<Ul> <Li> view </Li> <Li> talk </Li> <Li> edit </Li> </Ul> <P> The Shree Jagannath Temple (Odia: ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ମନ୍ଦିର) of Puri is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of lord Vishnu, located on the eastern coast of India, at Puri in the state of Odisha . The temple is an important pilgrimage destination and one of the four great' Char Dham' pilgrimage sites, found at India's four cardinal points . The present temple was rebuilt from the 10th century onwards, on the site of an earlier temple, and begun by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, first of the Eastern Ganga dynasty . </P> <P> The Puri temple is famous for its annual Ratha yatra, or chariot festival, in which the three principal deities are pulled on huge and elaborately decorated temple cars . These gave their name to the English term Juggernaut . Unlike the stone and metal icons found in most Hindu temples, the image of Jagannath is made of wood and is ceremoniously replaced every twelve or nineteen years by an exact replica . </P> <P> The temple is sacred to all Hindus and especially in those of the Vaishnava traditions . Many great saints, such as Ramananda & Ramanuja were closely associated with the temple . Ramanuja established the Emar Mutt near the temple and the Govardhan Mutt, which is the seat of one of the four Shankaracharyas . It is also showing particular significance to the followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnavism, whose founder Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, an incarnation of Lord Krishna, appeared about 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 Jagannath Kshetra like Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya (a priest and great Sanskrit scholar) and other scholars and common men 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 religions infused into one in Puri following his teachings considering everybody equal sans all caste and creeds . It is also a legendary fact, that in the last day of his earthly movements, his body vanished inside Lord Jagannath deity . </P>

What is the speciality of puri jagannath temple