“At Sri Purusottama [Jagannatha Puri], on the northern shore of the ocean, resides the Supreme Absolute Truth. Full of ecstatic bliss, He has assumed a transcendental body that appears wooden.”

The waves pounding on the beach, the refreshing sea breezes, the colossal hand-carved 12th century stone temple, the relaxed and happy ambience of the local folk, the bright red, yellow and blue cloth appliqué, and that bewitching pair of big smiling eyes looking out from every wall, every billboard, every poster, every calendar, every wedding invitation, every sticker, every button, every bead bag, every taxi and rickshaw, every windshield, every t-shirt, every shoulder bag – “This is Jagannatha Puri Dhama”, one of India’s most popular pilgrimage sites located in Orissa, 300 miles south of Kolkata and 60km from Bhubaneswar.

Located in the sacred town of Puri, the Jagannath Temple was built in the 11th century by King Indradyumna. This glorious temple is the abode of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra maiyya.

Jagannatha means “Lord of the Universe”. Jagannatha Swami is a unique Deity form of Lord Sri Krishna, who has especially appeared in Kali-yuga to deliver the most fallen souls. Merciful Lord Jagannatha accepts worship from one and all.

Jagannatha Svami is called daru-brahman because He is the Absolute Truth in wood (daru), and because He destroys (daranat) the miseries of material existence. Daru Brahman means the Deity form of God, the Supreme Brahman, Parabrahman. It means the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna who cuts away all sufferings and miserable material attachments, and then rewards one an eternal life of endless bliss in the spiritual world; He is Lord Jagannatha or Daru Brahman.

Glories of Sri Purusottama-ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama are mentioned in different Puranas: Skanda Purana, Brahma Purana, Vamadeva Samhita, Kapila Samhita, Padma Purana and Niladri Purana. It is generally thought that, Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama represents the Aisvarya (opulence, power & grandeur) of Dvaraka and Kurukshetra.

Sri Navadvipa-Mayapur Dhama represents Audarya (compassion).

Sri Vrindavan Dhama represents Madhurya (sweetness).

Jagannatha Puri and Navadvipa-Mayapur are two bhajana-sthalis for sadhaka cultivating Krishna-prema because they contribute two important ingredients.

Navadvipa-Mayapur Dhama gives the mercy of Sri Krishna’s Holy Names and Gaura-Nitai kindly remove anarthas and aparadhas from the heart.

 Puri embodies the mood of separation – awakening deep longing and yearning to be with Sri Krishna – which forcefully carries one into Krishna’s association.

Sridhama Mayapur is the home of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this abode, apparently located in the district of Nadia, West Bengal, the Supreme Personality of Godhead wonderfully appeared almost five hundred years ago. He appeared in the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most merciful incarnation of the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna. Generally the Supreme Personality of Godhead is invisible to the eyes of ordinary people, who are lacking in spiritual knowledge.

The whole of Gaura-mandala (Navadwip) is cintamani, or touchstone, yielding all desires. The dhama is full of knowledge and bliss and is completely spiritual. The water, the land the trees-everything in the dhama is spiritual, unlike the dull matter of this material world.