Shree Jagannath Dham ( Puri)
Jagannath Dharma ( also known as Puri) is a compendium of, probably, all existing and possible facets of spirituality. Its richness combines and absorbs within its fold all cross-cultural spiritual philosophies, and, at times, transcends these. So, "cult" is misnomer and "religion", of too narrow dimension to connote it. "Jagannath- Dharma" is the appropriate way to name this eternal (sanatana) concept of spirituality. It is not merely intellectual conformity or ceremonial piety. It is not an amalgam, but a spiritual synthesis. It is expansive and constrictive, pluralistic and sectarian. Its lesson is that religion must be construed not in terms of any particular belief but simply as a way of lacking at the world of human - experience as a whole.
Jagannath was called "Purusottama" since his origin at Puri or Purusottam - Kshetra (the abode of Purusottam) since pre-historic times. The Rig Veda refers to him as the Daru (sacred log of wood) of Purusottama, afloat on the eastern sea. The name "Jagannath" (Lord of the Universe) is invariably a collective representation of the Triad (Jagannath - Balabhadra - Subhadra) and has been in use since the dawn of the last millenium.
Jagannath - Dharma believes in the Rig Vedic concept of the Supreme Truth. The Triad, conceived as one, represents the three attributes of creation, maintenance and destruction. The use of "OM" in the worship is a reflection of the Vedic strain. Sudarshana, the Jyoti Brahma, represents the formless and along with the Triad is conceived as one. The Supreme is formless and with form, He is with qualities and beyond qualities. The Supreme is shown as transcending contradiction in his infinite perfection.
Origin of the name of the city Puri
According to Cunningham the ancient name of this town was Charitra mentioned by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang as Che-li-ta-lo. But the restoration of the word Che-li-ta-lo as Charitra and its identification with the town of Puri is open to doubt. The importance of the town as a seat of Vaisnavism increased when Chodaganga Deva constructed the temple of Purusottama Jagannath and installed the image of the deities. Thereafter, it become famous as the abode of Purusottama and was popularity called Purusottama Kshetra.
In the drama Anargharaghava Natakam attributed to cir. 9th century A.D. we find the name Purusottama applied to this town. In the Nagari Plate of Anangabhima III of the Saka year 1151-52 i.e., 1229-30 A.D., the place is called Purusottama Kshetra. This name in the form of Purusottama Chhatar or only in the form Chhatar was used by the Mughal, the Maratha as well as the early British rulers in their official records. Even in yoginitantra1 and Kalikapurana the city referred to as Purusottam. Puri2 region was also known as Utkal.
The name Purusottama Kshetra was also for sometime Known as Purusottama Puri and as the word Purusottama Kshetra was contracted into Kshetra or Chhatra so also Purusottama Puri was expressed in the contracted from Puri. In fact, in many early British record this town is known by the name Pooree. In the modern times Puri has become the most popular of all the other names of this town.
Jagannath Dharma ( also known as Puri) is a compendium of, probably, all existing and possible facets of spirituality. Its richness combines and absorbs within its fold all cross-cultural spiritual philosophies, and, at times, transcends these. So, "cult" is misnomer and "religion", of too narrow dimension to connote it. "Jagannath- Dharma" is the appropriate way to name this eternal (sanatana) concept of spirituality. It is not merely intellectual conformity or ceremonial piety. It is not an amalgam, but a spiritual synthesis. It is expansive and constrictive, pluralistic and sectarian. Its lesson is that religion must be construed not in terms of any particular belief but simply as a way of lacking at the world of human - experience as a whole.
Jagannath was called "Purusottama" since his origin at Puri or Purusottam - Kshetra (the abode of Purusottam) since pre-historic times. The Rig Veda refers to him as the Daru (sacred log of wood) of Purusottama, afloat on the eastern sea. The name "Jagannath" (Lord of the Universe) is invariably a collective representation of the Triad (Jagannath - Balabhadra - Subhadra) and has been in use since the dawn of the last millenium.
Jagannath - Dharma believes in the Rig Vedic concept of the Supreme Truth. The Triad, conceived as one, represents the three attributes of creation, maintenance and destruction. The use of "OM" in the worship is a reflection of the Vedic strain. Sudarshana, the Jyoti Brahma, represents the formless and along with the Triad is conceived as one. The Supreme is formless and with form, He is with qualities and beyond qualities. The Supreme is shown as transcending contradiction in his infinite perfection.
Origin of the name of the city Puri
According to Cunningham the ancient name of this town was Charitra mentioned by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang as Che-li-ta-lo. But the restoration of the word Che-li-ta-lo as Charitra and its identification with the town of Puri is open to doubt. The importance of the town as a seat of Vaisnavism increased when Chodaganga Deva constructed the temple of Purusottama Jagannath and installed the image of the deities. Thereafter, it become famous as the abode of Purusottama and was popularity called Purusottama Kshetra.
In the drama Anargharaghava Natakam attributed to cir. 9th century A.D. we find the name Purusottama applied to this town. In the Nagari Plate of Anangabhima III of the Saka year 1151-52 i.e., 1229-30 A.D., the place is called Purusottama Kshetra. This name in the form of Purusottama Chhatar or only in the form Chhatar was used by the Mughal, the Maratha as well as the early British rulers in their official records. Even in yoginitantra1 and Kalikapurana the city referred to as Purusottam. Puri2 region was also known as Utkal.
The name Purusottama Kshetra was also for sometime Known as Purusottama Puri and as the word Purusottama Kshetra was contracted into Kshetra or Chhatra so also Purusottama Puri was expressed in the contracted from Puri. In fact, in many early British record this town is known by the name Pooree. In the modern times Puri has become the most popular of all the other names of this town.