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Purushottama Kshetra or Srikshetra (Puri) - Dham of Lord Jagannath and Utkala Shakti Peetha

• Meditation:

कदाचित् कालिन्दी_तट_विपिन_सङ्गीत_तरलो मुदाभीरी_नारी_वदन_कमलास्वाद_मधुपः ।
रमा_शम्भु_ब्रह्मामर_पति_गणेशार्चित_पदो जगन्नाथः स्वामी नयन_पथ_गामी भवतु मे ॥
- Jagannathashtakam - verse 1 (May Jagannath Swami be the center of my vision, wherever my eyes go)

उत्कले नाभिदेशञ्च विरजाक्षेत्रमुच्यते ।
विमला सा महादेवी जगन्नाथस्तु भैरवः ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 13 (Purushottama Kshetra has the Utkala (Viraja Kshetra) Shakti Peetha where the Nabhi of Devi had fallen)

• Purushottama Kshetra (Puri) (Puri district, Odisha) → (All India Char Dham) (Shakti Peetha) [Viraja Kshetra (Utkala) Shakti Peetha]

• Greatness:

• Purushottama Kshetra is a All India Char Dham (4 sacred pilgrimages on the North, East, South and West of India) [Badrinath, Puri, Rameshwaram, Dwarka]

• Purushottama Kshetra has a Shakti Peetha (Seat of Shakti) [Viraja Kshetra (Utkala) Shakti Peetha]

• Purushottama Kshetra is primarily a Krishna Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Krishna):
- Sri Krishna abides in Purushottama Kshetra as Lord Jagannatha. The famous Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannatha is held here every year.
- Sri Krishna previously abided in Purushottama Kshetra as Lord Nilamadhava.

• Purushottama Kshetra is also a Devi Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Devi):
- Devi abides in Purushottama Kshetra as a Shakti Peetha (Seat of Shakti) [Viraja Kshetra (Utkala) Shakti Peetha] (Devi Vimala).

• Purushottama Kshetra is also a Shiva Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Shiva):
- Sage Markandeya founded a Shiva Temple after seeing the vision of Lord Krishna in the form of a small child on a Banyan Tree (Kalpa Vata).

• Purushottama Kshetra is a Rishi Sthalam (Place of Rishis):
- Sage Markandeya founded a Shiva Temple after seeing the vision of Lord Krishna in the form of a small child on a Banyan Tree (Kalpa Vata).

• Purushottama Kshetra is a Sant Sthalam (Place of Saints):
- Sri Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) had set up one of his four monasteries in Puri. The monastery is known as Govardhan Math.
- Sri Haridas Thakur (1450 - ? CE) had his bhajan kutir in Siddha Bakul Math of Puri. Haridas Thakur used to chant the name of Sri Krishna incessantly under a Bakula Tree.
- Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 - 1534 CE) spent the last 18 years of his life in Puri when he experienced the ecstasy of Radharani for Sri Krishna.
- Sri Totapuri (1780 - ? CE) was the guru of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He stayed in Puri for several years where he has an ashram (Advaita Brahma Ashram).

• Sacred Geography:

Puri Sea Shore — Purushottama Kshetra
- Sea Shore

Indradyumna Sarovar, Puri — Purushottama Kshetra
- Sea Shore

☁ Sea Shore (Purushottama Kshetra)
☗ Nilachala Hill (Puranic)
☘ Kalpa Vat (within Jagannath Temple)

◼ Pancha Teerthas:
(1) Indradyumna Sarovar (King Indradyumna performed the Ashwamedha Yagna in this place; the Sarovar is said to have formed by the hole created by the donated cows of Ashwamedha Yagna and the water libations; Gundicha Temple is near this sarovar)
(2) Rohini Kunda (within Jagannath Temple premises) (A crow got liberated while drinking water from this kunda)
(3) Markandeya Sarovar (Has the Markandeswar Shiva Temple associated with the puranic event of Lord Shiva saving devotee Markandeya from Yamaraja)
(4) Shweta Ganga Sarovar (with temples of Shwet Madhav and Matsya Madhav)
(5) Mahodadhi (Sea)
- Swargadwar (Near the Sea shore is Swargadwar where Lord Brahma and Devas descended to install the first Jagannath Image)
- Chakra Teertha (Near the Sea shore is the Chakra Teertha where king Indradyumna found the Daru or Wood of Lord Jagannath)
- Beri Hanuman Temple (Near the Sea shore is Bhakta Hanuman is bound here by Lord Jagannath to ensure that Sea water does not enter the Temple)
- Samudraraja Temple (Near the Sea shore is the temple of Samudraraja with daughter Mahalakshmi)

◼ Other Teerthas:
(1) Narendra Sarovar (The Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath is held here)

• Places to See (Puranic Places mapping):

• Temples and Places of Lord Jagannath in Purushottama Kshetra:

• Indradyumna performing thousand Horse Sacrifices
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya - 16)
• Indradyumna building shrine for Lord Jagannatha
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya - 21)
• Indradyumna making arrangements for installation of Lord Jagannath
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya - 24 - 26)
• Lord Brahma installing the Deities
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya - 27)
• Lord granting boons to Indradyumna
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya - 29)

► Purushottama Kshetra - Jagannath Temple
(Puri district, Odisha)

The Jagannath Temple is the center of attraction of Purushottama Kshetra (Puri). It is not a single temple but a temple complex consisting of many smaller temples and shrines. The list of temples within the Jagannath Temple complex are given below:

- Sri Jagannath - Sri Balarama - Sri Subhadra (main Temple of Lord Jagannath)
- Koili Vaikuntha or Kaivalya Vaikuntha (within Jagannath Temple premises) (Pandavas are said to have buried the body of Sri Krishna here)
- Vat Jagannath Temple (under Kalpa Vat within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Nilmadhav Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Char Dham Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises) (Deities of all four Dhams are established here)
- Khirchora Gopinath Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Sakshi Gopal Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Adi Nrisimha Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises) (Lord Nrisimha was established before king Indradyumna performed Yagnas)
- Satyanarayan Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Ananta Vasudeva Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Sri Ramchandra Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

- Devi Vimala Temple (Shakti Peetha within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Devi Mahalakshmi Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Devi Bhuvaneshwari Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Devi Vat Mangala or Devi Sarvamangala Temple (under Kalpa Vat within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Devi Bhadrakali Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Shitala Devi Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Ekadasi Devi Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

- Kashi Vishwanth Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Ishaneshwar Mahadev Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Pataleshwar Mahadev Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

- Vat Ganesh Temple (under Kalpa Vat within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Kanchi Ganesh Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Barobhai Hanuman Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Kanpata Hanuman Image (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Surya Narayan Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Navagraha Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Six-armed Gauranga Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

• Temples and Places of Lord Narasimha in Purushottama Kshetra:

• Indradyumna seeing Lord Nrisimha on Nila mountain
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya - 15)
• Indradyumna building shrine of Lord Nrisimha
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya - 16)
• Lord assuming the form of Narasimha
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya - 27 - 28)

► Purushottama Kshetra - Adi Nrisimha or Yagna Nrisimha Temple
(Puri district, Odisha)

Adi Nrisimha Temple is within the Puri Jagannath Temple premises. This is the Nrisimha which king Indradyumna installed at the place of the Ashwamedha Yagna (Horse Sacrifice). Hence this is also known as Yagna Nrisimha.

• Temples and Places of Devi in Purushottama Kshetra:

• Viraja Kshetra Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Viraja Kshetra Shakti Peetha where the Nabhi (Navel) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Vimala and the Bhairava is called Jagannatha.
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 13)

► Purushottama Kshetra - Devi Vimala Temple
(Puri district, Odisha)

Devi Vimala Temple is identified with the Viraja Kshetra (Utkala) Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. Devi Vimala Temple is within the Puri Jagannath Temple premises.

Other Devi Shrines:

► Purushottama Kshetra - Devi Mahalakshmi Temple
(Puri district, Odisha)

There are two Devi Mahalakshmi temples in Puri:
1. One is within the Puri Jagannath Temple premises.
2. The other one is near the Sea shore within the Samudraraja Temple.

► Purushottama Kshetra - Devi Bhuvaneshwari Temple
(Puri district, Odisha)

Devi Bhuvaneshwari Temple is within the Puri Jagannath Temple premises.

► Purushottama Kshetra - Devi Bhadrakali Temple
(Puri district, Odisha)

Devi Bhadrakali Temple is within the Puri Jagannath Temple premises.

• Temples and Places of Lord Shiva in Purushottama Kshetra:

• Sage Markandeya seeing the Lord on the Holy Banyan Tree
(Brahma Purana - 49 to 53)

After the vision, sage Markandeya asked the boon that in the holy place of Purushottama, he wants to build a temple of Lord Shiva for the welfare of the world. That temple will resolve the dispute between the devotees of Lord Shiva and devotees of Lord Vishnu. In that temple, the Lord will be installed as Shankara. People of the world will know that Shiva and Vishnu are essentially the same. The Lord approved this and said that the Linga is the greatest cause. It is for propitiating the Lord and toning down the diversity. When Shiva is installed, the Lord Himself is installed. There is no difference between the two. They are only of two forms externally. He who is Rudra is himself Vishnu. He who is Vishnu is himself Rudra. There is no difference between the two. The Lord told sage Markandeya to build the Shiva temple and to the north of it make a holy reservoir named after the sage (Markandeya Hrada).

► Purushottama Kshetra - Markandeshwar Temple and Markandeya Sarovar
(Puri district, Odisha)

Markandeshwar Temple and Markandeya Sarovar was established by sage Markandeya with the blessings of Sri Krishna.

• Temples (Summary):

• Krishna:
- Sri Jagannath - Sri Balarama - Sri Subhadra (main Temple of Lord Jagannath)
- Koili Vaikuntha or Kaivalya Vaikuntha (within Jagannath Temple premises) (Pandavas are said to have buried the body of Sri Krishna here)
- Vat Jagannath Temple (under Kalpa Vat within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Nilmadhav Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Char Dham Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises) (Deities of all four Dhams are established here)
- Khirchora Gopinath Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Gundicha Temple or Yagna Vedi (Near Indradyumna Sarovar) (The place of Ashwamedha Yagna of king Indradyumna) (Named after Gundicha, the queen of king Indradyumna) (opened during Ratha Yatra only when Lord Jagannath stays here for nine days)
- Sakshi Gopal Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Sakshi Gopal Temple (18 km from Jagannath Temple in a place known as Sakshi Gopal)

• Narasimha:
- Adi Nrisimha Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises) (Lord Nrisimha was established before king Indradyumna performed Yagnas)

• Vishnu:
- Satyanarayan Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Ananta Vasudeva Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Shwet Madhav Temple (near Shweta Ganga Sarovar)
- Matsya Madhav Temple (near Shweta Ganga Sarovar)
- Totagopinath Temple

• Rama:
- Sri Ramchandra Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

• Devi:
- Devi Vimala Temple (Shakti Peetha within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Devi Mahalakshmi Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Devi Bhuvaneshwari Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Devi Vat Mangala or Devi Sarvamangala Temple (under Kalpa Vat within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Devi Bhadrakali Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Shitala Devi Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Ekadasi Devi Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Samudraraja Temple (Samudraraja with Devi Lakshmi)
- Markandeya Sarovar Matrika Temple (near Markandeya Sarovar)

• Shiva:
- Kashi Vishwanth Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Ishaneshwar Mahadev Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Pataleshwar Mahadev Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

- Pancha Pandava Mahadev of Sri Kshetra:
(1) Markandeshwar Mahadev Temple (near Markandeya Sarovar)
(2) Loknath Mahadev Temple (Protector of Jagannath Temple Kitchen)
(3) Kapalmochan Mahadev Temple
(4) Jameshwar Mahadev Temple
(5) Nilkantheshwar Mahadev Temple

- Nilkantheshwar Mahadev Temple (near Indradyumna Sarovar)

• Ganesha:
- Vat Ganesh Temple (under Kalpa Vat within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Kanchi Ganesh Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

• Hanuman:
- Barobhai Hanuman Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Kanpata Hanuman Image (within Jagannath Temple premises)

• Surya:
- Surya Narayan Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

• Navagraha:
- Navagraha Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)

• Saints:
- Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Sonar Gauranga Temple (near Chakra Teertha)
- Six-armed Gauranga Temple (within Jagannath Temple premises)
- Govardhan Math (Math of Adi Shankaracharya)
- Siddha Bakul Math (Math of Haridas Thakur)
- Totapuri Ashram (Ashram of Sri Totapuri)

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Lord Jagannath in Purushottama Kshetra: (Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya)
• Lord Jagannath manifested in Purushottama Kshetra through king Indradyumna and Vidyapati (the younger brother of the king's priest).
Refer to Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya.

2. Presence of Devi in Purushottama Kshetra: (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
• Devi Vimala of Purushottama Kshetra is identified with the Viraja Kshetra (Utkala) Shakti Peetha. Where the Nabhi (Navel) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Vimala and the Bhairava is called Jagannatha.

3. Presence of Lord Shiva in Purushottama Kshetra: (Brahma Purana)
• Sage Markandeya founded a Shiva Temple after seeing the vision of the Lord in the form of a small child on a Banyan Tree.

4. Presence of Sages in Purushottama Kshetra: (Brahma Purana)
• Sage Markandeya founded a Shiva Temple after seeing the vision of the Lord in the form of a small child on a Banyan Tree.

• Puranic References:

• Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya (About Lord Jagannath)
• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 13 (About Shakti Peetha)

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