Jagannath

Jagannath is a form of Vishnu worshipped primarily in the Vaishnavite traditions of Odisha, India. The name Jagannath means “lord of the universe” in Sanskrit, and the deity is closely associated with the Jagannath Temple in Puri, one of the region’s most important pilgrimage sites. The temple’s legends connect the image with the broader Vaishnavism of Krishna and Vishnu, and its rituals have influenced Odia culture for centuries.

The principal figures in the Jagannath cult are three wooden idols: Jagannath, Balabhadra (Balarama), and Subhadra. The icons are carved from sacred neem wood and are notable for their stylized form, with large circular eyes and limbs that are simplified or missing. The images are periodically replaced in a ritual known as Navakalebara, in which new wooden idols are installed while the old ones are laid to rest. The temple complex is home to elaborate daily rites and a distinctive temple administration.

Puri’s Jagannath Temple is traditionally listed among India’s Char Dham pilgrimage sites, alongside other sacred sites at Dwarka, Rameswaram, and Badrinath. The temple’s religious life centers on several major festivals and processions, the most famous being the annual Rath Yatra (Chariot Festival). During Rath Yatra, the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra are carried from the temple to the Gundicha Temple in large, ornate wooden chariots, attracting thousands of pilgrims and spectators.

The Jagannath tradition has had a broad cultural impact in Odisha and beyond, shaping regional worship, art, music, and festival practices that continue to define the religious landscape of the region.