INTERNATIONAL TEMPLE SUMMIT 2006

1. INTERNATIONAL TEMPLE SUMMIT 2006 INITIATED BY SHREE SIDDHIVINAYAK TEMPLE TRUST “Let TRUST be the foundation of FAITH”

2. SHRI JAGANNATH TEMPLE PURI

3. BRIEF HISTORY The holiest among the holy places in sacred Bharat or India are the four abodes of God known as four Dhams. Shree Jagannath Dam (Puri) in eastern India is one of them. Since time immemorial, this most sacred abode of Jagannath – the Lord of the Universe – has been the seat of the glorious spiritual and cultural tradition of India. Jagannath represents an integration of all important cultures, such as the Vedic, the Puranic , the Tantric, the Smarta and the Baishnava, along with Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism and that of the aboriginal tribes who are living in the interior areas of the country for thousands of year past. The Baishnavas of all schools, i.e. Ramanuja, Nimbarka, Chaitanya or Madhva-Goudiya, Radha Ballbhi, Atibadi, Odissi have great faith in Jagannath. The unique customs and traditions, elaborate rituals and festivals in this world famous temple, which have continued almost unchanged for centuries, symbolize a heritage most glorious and unparalleled.

4. Tradition has it that the legendary king Indradyumna, a King of Malwa in Central India put up the first temple which was a thousand cubits high. But in course of time, it collapsed. Around 10th century A.D., king Yajati Kesari put up another temple which was smaller than the present one. Perhaps that temple crumbled down due to the effect of saline wind of the adjoining sea (Bay of Bengal). The founder of the Ganga dynasty in Orissa, Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, took up the construction of the present magnificent temple and it was completed in the 12th century, which is itself a towering masterpiece of India’s rich temple art and architecture. The ancient temple of Lord Jagannath of Puri has ever since its inception been an institution of unique national importance in which millions of Hindu devotees from regions far and near have reposed their faith and belief and have regarded it as the epitome of their tradition and culture.

5. The temple is built over an area of Ac.10.734 of land having two boundary walls named as “Meghanada Prachira” (outer boundary) and “Kurma Prachira” (inner boundary). There are four gates on the four sides of the temple named as the Lions Gate (East), Horse Gate(South), Tiger Gate (West) and Elephant Gate (North). The height of the temple is 214 feet 8 inches from the ground level. Surrounding the main temple, many Sub-Shrines about hundred in number are also located. Amongst them those of goddess Vimala and Mahalaksmi are the most important. After offering Bhoga to Shree Jagannath, it is again offered to Vimala. It is said that “Vimala is the Bhairavi and Jagannath is Bhairava”. Mahalakshmi is the consort of Bishnu and Shree Jagannath is considered as a form of Bishnu. The other important sub-shrines are – Nilamadhaba, Bata Mangala, Sakhigopal, Ganesh, Saraswati, Bhubaneswari, Kasi Biswanath, Nrusingha, Satyanarayan, Rama Chandra, Dadhi Baman, Ananta Basudeva, Sitala, Agniswar, Pataleswar, Ishaneswar, Hari Sahadeva, Indrani, Bhadrakali, Surya, Radha and Krushna in various forms and so on.

6. TEMPLE ADMINISTRATION Historical Background • Till 1568 AD, the sovereign of Orissa Kings were the Chief Patron • 1568 – 1590 AD Afghan Rulers • 1590 – 1751 AD Muslim Rulers • 1751 – 1803 AD Marhata Kings • 1803 – Till Independence British Rulers • However, the foundation of a sound administrative system was laid by the Gajapati Kings of Puri during the British Rule. • Post Independence Era • The Puri Shri Jagannath Temple (Administration) Act - 1952 • The Shri Jagannath Temple Act – 1955 • Came into force with effect from 27.12.1960 • In terms of the provision of this Act the management, administration and governance of the temple are vested in a committee known as ‘ Shri Jagannath Temple managing Committee’.

7. Present Managing Committee Amendment 2004 of Shri Jagannath Temple Act – 1955 • 1. Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Chairman • 2. Additional Chief Secretary, Orissa Working Chairman • 3. Chief Administrator, • Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri Ex-Officio Member- Secretary • 4. Collector & D.M., Puri • Deputy Chief Administrator- Ex-Officio Member • Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri • 5. Commissioner of Endowments, Orissa, Ex-Officio Member • 6. Additional Secretary (Law) Ex-Officio Member • (JTA in-charge) • Superintendent of Police, Puri Ex-Officio Member • Superintending Archaeologist,ASI Ex-Officio Member

8. 9. One person to be nominated by the State Govt.from • among the persons entitled to sit on the Muktimandap Member • 10. Five persons to be nominated by the State Govt.from • among the Sevaks of the temple. Member • One person representing the Maths and other • Institutions connected with the Seva-Puja or Nities of • the Temple or Member any Hindu Religions /Spiritual • Organisation to be nominated by the State Government. • Three persons, one of whom shall be a • Chartered Accountantant, from among the general public. Member • No person who does not profess the Hindu Religion shallbe eligible for membership • The Chief Administrator of Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri shall be appointed by the • State Government from among Members of the Indian Administrative Service not • below the rank of Commissioner and professing Hindu Religion • The Chief Administrator SHALL BE THE Secretary of the Committee and its • Chief Executive Officer and shall, subject to the control of the Committee, have • powers to carry out its decision in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

9. SHREE JAGANNATH TEMPLE ADMINISTRATION, PURI Senior Positions CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR (IAS not below the rank of Commissioner) DEPUTY CHIEF ADMINISTRATOR (District Collector, PURI) ADMINISTRATOR (Security) (IPS or OPS not below the rank of Addl. SP) ADMINISTRATOR (Niti) (OAS-S not below the rank of Jt. Secretary) ADMINISTRATOR (Development) (IAS or OAS-S not below the rank of Jt. Secretary)

10. THE ESTABLISHMENT • The Chief administrator, as the Executive Head of Temple Administration • Eleven nos. Class I and Class II Officers of the Orissa State Cadre • belonging to the Administrative, Finance and Police Services • Temple Cadre Officers • Public Relations & Information • Culture & Publications • Rituals • Watch & Ward • Conservancy & Sanitation • Civil Construction • 271 Permanent Employees • 126 Contractual Labourers • New 52 JTP Squad & 13 DEOs

11. The rituals of the Lords throughout the year are performed as per prevailing custom/tradition as well as provisions as contained in the Temple Record of Rights which was published vide Government of Orissa Law Department Notification No. 4751 dated 05-08-1954. RITUALS The Temple of Lord Jagannath entertains 119 categories of Sevayats(Servitors) and observes most intricate and elaborate ritual system. Each category of Sevak has specific role to perform in the temple. Round the year as many as 1500 Sevaks (Temple Servitors) are engaged in the Lords service to perform the sacrosanct age-old rituals and to prepare the most sacred ‘Mahaprasad’ cherished by countless devotees. More than 80 Servitors or Sevaks are engaged in the daily rituals of the Lords. In addition to the daily rituals there are special rituals held for the Lord on specific occasions.

12. DAILY RITUALS • Dwarphita (5 a.m.) • 2. Bhitar Sodha • 3. Mangal Alati • Mailam • 5. Tadap Lagi • 6. Abakash (7 a.m.) • 7. Mailam • 8. Sahanamela (8 to 9 a.m.) • 9. Besa • Gopal Ballav • Sakal Dhup (12 noon) • Mailam • 13. Bhog Mandap (2 p.m.) • 14. Madhyan Dhup • 2nd Bhog Mandap • Diba Pahuda • 17.Besh • 18. Sabdhya Alati (6-7 p.m.) • Sandhya Dhup (8 p.m.) • Mailam & Chandan Lagi • Badasinghar Besh • 22. Badasinghar Bhog • 23. Ratra Pahuda

13. SOME SALIENT FEATURES Highlights • DARSHAN FACILITIES • Public Darshan (SAHANA MELA) • Special Darshan • RESTRICTIONS • 1. Only Hindus can get inside the temple. • 2. Nobody except the authorised ‘Sevakas’ is allowed to touch the Deities inside the Temple • 3.Nobody except authorised ‘Sevakas’ can enter • the Kitchen area • SAFETY & SECURITY MEASURES • CCTV surveillance system in the Four Gates and • Ananda Bazar

14. CAR FESTIVAL The Car Festival is known as the ‘Ratha Yatra” and is the most important festival of Lord Shri Jagannath . This colourful Festival which draws millions of devotees to Puri from various parts of the Country as well as abroad, is held in the month of June-July every year. The Three Deities in three wooden Chariots are carried in a Grand Procession to the ‘Gundicha Temple’ located three kms away. • SWADHYA KENDRA • Shree Jagannath Swadhya Kendra ais functioning daily at the Lion’s Gate of Shrede Mandir from 5 AM to 6.30 AM and 7.30 P.M. to 9 P.M. In the morning hours “Supravatam”, “Veda”, “Shree Bishnu Sahasranam”, “Srimad Bhagabat Gita” and “Shree Jagannathastak” are being chanting to create a divine atmosphere. In the evening hours Oriya Bhagabat and traditional devotional songs like “Odisi”, “Chhand” and “Champu” etc. are also being chanting for pilgrims and devotees of Lord Jagannath.

15. STATUS REPORT ON LANDED PROPERTIES OF SHREE JAGANNATH MAHAPRABHU BIJE, PURI • Extent of land so far detected from sources inside the • State of Orissa recorded in the name of Lord Jagannath - Ac.56,244.195 • Extent of land outside the State of Orissa • Sl. No. Name of StateArea • 1. West Bengal Ac.322.930 • 2. Andhra Pradesh Ac. 18.987 • 3. Maharashtra Ac. 28.218 • 4. Madhya Pradesh Ac. 26.810 • 5. Tamil Nadu Ac. 11.885 • 6. Bihar Ac. 0.274 • Total: Ac.409.104 • 7. Uttaranchal Ground floor of two storied • building at Raibareli Road in • Haldwani town.

16. THANK YOU