NEELA CHAKRA AND SRI JAGANNATH MANDIR ARCHITECTURE
The metal wheel at the top of Jagannath Mandir is called Neela Chakra (Blue Wheel). The wheel is made of Ashtadhaatu- eight metals comprising of iron, copper, zinc, mercury, lead, brass, silver and gold.
It is so designed that there is a wheel within the wheel. There are decorative designs on the outer wheel. The wheel represents Sri Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra. Inside the temple, Sudarshana is in the shape of a small wood pillar placed to the left of Sri Jagannath.
A specific category of temple sevayats serve the Neela Chakra and they are known as Garuda Sevaka or Chunara Nejoga. Everyday at sunset, the Garuda Sevakas climb to the top of 214 feet high temple to fasten flags on the bamboo mast attached to the Neela Chakra.
The Mandir has four gates known as “SIMHADWARA(Lion’s Gate), ASHWA DWARA (Horse’s Gate), VYAGRHARA DWARA (Tiger’s Gate) and HASTI DWARA (Elephant’s Gate). They are said to represent Dharma, Jnana, Vairagya and Aishwarya.
While entering through Simhadwara, one can clearly hear the sound of waves, but after passing the Dwar, if you take a turn and walk back in the same direction, you will no longer hear the wave sound. One can’t hear the wave sound as long as one is inside the temple.
A huge 16-sided monolithic pillar called Arun stambha stands in front of the main gate. It has an idol of Arun, the charioteer of Surya, on its top. It was,earlier, located in the Konark Sun temple and brought here by Brahmachari Gosain.
The Mandir is guarded by 8 Siva shrines-Markandeswara, KapalamochanaLokanath, Yameswar, Nilakantheswara/Yajneswara, Bilweswara, Isaneswara and Pataleswara in 8 directions and 8 Devis-Batamangala, Alamchandi, Ardhashani, Merchika, Narayaini, Shyama Kali, Dakshina Kali, Ramachandi.
The images of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana are installed on a raised platform called Ratnavedi. The miniature images of Laxmi, Saraswati and Madhab are also on the Ratnavedi along with the main deities.
It is so designed that there is a wheel within the wheel. There are decorative designs on the outer wheel. The wheel represents Sri Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra. Inside the temple, Sudarshana is in the shape of a small wood pillar placed to the left of Sri Jagannath.
A specific category of temple sevayats serve the Neela Chakra and they are known as Garuda Sevaka or Chunara Nejoga. Everyday at sunset, the Garuda Sevakas climb to the top of 214 feet high temple to fasten flags on the bamboo mast attached to the Neela Chakra.
The Mandir has four gates known as “SIMHADWARA(Lion’s Gate), ASHWA DWARA (Horse’s Gate), VYAGRHARA DWARA (Tiger’s Gate) and HASTI DWARA (Elephant’s Gate). They are said to represent Dharma, Jnana, Vairagya and Aishwarya.
While entering through Simhadwara, one can clearly hear the sound of waves, but after passing the Dwar, if you take a turn and walk back in the same direction, you will no longer hear the wave sound. One can’t hear the wave sound as long as one is inside the temple.
A huge 16-sided monolithic pillar called Arun stambha stands in front of the main gate. It has an idol of Arun, the charioteer of Surya, on its top. It was,earlier, located in the Konark Sun temple and brought here by Brahmachari Gosain.
The Mandir is guarded by 8 Siva shrines-Markandeswara, KapalamochanaLokanath, Yameswar, Nilakantheswara/Yajneswara, Bilweswara, Isaneswara and Pataleswara in 8 directions and 8 Devis-Batamangala, Alamchandi, Ardhashani, Merchika, Narayaini, Shyama Kali, Dakshina Kali, Ramachandi.
The images of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana are installed on a raised platform called Ratnavedi. The miniature images of Laxmi, Saraswati and Madhab are also on the Ratnavedi along with the main deities.
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