Jagannath Temple Puri -- 12th Century Architecture Neelachakra Flag HD Wallpaper
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About this image
The Jagannath Temple of Puri -- one of the four sacred dhams (pilgrimage sites) of Hinduism, alongside Badrinath, Dwarka, and Rameswaram -- rises against the Odisha sky with the unmistakable silhouette that has guided pilgrims for nearly nine centuries. The main tower (deul) soars to 214 feet, its curvilinear Kalinga architecture crowned by the Neelachakra (blue wheel) and the Patitapavana flag that snaps in the Bay of Bengal breeze. The flag is changed daily by a priest who climbs the tower without harness -- a tradition maintained for centuries as a test of faith and devotion. The temple was built by King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva of the Eastern Ganga dynasty around 1161 CE, though earlier structures on the same site date back much further. The temple complex covers 400,000 square feet and is enclosed by two concentric walls. Four gates face the four cardinal directions, each guarded by a different avatar of Vishnu. The eastern Singhadwara (Lion Gate) is the main entrance, flanked by two colossal lions. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Puri temple is its engineering. The shadow of the main deul never falls on the ground at any time of day -- a feat of astronomical alignment that suggests sophisticated mathematical knowledge. The Neelachakra atop the temple is made of eight metals (ashtadhatu) and weighs over a ton. And the temple kitchen, which feeds up to 100,000 people daily using a system of earthen pots stacked seven high over wood fires, produces food that is always exactly sufficient -- neither too much nor too little, regardless of the crowd size. Free HD download.
