Puri: The Sacred Land of Forgotten Temples

Abstract

Puri, is a sacred land of pilgrimage known for the world famous temple of Lord Jagannatha in Orissa,the abode of Lord Vishnu in Eastern India. Hindus are always driven by the heritage, cultural legacy and the sanctity of a sacred site. So the importance of Puri as a tirtha or “sacred crossing” is undeniable. Being the abode of lord Jagannatha (incarnation of  God Vishnu) it has attracted a large number of tourists from distant places all over the world and have also gained worldwide recognition. But apart for Lord Jagannatha temple, Puri is blessed with numerous other temples of Gods and Goddesses which according to ancient myths are considered to be the protector Gods of the main deity. These temples belong to the Saiva, Shakti, Hanuman and Nrsingha (another incarnation of Lord Vishnu) cults, distributed at the major cardinal points surrounding the main temple of the Lord. But these temples over the years have turned into ruins and are hardly known to the tourists or pilgrims visiting this sacred tirtha. The present study is an attempt to highlight these ancient temples which had a glorious history and to know about their socio-economic status. Apart from these, emphasis is also given on the study of the present status of the temple-workers who are solely dependent on these temples for their livelihood. Away from the glams and glamour of the Sri Jagannatha temple, how these religious institutes are surviving is the main focus of concern. The need of rehabilitation and reconstruction of these sacred places and preservation of their sanctity is the urgent need of the hour. The sacredness of a pilgrim centre can only be achieved if all its heritage and cultural sites are maintained, and their sanctity is preserved. If these temples are brought to the limelight and renovated it will definitely contribute to the enrichment of the town culturally, spiritually and will truly prove the sanctity of the place of the Universal Lord, Jagannatha.