side of the main temple.
From Laksmi temple, we would be moving towards the north-facing entrance of the main temple.
North-facing entrance to the main temple is known as Nata Mandira. Nata Mandir in English is known as dance temple. Prior to this there was a temple known as Suryanarayan temple.
One would see deformed image placed behind presiding deity. It is believed that in the sanctum sanatorium, the deformed image belongs to Sun-God worshipped at the main temple of Konarka. It was perceived to be removed before dilapidated conditions of the Sun temple become.
After entering into Nata Mandir, we would be reaching nearer to a strong ten meters height pillar and upon which an image of Garuda is found. Garuda is the mount of Visnu. Lord Jagannatha is Visnu. That is why his mount Garuda was there in front of the main temple. Image of Garuda was there above monolithic pillar.
For centuries, devotees would touch both of their hands in the middle of this monolithic pillar. Due to this, middle portion of this monolithic pillar becomes thin. Entire Nata Mandir is a large spacious hall and on every side we could see many paintings are there.
Most of these paintings relate with most popular and didactic stories of the Hindu Puranic works related to holy works of Visnu and Krisna. Vishnu and Krisna are Lords of Hindu believers. At the end of Nata Mandir begins the porch. Porch is the main entrance to where Lord stays inside the big temple. There were almost similar cravings nearer to the door made with stones which are mostly synonymous with stone works made in Konarka temple.
The porch is locally called as Mukhashala. Here, we move towards sanctum sanatorium. It is the innermost chamber of Lords of Trinity where Lord Jagannath along with his brother and sister stays there. It is holy of holies. Most of religious rites of Lords are performed by specific inner Brahmin servitor of Lord such as Bhandar Mekap, Pujapanda Samanta and so on.
Most of these times, devotees are not permitted to reach nearer to Lord and they had to stay on the porch and watch these particular religious rites being performed from there. At the other time, most devotees are allowed to reach near holy of holies and allowed to take a circle back to Lord of Trinity.
There is a narrow passage behind Ratnavedi on which deities are seated. Ratanvedi is known as Sanctum sanctorum. On Ratnavedi, three deities are seated. In front on the right side of Lord Jagannath and on the left hand side Lord Balabhadra and in the middle Goddess Subhadra are seated. Lord Ballabhadra is the elder brother of Lord Jagannath. Goddess Subhadra is sister of Lord Jagannath and Lord Ballabhadra.
Finally, after moving out of the porch and then from Nata Manidr, we would be reaching out to Ananda Bazar. At the north-eastern corner of the temple, there situated Snana vedi (bathing place of sanctum sanctorum). It is situated as such between the outer wall and inner wall of the temple.
Devotees outside the temple would see the proceedings of bathing festival during summer time. During this time, all three Lords would come out from the main Sanctum sanctorum for inner Brahmin servitor and then holy waters would be poured on them to save the Lords from the scorching summer heat.
One further worthy mentions place inside the temple of Lord Jagannath is known as Koili Vaikuntha. It is located at the outer and inner compound wall of the northwestern corner. When Navakallevera ceremony takes place, old images of the Lord are buried here. Navakelabara is the new incarnation of Lord where new images of the Lord are fashioned with new log woods.
It is believed during Dwapara Age, when Lord Krisna was killed by Jara Savara, later on Lord Krisna was cremated at Koili Vaikuntha. Lord Jagannath temple of Puri is holy of holiest place.
Further Reading: https://www.tripsavvy.com/puri-jagannath-temple-visitors-guide-1539702
