{"id":5303,"date":"2022-06-09T04:41:06","date_gmt":"2022-06-09T04:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/?page_id=5303"},"modified":"2022-07-08T15:18:07","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T15:18:07","slug":"chardham","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/th\/chardham\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0e08\u0e32\u0e23\u0e18\u0e32\u0e21"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5303\" class=\"elementor elementor-5303\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-88aea0a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"88aea0a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9d8ba9a\" data-id=\"9d8ba9a\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-528297c elementor-widget elementor-widget-ova_heading\" data-id=\"528297c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ova_heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ova-heading\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"sub_title thrid_font\">Temple & Scriptures<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"title second_font\">\u0e08\u0e32\u0e23\u0e18\u0e32\u0e21<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-01cdb6f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"01cdb6f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a86acf\" data-id=\"2a86acf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-11b3efe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"11b3efe\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-914629c\" data-id=\"914629c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c03858 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c03858\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0Char Dham\u00a0(\u201cfour abodes\u201d) is a set of four pilgrimage sites in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/India\">India<\/a>. Vaishnavite Hindus believe that visiting these sites helps achieve \u201cMoksha\u201d (salvation). It comprises\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath\">Badrinath<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwarka\">Dwarka<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puri\">Puri<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rameswaram\">Rameshwaram<\/a>. It is considered by Hindus that every Hindu must visit the\u00a0Char Dhams\u00a0during one\u2019s lifetime. The Char Dham as defined by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adi_Shankara\">Adi Shankaracharya<\/a>\u00a0consists of four\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaishnavism\">Vaishnavite<\/a>\u00a0pilgrimage sites.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-5a2e95f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5a2e95f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7c082a8\" data-id=\"7c082a8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7372717 ha-infobox-media-dir-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-ha-infobox happy-addon ha-infobox\" data-id=\"7372717\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ha-infobox.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"ha-infobox-figure ha-infobox-figure--icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"hm hm-caret-fill-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"ha-infobox-body\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-infobox-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>In North India it is Badrinath Temple, the abode of Shri Badrinath. It is known as Bhu-Vaikunta that means earthly abode of Lord Vishnu. Badrinath is located in the Himalayas on the banks of Alaknanda river in Uttrakhand and is one of the most tourist visited destination in India.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-efc9c79\" data-id=\"efc9c79\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db8754d ha-infobox-media-dir-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-ha-infobox happy-addon ha-infobox\" data-id=\"db8754d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ha-infobox.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"ha-infobox-figure ha-infobox-figure--icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"hm hm-caret-fill-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"ha-infobox-body\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-infobox-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p> In West India it is Dwarka Temple, the abode of Sri Krishna. It is also known as Jagat Mandir. Dwaraka in Gujarat was the dwelling place of Lord Krishna. There are two gateways: the entrance for pilgrims is Swarga Dwar and the exit is Moksha Dwar near Gomati River.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6559e58 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6559e58\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;_ha_eqh_widget&quot;:[&quot;ha-infobox&quot;],&quot;_ha_eqh_to&quot;:&quot;widget&quot;,&quot;_ha_eqh_disable_on_tablet&quot;:&quot;no&quot;,&quot;_ha_eqh_disable_on_mobile&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e60383f\" data-id=\"e60383f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9baa243 ha-infobox-media-dir-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-ha-infobox happy-addon ha-infobox\" data-id=\"9baa243\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ha-infobox.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"ha-infobox-figure ha-infobox-figure--icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"hm hm-caret-fill-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"ha-infobox-body\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-infobox-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>In East India it is Puri Temple the abode of Lord Jagannath. Jagannath means Lord of the Universe. Puri is also famous for its Rath Yatra (Chariot festival) in the month of June every year when and where 3-huge chariots are pulled in the procession of Lord Jagannath, His Brother Lord Balabhadra and Their Sister Devi Subhadra. Puri in Orissa is famous for its sea beaches.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-6a72e42\" data-id=\"6a72e42\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b53a608 ha-infobox-media-dir-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-ha-infobox happy-addon ha-infobox\" data-id=\"b53a608\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ha-infobox.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"ha-infobox-figure ha-infobox-figure--icon\">\n\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"hm hm-caret-fill-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"ha-infobox-body\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-infobox-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>In South India it is Rameshwaram Temple the abode of Sri Ramanatha Swamy (Lord Shiva) and this Shivling here was worshipped by Lord Shri Ram. This temple is also 1 of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India. Rameshwaram is located near Madurai in Tamil Nadu. The floating stone bridge Ram Sethu here was built by Lord Ram on His way to Sri Lanka in the Ramayana. For this reason, both Vishnu and Shiva worshippers assembled here at Rameshwaram to absolve their sins and gain Mokshya.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-31faf52 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"31faf52\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5eb5a12\" data-id=\"5eb5a12\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-90b7bcb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"90b7bcb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION\n<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be9eccb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"be9eccb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>According to Hindu Dharma, Badrinath became prominent when Nar-Narayan, an avatar of Vishnu, did\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tapasya\">Tapasya<\/a>\u00a0there. At that time that place was filled with berry trees. In Sanskrit language berries are called \u201cBadri\u201d, so the place was named Badrika-Van, i.e. the forest of berries. The spot, where the Nar-Narayan did Tapasya, a large berry tree formed covering Him to save Him from the rain and the sun. Local people believe that Mata Lakshmi became the berry tree to save Lord Narayan. Post-Tapasya, Narayan said, people will always take Her Name before His Name, hence Hindus always refer \u201cLakshmi-Narayan \u201c. It was therefore called Badri-Nath i.e. the Lord of Berry forest. This all happened in the Sathya\/Sath-Yuga. So Badrinath came to be known as the first Dham.<\/p><p>The second place, Rameswaram got its importance in the Tretha-Yuga when Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rama\">Rama<\/a>\u00a0built a Shiva-Lingam here and worshiped it to get the blessings of Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shiva\">Shiva<\/a>. The Name Rameswaram means \u201cRama\u2019s Lord\u201d.<\/p><p>The third Dhaam Dwarka got its importance in the Dwapara Yuga when Lord Krishna made Dwarka His residence instead of Mathura, His birthplace.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The fourth one i.e. Puri Dhaam has got its own significance. Lord Vishnu getting worshiped here as Jagannath which is his\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avtar\">Avtar<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kali_yuga\">Kali yuga<\/a>.<\/p><p>It is also said that Adi Sankaracharya, in his visit to these four places established four Mathas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2861b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c2861b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The table below gives an overview of the four Amnaya Mathas founded by Adi Shankara, and their details. \n\n<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6ba847 ha-column-alignment-left ha-column-icon-right ha-row-alignment-left ha-row-icon-right ha-data-table-responsive-scroll-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-ha-data-table happy-addon ha-data-table\" data-id=\"d6ba847\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ha-data-table.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<table class=\"ha-table\">\n\t\t\t<thead class=\"ha-table__head\">\n\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"ha-table__head-column\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell elementor-repeater-item-b9e14be\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-text\"> Shishya (lineage)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell elementor-repeater-item-fe55ad2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-text\">Direction<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell elementor-repeater-item-07d9ce8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-text\">Ma\u1e6dha<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell elementor-repeater-item-4c11497\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-text\">Mah\u0101v\u0101kya<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell elementor-repeater-item-770c184\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-text\">Veda<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<th class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell elementor-repeater-item-8480b77\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__head-column-cell-text\">Sampradaya<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/th>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t<\/thead>\n\n\t\t\t<tbody class=\"ha-table__body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"ha-table__body-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-4e03dc0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPadmap\u0101da\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-ed5299d\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEast\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-1c76a57\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGovardhana P\u012b\u1e6dha\u1e43\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-e2b6122\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPraj\u00f1\u0101nam brahma (Consciousness is Brahman)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-3845f4b\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRig Veda\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-3e87de0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBhogavala\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"ha-table__body-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-5628e91\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSure\u015bvara\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-70ba064\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSouth\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-fc05f76\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSringeri \u015a\u0101rada P\u012b\u1e6dha\u1e43\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-d7a576b\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAham brahm\u0101smi (I am Brahman)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-493b7ec\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYajur Veda\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-5c2ab31\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBh\u016brivala\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"ha-table__body-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-aa62c86\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHast\u0101malak\u0101c\u0101rya\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-9d9f897\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWest\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-46ce350\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDv\u0101raka P\u012b\u1e6dha\u1e43\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-92cb109\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTattvamasi (That thou art)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-1b0d2d9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSama Veda\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-ec4cf5c\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKitavala\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<tr class=\"ha-table__body-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-028dc51\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTo\u1e6dak\u0101c\u0101rya\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-75de9f2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNorth\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-9b46960\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJyotirma\u1e6dha P\u012b\u1e6dha\u1e43\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-5347477\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAyam\u0101tm\u0101 brahma (This Atman is Brahman)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-cebbce0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAtharva Veda\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<td class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell elementor-repeater-item-ebddd2e\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ha-table__body-row-cell-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNandavala\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/td>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tr>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/tbody>\n\t\t<\/table>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efdd383 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"efdd383\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>So, these Char Dhams are giving a message of sacred, cultural and national integrity to the people of India.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92335ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"92335ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">THE FOUR ASSOCIATED PLACES OF CHAR DHAM\n<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f90ba30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f90ba30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the Puranas, Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiv) are referred as eternal friends. It is said wherever Lord Vishnu resides, Lord Shiva resides nearby. The Chaar Dhaams follow this rule. So Kedarnath is considered as the pair of Badrinath, Rangnath Swami is considered the pair of Rameswaram. Somnath is considered as the pair of Dwarka. However one thing is also to be noted here that according to some traditions the Char Dham are Badrinath, Rangnath-Swami, Dwarka and Jagannath-Puri all the four of which are Vaishnav sites and their associated places are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kedarnath\">Kedarnath<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rameswaram\">Rameswaram<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somnath\">Somnath<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lingaraja_Temple\">Lingaraja Temple<\/a>, Bhubaneswar (or maybe Gupteshwar) respectively.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2484913 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2484913\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PILGRIMAGE DETAILS<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0ecc1c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f0ecc1c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Puri \u2013 Jagannath Temple<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73f1028 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73f1028\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0Shree Jagannath Temple\u00a0 of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puri\">Puri<\/a>\u00a0is an important Hindu temple dedicated to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lord_Jagannath\">Lord Jagannath<\/a>, a form of lord Vishnu, located on the eastern coast of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/India\">India<\/a>, at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puri\">Puri<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/States_and_territories_of_India\">state<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Odisha\">Odisha<\/a>. The temple is an important pilgrimage destination and one of the four great \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Char_Dham\">Char Dham\u2019<\/a>\u00a0pilgrimage sites, found at India\u2019s four cardinal points. The present temple was rebuilt from the 10th century onwards, on the site of an earlier temple, and begun by King\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anantavarman_Codaganga\">Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva<\/a>, first of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eastern_Ganga_dynasty\">Eastern Ganga dynasty<\/a>.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The Puri temple is famous for its annual\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rath_Yatra\">Ratha yatra<\/a>, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Temple_car\">chariot<\/a>\u00a0festival, in which the three principal\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Deities\">deities<\/a>\u00a0are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Temple_car\">temple cars<\/a>. These gave their name to the English term\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Juggernaut\">Juggernaut<\/a>. Unlike the stone and metal icons found in most Hindu temples, the image of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>\u00a0is made of wood and is ceremoniously replaced every twelve or nineteen years by an exact replica.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The temple is sacred to all\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindus\">Hindus<\/a>\u00a0and especially in those of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaishnavism\">Vaishnava<\/a>\u00a0traditions. Many great saints, such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramananda\">Ramananda<\/a>\u00a0&amp;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramanuja\">Ramanuja<\/a>\u00a0were closely associated with the temple.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramanuja\">Ramanuja<\/a>\u00a0established the Emar Mutt near the temple and the Govardhan Mutt, which is the seat of one of the four Shankaracharyas. It is also of particular significance to the followers of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gaudiya_Vaishnavism\">Gaudiya Vaishnavism<\/a>whose founder\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chaitanya_Mahaprabhu\">Chaitanya Mahaprabhu<\/a>, was attracted to the deity, Jagannath, and lived in Puri for many years.<\/p><p>The God Mahaprabhu (LORD VISHNU) Jagannath, Badathakura\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Balarama\">Balabhadra<\/a>\u00a0and the Devi\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Subhadra\">Subhadra<\/a>\u00a0constitute the main trinity of deities worshiped at the temple. The temple iconography depicts these three Gods sitting on the bejewelled platform or the\u00a0Ratnabedi\u00a0in the inner sanctum. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sudarshan_Chakra\">Sudarshan Chakra<\/a>, deities of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Krishna\">Madanmohan<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lakshmi\">Sridevi<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bhudevi\">Vishwadhatri<\/a>\u00a0are also placed on the Ratnavedi.\u00a0The temple icons of Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan Chakra are made from sacred\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Neem\">Neem<\/a>\u00a0logs known as Daru. Depending on the season the deities are adorned in different garbs and jewels. Worship of these deities pre-date the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Temple\">temple<\/a>\u00a0structure and may have originated in an ancient tribal shrine.<\/p><p>Different theories variously characterize the shrine\u2019s patron deity\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannatha\">Jagannatha<\/a>\u00a0as of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adivasi\">tribal<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buddhism\">Buddhist<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jainism\">Jain<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaishnavite\">Vaishnavite<\/a>\u00a0origin. Polish Indologist Olgierd M. Starza, who reviewed these different theories concluded that \u201cseveral early theories regarding the origin of Jagannatha have been refuted; only the tribal theory remains a possibility.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The present-day temple was built by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eastern_Ganga_dynasty\">Ganga dynasty<\/a>\u00a0king\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anantavarman_Chodaganga\">Anantavarman Chodaganga<\/a>\u00a0in the 12th century CE, as suggested by the Kendupatna copper-plate inscription of his descendant Narasimhadeva II.\u00a0Anantavarman was originally a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shaivite\">Shaivite<\/a>, and became a Vaishnavite sometime after he conquered the Utkala region (in which the temple is located) in 1112 CE. A 1134-1135 CE inscription records his donation to the temple. Therefore, the temple construction must have started sometime after 1112 CE.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>According to a story in the temple chronicles, it was founded by Anangabhima-deva II: different chronicles variously mention the year of construction as 1196, 1197, 1205, 1216, or 1226.\u00a0This suggests that the temple\u2019s construction was completed or that the temple was renovated during the reign of Anantavarman\u2019s son Anangabhima.\u00a0The temple complex was further developed during the reigns of the subsequent kings, including those of the Ganga dynasty and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gajapati_Kingdom\">Suryvamshi<\/a>\u00a0(Gajapati) dynasty.<\/p><p>According to legend, the construction of the first Jagannath temple was commissioned by King\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indradyumna\">Indradyumna<\/a>, son of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bharata_(Mahabharata)\">Bharata<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Sunanda_(Hindu_legend)&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\">Sunanda<\/a>, and a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Malava_Kingdom\">Malava<\/a>\u00a0king, mentioned in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahabharata\">Mahabharata<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puranas\">Puranas<\/a>.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The legendary account as found in the Skanda-Purana, Brahma Purana and other Puranas and later Oriya works state that Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>\u00a0was originally worshipped as Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Neela_Madhaba\">Neela Madhaba<\/a>\u00a0by a Savar king (tribal chief) named Viswavasu. Having heard about the deity, King\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indradyumna\">Indradyumna<\/a>\u00a0sent a Brahmin priest, Vidyapati to locate the deity, who was worshipped secretly in a dense forest by Viswavasu. Vidyapati tried his best but could not locate the place. But at last he managed to marry Viswavasu\u2019s daughter Lalita. At repeated request of Vidyapti, Viswavasu took his son-in-law blind folded to a cave where Lord Neela Madhaba was worshipped.<\/p><p>Vidyapati was very intelligent. He dropped mustard seeds on the ground on the way. The seeds germinated after a few days, which enabled him to find out the cave later on. On hearing from him, King\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indradyumna\">Indradyumna<\/a>\u00a0proceeded immediately to Odra desha (Odisha) on a pilgrimage to see and worship the Deity. But the deity had disappeared. The king was disappointed. The Deity was hidden in sand. The king was determined not to return without having a darshan of the deity and observed fast unto death at Mount Neela, Then, a celestial voice cried \u2018thou shalt see him.\u2019 Afterward, the king performed a horse sacrifice and built a magnificent temple for Vishnu. Sri\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Narasimha\">Narasimha<\/a>\u00a0Murti brought by Narada was installed in the temple. During sleep, the king had a vision of Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>. Also, an astral voice directed him to receive the fragrant tree on the seashore and make idols out of it. Accordingly, the king got the image of Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Balabhadra\">Balabhadra<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Subhadra\">Subhadra<\/a>\u00a0and Chakra\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sudarshana_Chakra\">Sudarshan<\/a>\u00a0made out of the wood of the divine tree and installed them in the temple.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-732f13a elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"732f13a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/\n.elementor-accordion{text-align:left}.elementor-accordion .elementor-accordion-item{border:1px solid #d4d4d4}.elementor-accordion .elementor-accordion-item+.elementor-accordion-item{border-top:none}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title{margin:0;padding:15px 20px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;cursor:pointer;outline:none}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon{display:inline-block;width:1.5em}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon svg{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon.elementor-accordion-icon-right{float:right;text-align:right}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon.elementor-accordion-icon-left{float:left;text-align:left}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon .elementor-accordion-icon-closed{display:block}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon .elementor-accordion-icon-opened,.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-accordion-icon-closed{display:none}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title.elementor-active .elementor-accordion-icon-opened{display:block}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-content{display:none;padding:15px 20px;border-top:1px solid #d4d4d4}@media (max-width:767px){.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title{padding:12px 15px}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-title .elementor-accordion-icon{width:1.2em}.elementor-accordion .elementor-tab-content{padding:7px 15px}}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\" role=\"tablist\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1201\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1201\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Indradyumna\u2018s prayer to Lord Brahma<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1201\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1201\"><p>King\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indradyumna\">Indradyumna<\/a>\u00a0put up for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>\u00a0the tallest monument of the world. It was 1,000 cubits high. He invited Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brahma\">Brahma<\/a>, the cosmic creator, consecrate the temple and the images.\u00a0Brahma came all the way from Heaven for this purpose. Seeing the temple, he was immensely pleased with him. Brahma asked\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indradyumna\">Indradyumna<\/a>\u00a0as to in what way can he (Brahma) fulfill the king\u2019s desire, since was very much pleased with him for his having put the most beautiful Temple for Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>. With folded hands,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Indradyumna\">Indradyumna<\/a>\u00a0said, \u201cMy Lord if you are really pleased with me, kindly bless me with one thing, and it is that I should be issueless and that I should be the last member of my family.\u201d In case anybody left alive after him, he would only take pride as the owner of the temple and would not work for the society.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1202\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1202\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Legend surrounding the Temple origin<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1202\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1202\"><p>The traditional story concerning the origins of the Lord Jagannath temple is that here the original image of Jagannath (a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Deity\">deity<\/a>\u00a0form of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>) at the end of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Treta_yuga\">Treta yuga<\/a>\u00a0manifested near a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Banyan\">banyan<\/a>\u00a0tree, near\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Coast\">seashore<\/a>\u00a0in the form of an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Blue_Sapphire\">Indranila mani<\/a>\u00a0or the Blue Jewel. It was so dazzling that it could grant instant\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moksha\">moksha<\/a>, so the God\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dharma\">Dharma<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yama\">Yama<\/a>\u00a0wanted to hide it in the earth, and was successful. In Dvapara Yuga King Indradyumna of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avanti_(India)\">Malwa<\/a>\u00a0wanted to find that mysterious image and to do so he performed harsh\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Penance\">penances<\/a>\u00a0to obtain his goal. Vishnu then instructed him to go to the Puri\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Coast\">seashore<\/a>\u00a0and find a floating log to make an image from its trunk.<\/p><p>The King found the log of wood. He did a yajna from which God Yajna\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nrisimha\">Nrisimha<\/a>\u00a0appeared and instructed that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Narayana\">Narayana<\/a>\u00a0should be made as fourfold expansion, i.e. Paramatma as\u00a0Vasudeva, his Vyuha as\u00a0Samkarshana, Yogamaya as\u00a0Subhadra, and his Vibhava Sudarshana.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishwakarma\">Vishwakarma<\/a>\u00a0appeared in the form of an artisan and prepared images of Jagannath,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Balabhadra\">Balabhadra<\/a>\u00a0and Subhadra from the tree.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>When this log, radiant with light was seen floating in the sea, Narada told the king to make three idols out of it and place them in a pavilion. Indradyumna got Visvakarma, the architect of Gods, to build a magnificent temple to house the idols and Vishnu himself appeared in the guise of a carpenter to make the idols on condition that he was to be left undisturbed until he finished the work.<\/p><p>But just after two weeks, the Queen became very anxious. She took the carpenter to be dead as no sound came from the temple. Therefore, she requested the king to open the door. Thus, they went to see Vishnu at work at which the latter abandoned his work leaving the idols unfinished. The idol was devoid of any hands. But a divine voice told Indradyumana to install them in the temple. It has also been widely believed that in spite of the idol being without hands, it can watch over the world and be its lord. Thus the idiom.<\/p><p>Starting with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lord_Jagannath\">Lord Jagannath<\/a>\u00a0himself, history has it that he was a tribal deity, adorned by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sabar_people\">Sabar people<\/a>, as a symbol of Narayan. Another legend claims him to be\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nilamadhava\">Nilamadhava<\/a>, an image of Narayana made of bluestone and worshipped by the aboriginals. He was brought to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nilagiri\">Nilagiri<\/a>\u00a0(blue mountain) or Nilachala and installed there as Shri\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>\u00a0in company with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Balabhadra\">Balabhadra<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Subhadra\">Subhadra<\/a>. The images made of wood are also claimed to have their distant linkage with the aboriginal system of worshipping wooden poles. To cap it all the Daitapatis, who have a fair share of responsibilities to perform rituals of the Temple, are claimed to be descendants of the aboriginals or hill tribes of Odisha. So, we may safely claim that the beginning of the cultural history of Shrikshetra is found in the fusion of Hindu and Tribal Cultures. This has been accepted as a facet of our proud heritage. The three deities came to be claimed as the symbols of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Samyak_Darshan&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\">Samyak Darshan<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Samyak_Jnana&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\">Samyak Jnana<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Samyak_Charita&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\">Samyak Charita<\/a>\u00a0usually regarded as Triratha (of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jain\">Jain<\/a>\u00a0cult), an assimilation of which leads to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moksha\">Moksha<\/a>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Salvation\">salvation<\/a>) or the ultimate bliss\u2026<\/p><p>Jagannath is worshipped as Vishnu or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Narayana\">Narayana<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Krishna\">Krishna<\/a>\u00a0and Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Balabhadra\">Balabhadra<\/a>\u00a0as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shesha\">Shesha<\/a>. Simultaneously, the deities are regarded as the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bhairava\">bhairava<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vimala_Temple\">Vimala<\/a>\u00a0(the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Devi\">devi<\/a>\u00a0or the consort of Shiva) installed in the campus of the temple. So ultimately we find a fusion of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saivism\">Saivism<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shaktism\">Shaktism<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaishnavism\">Vaishnavism<\/a>\u00a0of the Hindu religion with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jainism\">Jainism<\/a>\u00a0and up to an extent Buddhism in the culture of Jagannath and the cultural tradition so reverently held together in Shrikshetra.<\/p><p>The huge temple complex covers an area of over 400,000 square feet (37,000\u00a0m<sup>2<\/sup>), is surrounded by a high fortified wall. This 20 feet (6.1\u00a0m) high wall is known as Meghanada Pacheri.\u00a0Another wall known as kurma bedha surrounds the main temple.\u00a0It contains at least 120 temples and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shrine\">shrines<\/a>. With its sculptural richness and fluidity of the Oriya style of temple architecture, it is one of the most magnificent monuments of India.\u00a0The temple has four distinct sectional structures, namely \u2013<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Deula\">Deula<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vimana\">Vimana<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garba_griha\">Garba griha<\/a>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sanctum_sanctorum\">Sanctum sanctorum<\/a>) where the triad deities are lodged on the ratnavedi (Throne of Pearls). In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rekha_Deula\">Rekha Deula<\/a>\u00a0style;<\/li><li>Mukhashala (Frontal porch);<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nata_mandir\">Nata mandir<\/a>\/Natamandapa, which is also known as the Jagamohan (Audience Hall\/Dancing Hall), and<\/li><li>Bhoga Mandapa (Offerings Hall).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>The main temple is a curvilinear temple and crowning the top is the \u2018srichakra\u2019 (an eight spoked wheel) of Vishnu. Also known as the \u201cNilachakra\u201d, it is made out of Ashtadhatu and is considered sacrosanct.\u00a0Among the existing temples in Orissa, the temple of Shri Jagannath is the highest. The temple tower was built on a raised platform of stone and, rising to 214 feet (65\u00a0m) above the inner sanctum where the deities reside, dominates the surrounding landscape. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pyramidal\">pyramidal<\/a>\u00a0roofs of the surrounding temples and adjoining halls, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mandapa\">mandapas<\/a>, rise in steps toward the tower like a ridge of mountain peaks.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1203\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1203\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Nila Chakra<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1203\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1203\"><p>The transformation of old bodies into new bodies made of neem wood is called Nabakalebar.<\/p><p>The Nila\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chakram\">Chakra<\/a>\u00a0(Blue Discus) is the discus mounted on the top\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shikhara\">shikhar<\/a>\u00a0of the Jagannath Temple. As per custom, everyday a different flag is waved on the Nila Chakra. The flag hoisted on the Nila Cakra is called the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Patita_Pavana\">Patita Pavana<\/a>\u00a0(Purifier of the Fallen) and is equivalent to the image of the deities placed in the sanctum sanctorum.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The Nila Chakra is a disc with eight\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Navagunjara\">Navagunjaras<\/a>\u00a0carved on the outer circumference, with all facing towards the flagpost above. It is made of alloy of eight metals (Asta-dhatu) and is 3.5 Metres (11 feet and 8\u00a0inches) high with a circumference of about 11 metres (36\u00a0feet).\u00a0During the year 2010, the Nila Chakra was repaired and restored by the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Archaeological_Survey_of_India\">Archaeological Survey of India<\/a>.<\/p><p>The Nila Chakra is distinct from the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sudarshana_chakra\">Sudarshana chakra<\/a>\u00a0which has been placed with the deities in the inner sanctorum.<\/p><p>Nila Chakra is the most revered\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Iconography\">iconic symbol<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>\u00a0cult. The Nila Chakra is the only physical object whose markings are used as sacrament and considered sacred in Jagannath worship. It symbolizes protection by Shri Jagannath.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1204\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1204\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">The Singhadwar<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1204\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1204\"><p>The\u00a0Singahdwara, which in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sanskrit\">Sanskrit<\/a>\u00a0means The Lion Gate, is one of the four gates to the temple and forms the Main entrance. The Singhadwara is so named because two huge statues of crouching lions exist on either side of the entrance. The gate faces east opening on to the\u00a0Bada Danda\u00a0or the Grand Road.\u00a0The\u00a0Baisi Pahacha\u00a0or the flight of twenty two steps leads into the temple complex. An idol of Jagannath known as\u00a0Patitapavana, which in Sanskrit, means the \u201cSaviour of the downtrodden and the fallen\u201d is painted on the right side of the entrance. In ancient times when untouchables were not allowed inside the temple, they could pray to Patita Pavana. The statues of the two guards to the temple\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaya-Vijaya\">Jaya and Vijaya<\/a>\u00a0stand on either side of the doorway.\u00a0Just before the commencement of the Rath Yatra the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out of the temple through this gate. On their return from the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gundicha_Temple\">Gundicha Temple<\/a>\u00a0they have to ceremonially placate Goddess\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahalakshmi\">Mahalakshmi<\/a>, whose statue is carved atop the door, for neglecting to take her with them on the Yatra. Only then the Goddess allows them permission to enter the temple. A magnificent sixteen-sided monolithic pillar known as the Arun stambha stands in front of the main gate. This pillar has an idol of Arun, the charioteer of the Sun God\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Surya\">Surya<\/a>, on its top. One significant thing about Arun stambha is that prior it was located in the Konark Sun temple,\u00a0later, the Maratha guru Brahmachari Gosain brought this pillar from Konark.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1205\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1205\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Other entrances<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1205\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"5\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1205\"><p>Apart from the Singhadwara, which is the main entrance to the temple, there are three other entrances facing north, south and west. They are named after the sculptures of animals guarding them. The other entrances are the\u00a0Hathidwara\u00a0or the Elephant Gate, the\u00a0Vyaghradwara\u00a0or the Tiger Gate and the\u00a0Ashwadwara\u00a0or the Horse Gate.<\/p><p><b>Minor temples<\/b><\/p><p>Cluster of minor temples in the southern part of Jagannath temple complex, including the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vimala_Temple\">Vimala Temple<\/a>(extreme right). c. 1890.<\/p><p>There are numerous smaller temples and shrines within the Temple complex where active worship is regularly conducted. The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vimala_Temple\">Vimala Temple<\/a>\u00a0(Bimala Temple) is considered one of the most important of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shaktipeeth\">Shaktipeeths<\/a>\u00a0marks the spot where the Goddess\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sati_(goddess)\">Sati<\/a>\u2018s navel fell. It is located near\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pancha_Tirtha_of_Puri\">Rohini Kund<\/a>in the temple complex. Until food offered to Jagannath is offered to Goddess Vimala it is not considered\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahaprasad_(Jagannath_Temple)\">Mahaprasad<\/a>.<\/p><p>The temple of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahalakshmi\">Mahalakshmi<\/a>\u00a0has an important role in rituals of the main temple. It is said that preparation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Naivedhya\">naivedya<\/a>\u00a0as offering for Jagannath is supervised by Mahalakshmi. The Kanchi Ganesh Temple is dedicated to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Uchchhishta_Ganapati\">Uchchhishta Ganapati<\/a>. Tradition says the King of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kanchipuram\">Kanchipuram<\/a>\u00a0(Kanchi) in ancient times gifted the idol, when Gajapati Purushottama Deva married Padmavati, the\u00a0kanchi\u00a0princess. There are other shrines namely\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Utkala_brahmin\">Muktimandap<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Surya\">Surya<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saraswati\">Saraswati<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bhuvaneshwari\">Bhuvaneshwari<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Narasimha\">Narasimha<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rama\">Rama<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hanuman\">Hanuman<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shiva\">Eshaneshwara<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1206\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1206\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">The Mandapas<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1206\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"6\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1206\"><p>There are many\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mandapa\">Mandapas<\/a>\u00a0or Pillared halls on raised platforms within the temple complex meant for religious congregations. The most prominent is the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mukti_Mandapa\">Mukti Mandapa<\/a>\u00a0the congregation hall of the holy seat of selected learned Brahmins.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Here important decisions regarding conduct of daily worship and festivals are taken. The\u00a0Dola Mandapa\u00a0is noteworthy for a beautifully carved stone\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Torana\">Torana<\/a>\u00a0or arch which is used for constructing a swing for the annual Dol Yatra festival. During the festival the idol of Dologobinda is placed on the swing. The Snana Bedi is a rectangular stone platform where idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are placed for ceremonial bathing during the annual\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Snana_Yatra\">Snana Yatra<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1207\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1207\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Daily food offerings<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1207\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"7\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1207\"><p>Daily offerings are made to the Lord six times a day.<\/p><ul><li>The offering to the Lord in the morning that forms his breakfast and is called Gopala Vallabha Bhoga. Breakfast consists of seven items i.e. Khua, Lahuni, Sweetened coconut grating, Coconut water, and popcorn sweetened with sugar known as Khai, Curd and Ripe bananas.<\/li><li>The Sakala Dhupa forms his next offering at about 10 AM. This generally consists of 13 items including the Enduri cake &amp; Mantha puli.<\/li><li>Bada Sankhudi Bhoga forms the next repast &amp; the offering consists of Pakhala with curd and Kanji payas. The offerings are made in the Bhog Mandapa, about 200 feet from the Ratnabedi. This is called Chatra Bhog and was introduced by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century to help pilgrims share the temple food.<\/li><li>The Madhyanha dhupa forms the next offering at the noon.<\/li><li>The next offering to the Lord is made in the evening at around 8 PM it is Sandhya Dhupa.<\/li><li>The last offering to the Lord is called the Bada Simhara Bhoga.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p>The Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath are distributed amongst the devotees near the Ratnavedi inside the frame of Phokaria, which is being drawn by the Puja pandas using Muruj, except for the Gopal Ballav Bhog and Bhog Mandap Bhoga which are distributed in the Anabsar Pindi &amp; Bhoga Mandap respectively.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1208\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1208\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Rosaighara<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1208\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"8\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1208\"><p>The temple\u2019s kitchen is considered as the largest kitchen in the world.\u00a0Tradition maintains that all food cooked in the temple kitchens are supervised by the Goddess\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahalakshmi\">Mahalakshmi<\/a>, the empress of\u00a0Srimandir\u00a0herself. It is said that if the food prepared has any fault in it, a shadow dog appears near the temple kitchen. The temple cooks, or Mahasuaras, take this as a sign of displeasure of Mahalakshmi with the food, which is, then, promptly buried and a new batch cooked.\u00a0All food is cooked following rules as prescribed by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindu\">Hindu<\/a>\u00a0religious texts, the food cooked is pure vegetarian without using onions and garlic.\u00a0Cooking is done only in earthen pots with water drawn from two special wells near the kitchen called Ganga and Yamuna. There are a total of 56 varieties of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Naivedhya\">naivedhyas<\/a>\u00a0offered to the deities, near\u00a0Ratnabedi\u00a0as well as in\u00a0Bhoga Mandap\u00a0on five particular\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Muhurta\">Muhurta<\/a>.\u00a0The most awaited\u00a0Prasad\u00a0is\u00a0Kotho Bhoga\u00a0or\u00a0Abadha, offered at mid-day at around 1 pm, depending upon temple rituals. The food after being offered to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>\u00a0is distributed in reasonable portions as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahaprasad_(Jagannath_Temple)\">Mahaprasad<\/a>, which is considered to be divine by the devotees in the Ananda Bazar (an open market, located to the North-east of the Singhadwara inside the Temple complex).<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1209\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1209\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Festivals<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1209\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"9\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1209\"><p>There are elaborate daily worship services. There are many festivals each year attended by millions of people. The most important festival is the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Temple_car\">Rath<\/a>\u00a0Yatra or the Chariot festival in June. This spectacular festival includes a procession of three huge chariots bearing the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra through the\u00a0Bada Danda\u00a0meaning the Grand Avenue of Puri till their final destination the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gundicha_Temple\">Gundicha Temple<\/a>.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Early European observers told tales of devotees being crushed under the wheels of these chariots, whether by accident or even as a form of meritorious suicide akin to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sati_(practice)\">suttee<\/a>. These reports gave rise to the loan word\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Juggernaut\">juggernaut<\/a>\u00a0suggesting an immense, unstoppable, threatening entity or process operated by fanatics. Many festivals like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Holi\">Dol Yatra<\/a>\u00a0in spring and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Raksha_bandhan\">Jhulan Yatra<\/a>\u00a0in monsoon are celebrated by temple every year.\u00a0Pavitrotsava\u00a0and\u00a0Damanaka utsava\u00a0are celebrated as per\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Panchanga\">panchanga<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Panjika\">panjika<\/a>.There are special ceremonies in the month of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kartika_(month)\">Kartika<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pausha\">Pausha<\/a>.<\/p><p>The annual\u00a0shodasha dinatmaka\u00a0or 16 day puja beginning 8 days prior to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahalaya\">Mahalaya<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ashwin\">Ashwin<\/a>\u00a0month for Goddess\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bhairavi\">Vimala<\/a>\u00a0and ending on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vijayadashami\">Vijayadashami<\/a>, is of great importance, in which both the utsava murty of lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Krishna\">Madanmohan<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bhairavi\">Vimala<\/a>\u00a0take part.<\/p><p>Pana Sankranti: Also known or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishuva_Sankranti\">Vishuva Sankranti<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mesha_(Indian_astrology)\">Mesha<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sankranti\">Sankranti<\/a>: Special rituals are performed at the temple.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-12010\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-12010\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Chandan Yatra<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-12010\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"10\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-12010\"><p>In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Akshaya_Tritiya\">Akshaya Tritiya<\/a>\u00a0every year the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chandan_Yatra\">Chandan Yatra<\/a>\u00a0festival marks the commencement of the construction of the Chariots of the Rath Yatra.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-12011\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-12011\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Snnana Yatra<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-12011\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"11\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-12011\"><p>On the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Full_Moon\">Purnima<\/a>\u00a0of the month of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jyestha\">Jyestha<\/a>\u00a0the Gods are ceremonially bathed and decorated every year on the occasion of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Snana_Yatra\">Snana Yatra<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-12012\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-12012\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Anavasara or Anasara<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-12012\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"12\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-12012\"><p>Literally means vacation. Every year, the main idols of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Balabhadra\">Balabhadra<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Subhadra\">Subhadra<\/a>\u00a0&amp;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sudarshana_Chakra\">Sudarshan<\/a>\u00a0after the holy Snana Yatra on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jyestha\">jyestha<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purnima_(day)\">purnima<\/a>, go to a secret altar named\u00a0Anavasara Ghar\u00a0where they remain for the next dark fortnight (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Krishna_paksha\">Krishna paksha<\/a>). Hence devotees are not allowed to view them. Instead of this devotees go to nearby place\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brahmagiri,_Orissa\">Brahmagiri<\/a>\u00a0to see their beloved lord in the form of four handed form Alarnath a form of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>.\u00a0Then people get the first glimpse of lord on the day before\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rath_Yatra\">Rath Yatra<\/a>, which is called\u00a0Navayouvana. It is said that the Gods fall in fever after taking a huge bath and they are treated by the special servants named, Daitapatis for 15 days. During this period cooked food is not offered to the deities.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-12013\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-12013\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Rath Yatra<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-12013\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"13\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-12013\"><p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>\u00a0triad are usually worshiped in the sanctum of the temple at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puri\">Puri<\/a>, but once during the month of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Asadha\">Asadha<\/a>\u00a0(Rainy Season of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Orissa,_India\">Orissa<\/a>, usually falling in month of June or July), they are brought out onto the Bada Danda (main street of Puri) and travel (3\u00a0km) to the Shri\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gundicha_Temple\">Gundicha Temple<\/a>, in huge chariots (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ratha\">ratha<\/a>), allowing the public to have\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dar%25C5%259Bana\">dar\u015bana<\/a>\u00a0(Holy view). This festival is known as Rath Yatra, meaning the journey (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yatra\">yatra<\/a>) of the chariots (ratha). The Rathas are huge wheeled wooden structures, which are built anew every year and are pulled by the devotees. The chariot for Jagannath is approximately 45 feet high and 35 feet square and takes about 2 months to construct.\u00a0The artists and painters of Puri decorate the cars and paint flower petals and other designs on the wheels, the wood-carved charioteer and horses, and the inverted lotuses on the wall behind the throne.\u00a0The huge chariots of Jagannath pulled during Rath Yatra is the etymological origin of the English word\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Juggernaut\">Juggernaut<\/a>.\u00a0The Ratha-Yatra is also termed as the Shri Gundicha yatra.<\/p><p>The most significant ritual associated with the Ratha-Yatra is the\u00a0chhera pahara. During the festival, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gajapati_Kingdom\">Gajapati King<\/a>\u00a0wears the outfit of a sweeper and sweeps all around the deities and chariots in the\u00a0Chera Pahara\u00a0(sweeping with water) ritual. The Gajapati King cleanses the road before the chariots with a gold-handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder with utmost devotion. As per the custom, although the Gajapati King has been considered the most exalted person in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kalinga_(historical_region)\">Kalingan<\/a>\u00a0kingdom, he still renders the menial service to Jagannath. This ritual signified that under the lordship of Jagannath, there is no distinction between the powerful sovereign Gajapati King and the most humble devotee.\u00a0Chera pahara\u00a0is held on two days, on the first day of the Ratha Yatra, when the deities are taken to garden house at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mausi_Maa_Temple\">Mausi Maa Temple<\/a>\u00a0and again on the last day of the festival, when the deities are ceremoniously brought back to the Shri Mandir.<\/p><p>As per another ritual, when the deities are taken out from the Shri Mandir to the Chariots in\u00a0Pahandi vijay.<\/p><p>In the Ratha Yatra, the three deities are taken from the Jagannath Temple in the chariots to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gundicha_Temple\">Gundicha Temple<\/a>, where they stay for nine days. Thereafter, the deities again ride the chariots back to Shri Mandir in\u00a0bahuda yatra. On the way back, the three chariots halt at the Mausi Maa Temple and the deities are offered\u00a0Poda Pitha,\u00a0a kind of baked cake which are generally consumed by the Odisha people only.<\/p><p>The observance of the Rath Yatra of Jagannath dates back to the period of the Puranas. Vivid descriptions of this festival are found in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brahma_Purana\">Brahma Purana<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Padma_Purana\">Padma Purana<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Skanda_Purana\">Skanda Purana<\/a>. Kapila Samhita also refers to Rath Yatra. In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Moghul\">Moghul<\/a>\u00a0period also, King Ramsingh of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaipur\">Jaipur<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rajasthan\">Rajasthan<\/a>\u00a0has been described as organizing the Rath Yatra in the 18th Century. In\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Orissa,_India\">Orissa<\/a>, Kings of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mayurbhanj_District\">Mayurbhanj<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parlakhemundi\">Parlakhemundi<\/a>\u00a0were organizing the Rath Yatra, though the most grand festival in terms of scale and popularity takes place at Puri.<\/p><p>Moreover, Starza\u00a0notes that the ruling\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Eastern_Ganga_Dynasty\">Ganga dynasty<\/a>\u00a0instituted the Rath Yatra at the completion of the great temple around 1150 AD. This festival was one of those Hindu festivals that was reported to the Western world very early.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Friar_Odoric\">Friar Odoric<\/a>\u00a0of Pordenone visited India in 1316-1318, some 20 years after\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Marco_Polo\">Marco Polo<\/a>\u00a0had dictated the account of his travels while in a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Genoa\">Genoese<\/a>\u00a0prison.\u00a0In his own account of 1321, Odoric reported how the people put the \u201cidols\u201d on chariots, and the King and Queen and all the people drew them from the \u201cchurch\u201d with song and music.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-12014\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"14\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-12014\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Niladri Bije<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-12014\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"14\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-12014\"><p>Celebrated on Asadha Trayodashi. Niladri Bije is the concluding day of Ratha yatra. On this day deities return to the ratna bedi. Lord Jagannath offers\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.divinechariots.com\/2018\/03\/03\/the-divine-food-mahaprashad\/\">Rasgulla<\/a>\u00a0to Goddess Laxmi to enter into the temple.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-12015\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"15\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-12015\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Gupta Gundicha<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-12015\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"15\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-12015\"><p>Celebrated for 16 days from Ashwina Krushna dwitiya to Vijayadashami.\u00a0As per tradition, the idol of Madhaba, along with the idol of Goddess\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Durga\">Durga<\/a>\u00a0(known as Durgamadhaba), is taken on a tour of the temple premises. The tour within the temple is observed for the first eight days. For the next eight days, the idols are taken outside the temple on a palanquin to the nearby Narayani temple situated in the Dolamandapa lane. After their worship, they are brought back to the temple.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-12016\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"16\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-12016\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Nabakalebara<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-12016\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"16\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-12016\"><p>One of the most grandiloquent events associated with the Lord Jagannath,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.divinechariots.com\/search\/label\/Jagannatha%2520Nabakalebara?&amp;max-results=10\">Nabakalabera<\/a>\u00a0takes place when one lunar month of Ashadha is followed by another lunar month of Aashadha. This can take place in 8, 12 or even 18 years. Literally meaning the \u201cNew Body\u201d (Nava = New, Kalevar = Body), the festival is witnessed by as millions of people and the budget for this event exceeds $500,000. The event involves installation of new images in the temple and burial of the old ones in the temple premises at Koili Vaikuntha. The idols that are currently being worshipped in the temple premises were installed in the year 1996.Next ceremony will be held on 2015.\u00a0More than 3 million devotees are expected to visit the temple during the Nabakalevara of 2015\u00a0making it one of the most visited festivals in the world.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-12017\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"17\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-12017\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">The name Purushottama Kshetra and Its Significance<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-12017\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"17\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-12017\"><p>Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath\">Jagannath<\/a>\u00a0is the\u00a0Purushottama\u00a0as per the scripture,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Skanda_Purana\">Skanda Purana<\/a>. In order to teach human beings how to lead a life full of virtue, he has taken the form of Saguna Brahman or Darubrahman. He is the best brother to his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. He is the best husband to Goddess\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahalaxmi\">Mahalaxmi<\/a>\u00a0(Sri and Bhu forms). The most noteworthy aspect is still in the month of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Margashirsha\">Margashirsha<\/a>, on three consecutive days during amavasya he does\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/%25C5%259Ar%25C4%2581ddha\">Shraddha<\/a>\u00a0to his parents (Kashyapa-Aditi, Dasharatha-Kaushalya, Vasudeva-Devaki, Nanda-Yashoda), along with the king Indradyumna and queen Gundicha. As a master he enjoys every comfort daily and in various festivals. He grants all wishes to his subjects, and those who surrender before him he takes the utmost care of.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-12018\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"18\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-12018\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Culture and tradition of Puri<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-12018\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"18\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-12018\"><p>Puri is one of the fascinating littoral districts of Odisha. The Cultural heritage of Puri with its long- recorded history has its beginnings in the third century BC. The monuments, religious sanctity, and way of life of the people with their rich tradition is the cultural heart of Odisha. Indeed, Puri is considered the cultural capital of Odisha. The culture here flourished with its manifold activities.<\/p><p>The District has the happy conglomerate of different religions, sects and faith. In the course of history, Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina, Muslim, Christian, and Sikh are found here in the District.<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chaitanya_Mahaprabhu\">Chaitanya Mahaprabhu<\/a>, an incarnation of Lord Krishna, appeared 500 years ago, in the mood of a devotee to taste the sublime emotions of ecstasy by chanting the holy name of Krishna. Stalwart scholars of Puri like Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya (a priest &amp; great Sanskrit pandit) and others followed His teachings. Even kings and ministers of His period became His disciples. Especially King Prataparudra became His great admirer and ardent follower. Thus, all cultures and religion became one in Puri after his teachings were given to all with no consideration of caste and creed.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6d89d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e6d89d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Rameswaram \u2013 Ramanathaswamy Temple<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d85022d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d85022d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>Ramanathaswamy Temple\u00a0\u00a0is a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindu_temple\">Hindu temple<\/a>\u00a0dedicated to the god\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shiva\">Shiva<\/a>\u00a0located on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rameswaram_island\">Rameswaram island<\/a>\u00a0in the state of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tamil_Nadu\">Tamil Nadu<\/a>, India. It is also one of the twelve\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jyotirlinga\">Jyotirlinga<\/a>\u00a0temples. It is one of the 274\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Paadal_Petra_Sthalam\">Paadal Petra Sthalams<\/a>, where the three of the most revered\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nayanars\">Nayanars<\/a>\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saivite\">Saivite<\/a>\u00a0saints),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Appar\">Appar<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cuntarar\">Sundarar<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Campantar\">Tirugnana Sambandar<\/a>, have glorified the temple with their songs. The temple was expanded during the 12th century by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pandya_Dynasty\">Pandya Dynasty<\/a>, and its principal shrines sanctum were renovated by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jeyaveera_Cinkaiariyan\">Jeyaveera Cinkaiariyan<\/a>\u00a0and his successor Gunaveera Cinkaiariyan of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaffna_kingdom\">Jaffna kingdom<\/a>. The temple has the longest corridor among all Hindu temples in India.<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramanathaswamy_Temple#cite_note-Meena-2\"><sup>[2]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0The temple is located in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rameswaram\">Rameswaram<\/a>\u00a0considered a holy pilgrimage site for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shaivites\">Shaivites<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaishnavites\">Vaishnavites<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Smarthas\">Smarthas<\/a>. The presiding deity, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lingam\">Lingam<\/a>\u00a0of Ramanathaswamy (Shiva), is believed to have been established and worshiped by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rama\">Rama<\/a>, an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avatar\">avatar<\/a>\u00a0of the god\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>, to absolve the sins created during the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramayana\">Ramayana<\/a>\u00a0war at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sri_Lanka\">Sri Lanka<\/a>.<\/p><p>According to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramayana\">Ramayana<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rama\">Rama<\/a>, the seventh\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Avatar\">avatar<\/a>\u00a0of the god\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>, prayed to the god Shiva to absolve him of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Br%25C4%2581hmanahatya\">sin of killing a Brahmin<\/a>, committed during his war against the demon king\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ravana\">Ravana<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sri_Lanka\">Sri Lanka<\/a>.\u00a0Rama wanted to have a large\u00a0lingam\u00a0to worship Shiva. He directed\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hanuman\">Hanuman<\/a>, the lieutenant in his army, to bring a\u00a0lingam\u00a0from the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Himalayas\">Himalayas<\/a>. When Hanuman was delayed in bringing the\u00a0lingam,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sita\">Sita<\/a>, the wife of Rama, built a small lingam out of the sand available in the sea shore, which is believed to be the\u00a0lingam\u00a0in the sanctum.<sup><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/sup><\/p><p>The primary deity of the temple is Ramanathaswamy (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shiva\">Shiva<\/a>) in the form of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lingam\">lingam<\/a>.\u00a0There are two lingams inside the sanctum \u2013 one built by Sita, from sand, residing as the main deity, Ramalingam and the one brought by Hanuman from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kailash\">Kailash<\/a>\u00a0called Vishwalingam.\u00a0Rama instructed that the Vishwalingam should be worshipped first since it was brought by Hanuman \u2013 the tradition continues even today.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Like all ancient temples in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/South_India\">South India<\/a>, there is a high compound wall (madil) on all four sides of the temple premises measuring about 865 feet furlong from east to west and one furlong of 657 feet from north to south with huge towers (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gopurams\">Gopurams<\/a>) to the east and the west and finished gate towers to the north and south. The temple has striking long corridors in its interior, running between huge colonnades on platforms above five feet high.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The second corridor is formed by sandstone pillars, beams and ceiling. The junction of the third corridor on the west and the paved way leading from the western gopuram to the Setumadhava shrine forms a unique structure in the form of a chess board, popularly known as Chokkattan Madapam, where the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Utsavar\">Utsava deities<\/a>\u00a0are adorned and kept during the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vasanthotsavam\">Vasanthotsavam<\/a>\u00a0(Spring festival) and on the 6th day festival in Adi (July\u2013August) and Masi (February\u2013March) conducted by the Setupati of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramnad\">Ramnad<\/a>.<\/p><p>The outer set of corridors is reputed to be the longest in the world, measuring about 6.9 m in height, 400 feet each in the east and west and about 640 feet in the north and the south. The inner corridors are about 224 feet each in the east and the west and about 352 feet each in the north and the south.\u00a0Their width varies from 15.5 feet to 17 feet in the east and west about 172 feet on the north and south with width varying 14.5 feet to 17 feet.\u00a0The total length of these corridors is thus 3850 feet. There are about 1212 pillars in the outer corridor.\u00a0Their height is about 30 feet from the floor to the center of the roof. The main tower or\u00a0rajagopuram\u00a0is 53 m tall.\u00a0Most pillars are carved with individual compositions.\u00a0At the beginning, Ramanathaswamy Temple was a thatched shed. The present structure was the work of many individuals spread over a number of centuries. The pride of place in the establishment for the Temple goes to the Setupatis of Ramanathapuram. In the seventeenth century, Dalavai Setupati built a portion of the main eastern Gopuram. In late eighteenth century, the world-famous third corridor was constructed by Muthuramalinga Setupati who lived for forty-nine years and ruled between 1763 and 1795. The corridor was called \u201cChokkatan Mandapam\u201d. The Mukhya Pradhani (Chief Minister) was Muthuirullappa Pillai and the Chinna Pradhani (Deputy Chief Minister) was Krishna Iyengar. The Setupati\u2019s statue and those of his two Pradhanis (ministers) can be seen at the western entrance to the third corridor.<\/p><p>The composite columns of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Virabhadra\">Virabhadra<\/a>\u00a0holding sword and horn are found be additions of the Vijayanayagara kings during the early 1500s. Similar columns of Virabhadra are found in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adikesava_Perumal_Temple,_Kanyakumari\">Adikesava Perumal Temple<\/a>\u00a0at Thiruvattaru,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Meenakshi_Temple\">Meenakshi Temple<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Madurai\">Madurai<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nellaiappar_Temple\">Nellaiappar Temple<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tirunelveli\">Tirunelveli<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kasi_Viswanathar_temple,_Tenkasi\">Kasi Viswanathar temple<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tenkasi\">Tenkasi<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Krishnapuram_Venkatachalapathy_temple\">Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy temple<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Soundararajaperumal_temple,_Thadikombu\">Soundararajaperumal temple<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thadikombu\">Thadikombu<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Srivilliputhur_Andal_temple\">Srivilliputhur Andal temple<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Srivaikuntanathan_Permual_temple\">Srivaikuntanathan Permual temple<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Srivaikuntam\">Srivaikuntam<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tirupperunturai\">Avudayarkovil<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaishnava_Nambi_and_Thirukurungudivalli_Nachiar_temple\">Vaishnava Nambi and Thirukurungudivalli Nachiar temple<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thirukkurungudi\">Thirukkurungudi<\/a>.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>There are separate shrines for Ramanathaswamy and his consort goddess Parvathavardhini separated by a corridor.<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramanathaswamy_Temple#cite_note-Cole-7\"><sup>[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0There are separate shrines for the goddess\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishalakshi_Temple\">Vishalakshi<\/a>, the utsava images, sayanagriha,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ganesha\">Ganesha<\/a>. There are various halls inside the temple, namely Anuppu Mandapam, Sukravara Mandapam, Setupati Mandapam, Kalyana Mandapam and Nandi Mandapam.<\/p><p>There are sixty-four T\u012brthas (holy water bodies) in and around the island of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rameswaram\">Rameswaram<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tamil_Nadu\">Tamil Nadu<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/India\">India<\/a>.\u00a0According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Skanda_Purana\">Sk\u0101nda Pur\u0101\u1e47a<\/a>, twenty-four of them are important.\u00a0Bathing in these T\u012brthas is a major aspect of the pilgrimage to Rameswaram and is considered equivalent to penance.\u00a0Twenty-two of the T\u012brthas are within the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramanathaswamy_Temple,_Rameswaram\">R\u0101man\u0101thasv\u0101m\u012b Temple<\/a>.\u00a0The number 22 indicates the 22 arrows in Rama\u2019s quiver.\u00a0The first and major one is called Agni Theertham, the sea (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bay_of_Bengal\">Bay of Bengal<\/a>). The temple is one of the holiest\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindu\">Hindu<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Char_Dham\">Char Dham<\/a>\u00a0(four divine sites) sites comprising\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath\">Badrinath<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puri\">Puri<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwarka\">Dwarka<\/a>.\u00a0Though the origins are not clearly known, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Advaita\">Advaita<\/a>\u00a0school of Hinduism established by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sankaracharya\">Sankaracharya<\/a>, who created Hindu monastic institutions across India, attributes the origin of Char Dham to the seer.\u00a0The four monasteries lie across the four corners of India and their attendant temples are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath_Temple\">Badrinath Temple<\/a>\u00a0at Badrinath in the North,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath_Temple,_Puri\">Jagannath Temple<\/a>\u00a0at Puri in the East,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwarkadheesh_temple,_Gujrat\">Dwarakadheesh Temple<\/a>\u00a0at Dwarka in the West and Ramanathaswamy Temple at Rameswaram in the South. Though ideologically the temples are divided between the sects of Hinduism, namely\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saivism\">Saivism<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaishnavism\">Vaishnavism<\/a>, the Char Dham pilgrimage is an all Hindu affair.\u00a0There are four abodes in Himalayas called Chota Char Dham (Chota\u00a0meaning small):\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath\">Badrinath<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kedarnath\">Kedarnath<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gangotri\">Gangotri<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamunotri\">Yamunotri<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 all of these lie at the foot hills of Himalayas.\u00a0The name\u00a0Chota\u00a0was added during the mid of 20th century to differentiate the original Char Dhams. The journey across the four cardinal points in India is considered sacred by Hindus who aspire to visit these temples once in their lifetime. Traditionally the trip starts at the eastern end from Puri, proceeding in clockwise direction in a manner typically followed for circuambulation in Hindu temples.<sup><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/sup><\/p><p>As per\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shiva_Purana\">Shiv Mahapuran<\/a>, once\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Brahma\">Brahma<\/a>\u00a0(the Hindu God of creation) and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>\u00a0(the Hindu God of saving) had an argument in terms of supremacy of creation.\u00a0To test them,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shiva\">Shiva<\/a>\u00a0pierced the three worlds as a huge endless pillar of light, the\u00a0jyotirlinga. Vishnu and Brahma split their ways to downwards and upwards respectively to find the end of the light in either directions. Brahma lied that he found out the end, while Vishnu conceded his defeat. Shiva appeared as a second pillar of light and cursed Brahma that he would have no place in ceremonies while Vishnu would be worshipped till the end of eternity. The\u00a0jyotirlinga\u00a0is the supreme partless reality, out of which Shiva partly appears. The\u00a0jyothirlinga\u00a0shrines, thus are places where Shiva appeared as a fiery column of light.\u00a0Originally, there were believed to be 64\u00a0jyothirlingas,\u00a0of which 12 are considered to be very auspicious and holy.\u00a0Each of the twelve\u00a0jyothirlinga\u00a0sites take the name of the presiding deity \u2013 each considered a different manifestation of Shiva.\u00a0At all these sites, the primary image is the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lingam\">lingam<\/a>\u00a0representing the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stambha\">Stambha<\/a>\u00a0pillar, symbolizing the infinite nature of Shiva (without beginning or end). The twelve\u00a0jyothirlinga\u00a0are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Somnath_Temple\">Somnath<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gujarat\">Gujarat<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mallikarjuna_Swamy\">Mallikarjuna<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Srisailam\">Srisailam<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Andhra_Pradesh\">Andhra Pradesh, Mahakaleshwar at Ujjain<\/a>\u00a0in \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Madhya_Pradesh\">Madhya Pradesh<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Omkareshwar\">Omkareshwar<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Madhya_Pradesh\">Madhya Pradesh,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kedarnath_Temple\">Kedarnath<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Himalayas\">Himalayas<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bhimashankar_Temple\">Bhimashankar<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maharashtra\">Maharashtra<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kasi_Viswanath_Temple\">Viswanath<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Varanasi\">Varanasi<\/a>\u00a0in Uttar Pradesh,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Trimbakeshwar_Shiva_Temple\">Triambakeshwar<\/a>\u00a0(Maharashtra),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaidyanath_Jyotirlinga,_Deogarh\">Vaidyanath<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Deoghar\">Deoghar<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jharkhand\">Jharkhand<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nageshwar_Temple,_Dwarka\">Nageswar<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwarka\">Dwarka<\/a>\u00a0<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gujarat\">Gujarat<\/a>, Rameshwar at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rameswaram\">Rameswaram<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tamil_Nadu\">Tamil Nadu<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Grishneshwar\">Grishneshwar<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aurangabad,_Maharashtra\">Aurangabad, Maharashtra<\/a>.<sup><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/sup><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rameswaram\">Rameswaram<\/a>\u00a0located in the South is in the Indian state of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tamil_Nadu\">Tamil Nadu<\/a>. It is situated in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gulf_of_Mannar\">Gulf of Mannar<\/a>\u00a0at the very tip of the Indian peninsula. According to legends, this is the place where Lord Ram along with his brother Laxman and devotee Hanuman built a bridge (Rama Setu) to reach Sri Lanka to rescue his wife Sita who had been abducted earlier by Ravan, the ruler of Sri Lanka. The Ramanatha Swamy Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva occupies a major area of Rameswaram. The temple is believed to have been consecrated by Shri Rama Chandra. Rameswaram is significant for the Hindus as a pilgrimage to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Benaras\">Benaras<\/a>\u00a0is incomplete without a pilgrimage to Rameswaram. The presiding deity here is in the form of a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Linga\">Linga<\/a>\u00a0with the name Sri Ramanatha Swamy, it also is one of the twelve\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jyotirlingas\">Jyotirlingas<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-216355a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"216355a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Dwarka \u2013 Dwarkadhish Temple<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddc4a3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ddc4a3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The\u00a0Dwarkadhish temple, also known as the\u00a0Jagat Mandir\u00a0and occasionally spelled\u00a0Dwarakadheesh\u00a0(<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sanskrit\">Sanskrit<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindi_language\">Hindi<\/a>:\u00a0\u0926\u094d\u0935\u093e\u0930\u0915\u093e\u0927\u0940\u0936 \u092e\u0928\u094d\u0926\u093f\u0930), is a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindu_temple\">Hindu temple<\/a>\u00a0dedicated to the god\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Krishna\">Krishna<\/a>, who is worshiped here by the name\u00a0Dwarkadhish, or \u2018King of Dwarka\u2019. The temple is located at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwarka\">Dwarka<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gujarat\">Gujarat<\/a>, India. The main shrine of the 5-storied building, supported by 72 pillars, is known as Jagat Mandir or Nija Mandir, archaeological findings suggest it to be 2,200 \u2013 2,000 years old.\u00a0Temple was enlarged in the 15th- 16th century.\u00a0The Dwarkadhish Temple is a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pushtimarg\">Pushtimarg<\/a>\u00a0temple, hence it follows the guidelines and rituals created by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vallabhacharya\">Vallabhacharya<\/a>\u00a0and Vitheleshnath.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>According to tradition, the original temple was believed to have been built by Krishna\u2019s grandson, Vajranabha, over the hari-griha (Lord Krishna\u2019s residential place). The temple became part of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Char_Dham\">Char Dham<\/a>\u00a0pilgrimage considered sacred by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindus\">Hindus<\/a>\u00a0in India, after\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adi_Shankaracharya\">Adi Shankaracharya<\/a>, the 8th century Hindu theologian and philosopher, visited the shrine. The other three being comprising\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rameswaram\">Rameswaram<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath\">Badrinath<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puri\">Puri<\/a>. Even today a memorial within the temple is dedicated to his visit. Dwarakadheesh is the 98th\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Divya_Desam\">Divya Desam<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>\u00a0on the subcontinent, glorified in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Divya_Prabandha\">Divya Prabandha<\/a>\u00a0sacred texts.<\/p><p>As per\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindu\">Hindu<\/a>\u00a0legend, Dwarka was built on a piece of land by Krishna that was reclaimed from the sea. Sage\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Durvasa\">Durvasa<\/a>\u00a0once visited Krishna and his wife\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rukmini\">Rukmini<\/a>. The sage wished that the pair took him to their palace. The pair readily agreed and started walking with the sage to their palace. After some distance, Rukmini got tired and she requested some water from Krishna. Krishna dug a mythical hole that brought in river\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ganga\">Ganga<\/a>\u00a0to the place. Sage Durvasa was furious and cursed Rukmini to remain in the place. The temple where Rukmini\u2019s shrine is found, is believed to the place where she stood.<\/p><p>The town of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwarka\">Dwarka<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gujarat\">Gujarat<\/a>\u00a0has a history that dates back centuries, and mentioned in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahabharat\">Mahabharat<\/a>\u00a0epic as the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwaraka_Kingdom\">Dwaraka Kingdom<\/a>. Situated on the banks of river Gomti, the town is described in legend as the capital of Lord\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Krishna\">Krishna<\/a>. Evidence such as a stone block with script, the way the stones were dressed showing that dowels had been used, and an examination of anchors found on the site suggest that the harbour site dates only to historical times, with some of the underwater structure being late Medieval. Coastal erosion was probably the cause of the destruction of what was an ancient port.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Hindus believe that the original temple was constructed by Vajranabh, the great grandson of Krishna, over the residential palace of Krishna.<\/p><p>The current temple in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chaulukya\">Chaulukya<\/a>\u00a0style is constructed in 15-16th century. The temple covers area of 27 metre by 21 metre with east-west length of 29 metre and north-south width of 23 metres. The tallest peak of the temple is 51.8 m high.<\/p><p>The flag atop the temple shows the sun and moon, which is believed to indicate that Krishna would be there till Sun and moon exist on earth.\u00a0The flag is changed from 5 times a day, but the symbol remains the same. The temple has a five-story structure built on seventy-two pillars. The temple spire is 78.3m high. The temple is constructed of limestone which is still in pristine condition. The temple shows intricate sculptural detailing done by successions of dynasties that ruled the region. The structure was not expanded much by these works. There are two entrances to the temple. The main entrance (north entrance) is called \u201cMoksha Dwara\u201d (Door to Salvation). This entrance takes one to the main market. The south entrance is called \u201cSwarga Dwara\u201d (Gate to Heaven). Outside this doorway are 56 steps that leads to the Gomati River. The temple is open from 6.00 am to 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm to 9.30 pm. The Krishnajanmastami festival,or Gokulashtami, the birthday of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Krishna\">Krishna<\/a>\u00a0was commissioned by Vallaba (1473-1531)<sup><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/sup><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwarka\">Dwarka<\/a>\u00a0located in the west is in the state of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gujarat\">Gujarat<\/a>, country India. The city derives its name from the word \u201cDwar\u201d meaning\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Door\">door<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gate\">gate<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sanskrit\">Sanskrit<\/a>\u00a0language. It is located confluence to where the Gomti River merges into the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arabian_Sea\">Arabian Sea<\/a>. However, this river Gomti is not the same\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gomti_River\">Gomti River<\/a>\u00a0which is a tributary of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ganga_River\">Ganga River<\/a>\u00a0The city lies in the westernmost part of India. The legendary city of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dv%25C4%2581rak%25C4%2581\">Dwarka<\/a>\u00a0was the dwelling place of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lord_Krishna\">Lord Krishna<\/a>. It is believed\u00a0that due to damage and destruction by the sea, Dwarka has submerged six times and modern day Dwarka is the 7th such city to be built in the area.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98d0694 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"98d0694\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Badrinath \u2013 Badrinarayan Temple<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45db0ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"45db0ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Badrinath\u00a0or\u00a0Badrinarayan Temple\u00a0is a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindu_temple\">Hindu temple<\/a>\u00a0dedicated to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>\u00a0which is situated in the town of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath\">Badrinath<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Uttarakhand\">Uttarakhand<\/a>, India. The temple and town form one of the four\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Char_Dham\">Char Dham<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chota_Char_Dham\">Chota Char Dham<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hindu_pilgrimage\">pilgrimage sites<\/a>. The temple is also one of the 108\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Divya_Desams\">Divya Desams<\/a>\u00a0dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Badrinath\u2014holy shrines for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaishnavite\">Vaishnavites<\/a>. It is open for six months every year (between the end of April and the beginning of November), because of extreme weather conditions in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Himalayas\">Himalayan<\/a>region. The temple is located in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garhwal_Himalaya\">Garhwal hill<\/a>\u00a0tracks in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chamoli_district\">Chamoli district<\/a>\u00a0along the banks of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alaknanda\">Alaknanda<\/a>\u00a0River at an elevation of 3,133\u00a0m (10,279\u00a0ft) above the mean sea level. It is one of the most visited pilgrimage centres of India, having recorded 1,060,000 visits.<\/p><p>The image of the presiding deity worshipped in the temple is a 1\u00a0m (3.3\u00a0ft) tall, black stone statue of Vishnu in the form of Badrinarayan. The statue is considered by many Hindus to be one of eight\u00a0swayam vyakta kshetras, or self-manifested statues of Vishnu.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Mata Murti Ka Mela, which commemorates the descent of river\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ganges\">Ganges<\/a>\u00a0on mother earth, is the most prominent festival celebrated in the Badrinath Temple. Although Badrinath is located in North India, the head priest, or Rawal, is traditionally a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nambudiri\">Nambudiri Brahmin<\/a>chosen from the South Indian state of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kerala\">Kerala<\/a>. The temple was included in the Uttar Pradesh state government Act No. 30\/1948 as Act no. 16,1939, which later came to be known as Shri Badarinath and Shri Kedarnath Mandir Act. The committee nominated by the state government administers both the temples and has seventeen members on its board.<\/p><p>The temple is mentioned in ancient religious texts like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu_Purana\">Vishnu Purana<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Skanda_Purana\">Skanda Purana<\/a>. It is glorified in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Divya_Prabandha\">Divya Prabandha<\/a>, an early medieval\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tamil_literature\">Tamil<\/a>\u00a0canon of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alvars\">Azhwar<\/a>\u00a0saints from the 6th\u20139th centuries AD.<\/p><p>The temple is located in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garhwal_Himalaya\">Garhwal<\/a>\u00a0hill tracks along the banks of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Alaknanda_River\">Alaknanda River<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chamoli_district\">Chamoli district<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Uttarakhand\">Uttarakhand<\/a>, a state in North India. The hill tracks are located 3,133\u00a0m (10,279\u00a0ft) above the mean sea level.\u00a0The Nar Parbat mountain is located opposite to the temple, while the Narayana Parbat is located behind the Neelakanta peak.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The temple has three structures: the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garbha_grha\">Garbhagriha<\/a>\u00a0(sanctum), the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dar%25C5%259Bana\">Darshan<\/a>\u00a0Mandap (worship hall), and Sabha Mandap (convention hall). The conical-shaped roof of the sanctum, the\u00a0garbhagriha, is approximately 15\u00a0m (49\u00a0ft) tall with a small cupola on top, covered with a gold gilt roof.\u00a0The facade is built of stone and has arched windows. A broad stairway leads up to the main entrance, a tall, arched gateway. Just inside is a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mandap\">mandap<\/a>, a large, pillared hall that leads to the sanctum, or main shrine area. The walls and pillars of the hall are covered with intricate carvings.<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath_Temple#cite_note-dhaams-1\"><sup>[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/p><p>The main shrine houses the 1\u00a0m (3.3\u00a0ft)\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shaligram\">Shaligram<\/a>\u00a0(black stone) idol of Lord Badrinarayana, which is housed in a gold canopy under a Badri Tree. The idol of Lord Badrinarayana shows Him holding a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shankha\">Shankha<\/a>\u00a0(conch) and a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sudarshan_Chakra\">Chakra<\/a>\u00a0(wheel) in two of His arms in a lifted posture and the other two arms resting on His lap in a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lotus_position\">Yogamudra<\/a>\u00a0(Padmasana) posture.\u00a0The sanctum also houses images of the god of wealth\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kubera\">Kubera<\/a>, sage\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Narada\">Narada<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Uddhava\">Uddhava<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nara-Narayana\">Nar and Narayan<\/a>. There are fifteen more images that are also worshipped around the temple. These include that of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lakshmi\">Lakshmi<\/a>\u00a0(the consort of Vishnu),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garuda\">Garuda<\/a>\u00a0(the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vahana\">vahana<\/a>\u00a0of Narayan), and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Navadurga\">Navadurga<\/a>, the manifestation of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Durga\">Durga<\/a>\u00a0in nine different forms. The temple also has shrines of Lakshmi Narasimhar and for saints\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adi_Shankara\">Adi Shankara<\/a>\u00a0(ad\u00a0788-820),\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nara-Narayana\">Nar and Narayan<\/a>,Ghantakarna,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vedanta_Desika\">Vedanta Desika<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ramanujacharya\">Ramanujacharya<\/a>. All the idols of the temple are made of black stone.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The Tapt Kund, a group of hot sulphur springs just below the temple, are considered to be medicinal; many pilgrims consider it a requirement to bathe in the springs before visiting the temple. The springs have a year-round temperature of 55\u00a0\u00b0C (131\u00a0\u00b0F), while outside temperature is typically below 17\u00a0\u00b0C (63\u00a0\u00b0F) all year round.\u00a0The two water ponds in the temple are called Narad Kund and Surya Kund.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>There is no historical record about the temple, but there is a mention of the presiding deity Badrinath in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vedic_scriptures\">Vedic scriptures<\/a>(c. 1750\u2013500\u00a0bc).\u00a0According to some accounts, the temple was a Buddhist shrine till the 8th century and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Adi_Shankara\">Adi Shankara<\/a>converted it to a Hindu temple.\u00a0The architecture of the temple resembling that of a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Buddhist\">Buddhist<\/a>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vihara\">vihara<\/a>\u00a0(temple) and the brightly painted facade which is atypical of Buddhist temples leads to the argument.\u00a0Other accounts relate that it was originally established as a pilgrimage site by Adi Shankara in the ninth century. It is believed that Shankara resided in the place for six years from\u00a0ad\u00a0814 to 820. He resided six months in Badrinath and the rest of the year in Kedarnath. Hindu followers assert that he discovered the image of Badrinath in the Alaknanda River and enshrined it in a cave near the Tapt Kund hot springs.\u00a0A traditional story asserts that Shankara expelled all the Buddhists in the region with the help of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Parmar\">Parmar<\/a>\u00a0ruler king\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/w\/index.php?title=Kanak_Pal&amp;action=edit&amp;redlink=1\">Kanak Pal<\/a>. The hereditary successors of the king governed the temple and endowed villages to meet its expenses. The income from a set of villages on the route to the temple was used to feed and accommodate pilgrims. The Parmar rulers held the title \u201cBolanda Badrinath\u201d, meaning speaking Badrinath. They had other titles, including Shri 108 Basdrishcharyaparayan Garharaj Mahimahendra, Dharmabibhab and Dharamarakshak Sigamani.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The throne of Badrinath was named after the presiding deity; the king enjoyed ritual obeisance by the devotees before proceeding to the shrine. The practice was continued until the late 19th century.\u00a0During the 16th century, the King of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Garhwal_Kingdom\">Garhwal<\/a>moved the murti to the present temple.\u00a0When the state of Garhwal was divided, the Badrinath temple came under British rule but the king of Garhwal continued as the chairman of the management committee.<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath_Temple#cite_note-Guha-11\"><sup>[11]<\/sup><\/a><\/p><p>The temple has undergone several major renovations due to its age and damage by an avalanche. In the 17th century, the temple was expanded by the Kings of Garhwal. After significant damage in the great 1803 Himalayan earthquake, it was largely rebuilt by the King of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jaipur_State\">Jaipur<\/a>.\u00a0It was still under renovation as late as the 1870s\u00a0but these were completed by the time of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/First_World_War\">First World War<\/a>.\u00a0At that time,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath\">the town<\/a>\u00a0was still small, consisting of only the 20-odd huts housing the temple\u2019s staff, but the number of pilgrims was usually between seven and ten thousand.\u00a0The Kumbh Meld festival held every twelve years raised the number of visitors to 50,000.\u00a0The temple also enjoyed revenue from the rents owed to it by various villages bequeathed by various rajas.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>During 2006, the state government announced the area around Badrinath as a no-construction zone to curb illegal encroachment.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>According to Hindu legend, god\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu\">Vishnu<\/a>\u00a0sat in meditation at this place. During his meditation, Vishnu was unaware of cold weather.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lakshmi\">Lakshmi<\/a>, his consort, protected him in the form of the Badri tree (<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jujube\">jujube<\/a>\u00a0or Indian date). Pleased by the devotion of Lakshmi, Vishnu named the place Badrika Ashram. According to Atkinson (1979), the place used to be a jujube forest, which are not found there today. Vishnu in the form of Badrinath is depicted in the temple sitting in the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lotus_position\">padmasana<\/a>\u00a0posture. According to the legend, Vishnu was chastised by sage\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Narada\">Narada<\/a>, who saw Vishnu\u2019s consort Lakshmi massaging his feet. Vishnu went to Badrinath to perform austerity, meditating for a long time in padmasana.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vishnu_Purana\">Vishnu Purana<\/a>\u00a0narrates another version of the origins of Badrinath. According to the tradition,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dharma\">Dharam<\/a>\u00a0had two sons, Nar and Narayan\u2014both of which are modern names of Himalayan mountains. They chose the place to spread their religion and each of them wed the spacious valleys in the Himalayas. Searching for an ideal place to set up a hermitage, they came across the other four Badris of the Pancha Badri, namely Bridha Badri, Yog Bhadri, Dhyan Badri and Bhavish Badri. They finally found the hot and cold spring behind the Alaknanda River and named it Badri Vishal.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The temple finds mention in several ancient books like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bhagavata_Purana\">Bhagavata Purana<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Skanda_Purana\">Skanda Purana<\/a>\u00a0, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Mahabharata\">Mahabharata<\/a>.\u00a0According to the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bhagavata_Purana\">Bhagavata Purana<\/a>, \u201c[t]here in Badrikashram the Personality of Godhead (Vishnu), in his incarnation as the sages Nar and Narayana, had been undergoing great penance since time immemorial for the welfare of all living entities\u201d.<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath_Temple#cite_note-bhagavatam-14\"><sup>[14]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0The\u00a0Skanda Purana\u00a0states that \u201c[t]here are several sacred shrines in heaven, on earth, and in hell; but there is no shrine like Badrinath\u201d. The area around Badrinath is also celebrated in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Padma_Purana\">Padma Purana<\/a>\u00a0as abounding in spiritual treasures.<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath_Temple#cite_note-call-7\"><sup>[7]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0The\u00a0Mahabharata\u00a0revered the holy place as the one which can give salvation to devotees arriving close to if, while in other holy places they must perform religious ceremonies.\u00a0The temple is revered in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nalayira_Divya_Prabandham\">Nalayira Divya Prabandham<\/a>, in 11 hymns in the 7th\u20139th century Vaishnava canon by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Periazhwar\">Periazhwar<\/a>\u00a0and in 13 hymns in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thirumangai_Alvar\">Thirumangai Azhwar<\/a>. It is one of the 108\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Divyadesam\">Divyadesam<\/a>\u00a0dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Badrinath<\/p><p>The Badrinath temple is one of five related shrines called\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sapta_Badri\">Panch Badri<\/a>, which are dedicated to the worship of Vishnu.\u00a0The five temples are Vishal Badri \u2013 Badrinath Temple in Badrinath,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sapta_Badri#Yogadhyan_Badri\">Yogadhyan Badri<\/a>\u00a0located at Pandukeshwar, Bhavishya Badri located 17\u00a0km (10.6\u00a0mi) from Jyotirmath at Subain, Vridh Badri located 7\u00a0km (4.3\u00a0mi) from Jyotirmath in Animath and Adi Badri located 17\u00a0km (10.6\u00a0mi) from\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Karnaprayag\">Karnaprayag<\/a>. The temple is considered one of the holiest Hindu\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Char_Dham\">Char Dham<\/a>\u00a0(four divine) sites, comprising Rameswaram, Badrinath,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Puri\">Puri<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwarka\">Dwarka<\/a>.\u00a0Although the temple\u2019s origins are not clearly known, the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Advaita\">Advaita<\/a>\u00a0school of Hinduism established by Adi Shankara attributes the origin of Char Dham to the seer.\u00a0The four monasteries are located across the four corners of India and their attendant temples are Badrinath Temple at Badrinath in the North,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jagannath_Temple,_Puri\">Jagannath Temple<\/a>\u00a0at Puri in the East,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dwarkadheesh_temple,_Gujrat\">Dwarakadheesh Temple<\/a>\u00a0at Dwarka in the West and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sringeri_Sharada_Peetham\">Sri Sharada Peetam Sringeri<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sringeri\">Sringeri<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Karnataka\">Karnataka<\/a>\u00a0in the South.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>Though ideologically the temples are divided between the sects of Hinduism, namely\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Saivism\">Saivism<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vaishnavism\">Vaishnavism<\/a>, the Char Dham pilgrimage is an all-Hindu affair.\u00a0There are four abodes in the Himalayas called Chota Char Dham (Chota\u00a0meaning small): Badrinath,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kedarnath\">Kedarnath<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gangotri\">Gangotri<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamunotri\">Yamunotri<\/a>\u2014all of which lie in the foothills of the Himalayas.\u00a0The name\u00a0Chota\u00a0was added during the mid of 20th century to differentiate the original Char Dhams. As the number of pilgrims to these places has increased in modern times, it is called Himalayan Char Dham.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>The journey across the four cardinal points in India is considered sacred by Hindus, who aspire to visit these temples once in their lifetimes.\u00a0Traditionally, the pilgrimage starts at the eastern end from Puri, proceeding clockwise in a manner typically followed for circumambulation in Hindu temples.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p>While all other three Dhams remains open throughout the year, only\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath_Temple\">Badrinath Dham<\/a>\u00a0remains open for pilgrims darshan from April to October each year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-229d8ef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"229d8ef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">CHOTA CHAR DHAM<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21a24e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21a24e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Another circuit of four ancient pilgrimage sites in the Indian state of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Uttarakhand\">Uttarakhand<\/a>\u00a0viz.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yamunotri\">Yamunotri<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gangotri\">Gangotri<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Kedarnath\">Kedarnath<\/a>, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Badrinath\">Badrinath<\/a>\u00a0is referred to as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Chota_Char_Dham\">Chota Char Dham<\/a>\u00a0to differentiate it from this bigger circuit of Char Dham sites. These\u00a0Chota Char Dham\u00a0shrines are closed in winter due to snowfall and reopen for pilgrims with the advent of summer.<\/p><p><b>The popular attractions of Char Dham are:<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c88d22 elementor-widget elementor-widget-accordion\" data-id=\"6c88d22\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"accordion.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion\" role=\"tablist\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1131\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1131\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Yamunotri<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1131\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1131\"><p>Yamunotri, the seat of goddess Yamuna, is the first stopover of the Chardham yatra. It is the source of the Yamuna River. Lying at an altitude of 3293 meters above sea level, Yamunotri is situated in the\u00a0Uttarkashi\u00a0district of Uttaranchal. The main tourist attraction at Yamunotri is the\u00a0Yamunotri temple, dedicated to the goddess Yamuna. Pilgrims worship\u00a0Divya Shilla,\u00a0a rock pillar, before entering the\u00a0Yamunotri temple. There is another temple on the left bank of Yamuna, built by Maharaja Pratap Shah of Tehri Garhwal.\u00a0Surya Kund, the thermal springs with temperature as high as 190\u00b0F,\u00a0is a popular tourist destination.\u00a0Janki Chatti\u00a0is another well-known thermal springs.<\/p><p>Kharsali\u00a0is famous for three-storied Shiva temple, carved of stones on the walls. It is dedicated to\u00a0Lord Someshwar.\u00a0Saptarishi Kund\u00a0is a natural lake and is the beauty spot of\u00a0Yamunotri. It is regarded as the origin of Yamuna River.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1132\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1132\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Gangotri<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1132\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"2\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1132\"><p>Gangotri\u00a0is the seat of goddess Ganga. It is situated at a height of 3048 meters above sea level at Uttarkashi district in Uttaranchal. There is a temple devoted to the goddess Ganga. It was constructed by Amar Bahadur Thapa, the Gorkha Commander. The main attraction of\u00a0Gangotri\u00a0is\u00a0Jalamagna Shivling,\u00a0a natural rock Shivling which visible only in winters. It is where Lord Shiva received Ganga through his locks to lessen the impact of her fall. The Ganges is known as\u00a0Bhagirathi\u00a0at this point. Another main attraction is\u00a0Gaumukh\u00a0glacier. It is the origin of the Ganges lying at an altitude of 4200 meters above sea level. Tourists can enjoy trekking at\u00a0Nandanvan. This\u00a06 km trekking route offers a spectacular view of the Shivling. The\u00a0Bhairon Valley\u00a0is famous for its temple, devoted to Bhairavnath. The place is ideal for adventure lovers.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1133\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1133\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Kedarnath<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1133\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"3\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1133\"><p>Kedarnath\u00a0in\u00a0Uttarkashi\u00a0district of\u00a0Uttaranchal\u00a0is the source of the\u00a0Mandakini River. Surrounded by snow-clad peaks, Kedarnath is favourite among tourists. The 1000 years old\u00a0Kedarnath Temple, built by the\u00a0Pandavas, is one of the architecture marvels in\u00a0Kedarnath. The temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. It is carved out of heavy graystones.\u00a0The temple features conical rock, \u2018Garbha Griha\u2019 for worship and assembly hall for pilgrims and visitors. A life-sized statue of the Nandi bull stands as guard outside the temple. Lying at the backdrop of the temple are the\u00a0Kedardome peak\u00a0and the\u00a0Samadhi of Adi Guru Shankaracharya. There is\u00a0Bhairavnath temple, dedicated to Lord Bhairav. The\u00a0Chorabari Tal Lake or\u00a0Gandhi Sarovar\u00a0is at the edge of Mandakini river. Another attractive temple is the Gauri Kund\u00a0temple, dedicated to Gauri.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-accordion-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1134\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tab\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1134\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon elementor-accordion-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-closed\"><i class=\"fas fa-plus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-accordion-icon-opened\"><i class=\"fas fa-minus\"><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-accordion-title\" href=\"\">Badrinath<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1134\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"4\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1134\"><p>With mesmerising\u00a0Neelkanth peak\u00a0in the background,\u00a0Badrinath\u00a0lies at the lap of Nar-Narayan Parvat. It is situated on the right banks of\u00a0Alakananda River. The town derives its name from\u00a0Badrinath temple. Due to its alluring\u00a0sight, the place is coined the \u2018Garhwal Queen\u2019.\u00a0It is in the\u00a0Chamoli district of Uttaranchal.\u00a0The\u00a0Badrinath temple, built by\u00a0Adi Guru Shankaracharya, is a hit among pilgrims. They enter the temple after taking a holy dip in the\u00a0Tapt Kund,\u00a0Narad Kund\u00a0and\u00a0Surya Kund. Mata Murti temple is\u00a0devoted to the mother of Badrinath.\u00a0Alka Puri, the source of Alakananda River, is the destination for adventurous tourists. Other\u00a0popular attractions of Badrinath are\u00a0Satopanth, Panch Prayag and\u00a0Panch Badri.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9f2ad6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9f2ad6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Reach<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a661f3c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a661f3c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>By Air<\/b><br \/>Jolly Grant in Dehradun is the nearest airport.<br \/><b>By Rail<\/b><br \/>Rishikesh\u00a0<b>and\u00a0<\/b>Kotdwar are the nearest railway stations.<br \/><b>By Road<\/b><br \/>Gangotri is well connected to main cities of Uttaranchal and other important cities of the country.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Temple &#038; Scriptures Chardham \u00a0The\u00a0Char Dham\u00a0(\u201cfour abodes\u201d) is a set of four pilgrimage sites in\u00a0India. Vaishnavite Hindus believe that visiting these sites helps achieve \u201cMoksha\u201d (salvation). It comprises\u00a0Badrinath,\u00a0Dwarka,\u00a0Puri\u00a0and\u00a0Rameshwaram. It is considered by Hindus that every Hindu must visit the\u00a0Char Dhams\u00a0during one\u2019s lifetime. The Char Dham as defined by\u00a0Adi Shankaracharya\u00a0consists of four\u00a0Vaishnavite\u00a0pilgrimage sites.\u00a0 In North India [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5303"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5303"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7420,"href":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5303\/revisions\/7420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vhpthailand.org\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}