Puri: All four gates of Shree Jagannath temple at Puri were reopened at 6.30 am on Thursday after the ‘Mangal Alati’ ritual in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his council of ministers.
The previous BJD government had kept three out of four gates shut since the COVID-19 pandemic and devotees were allowed to enter through Singhadwara (Lion Gate) while the west gate was opened only for local residents, often leading to overcrowding on the temple premises.
Reopening of the gates was among the decisions taken in first Cabinet meeting of the BJP-led state government. It was also a key promise in the the party’s election manifesto.
Sharing pictures of the four gates, Puri MP Sambit Patra extended his heartfelt gratitude to the CM and members of his Cabinet for keeping the promise and the reopening of them within 24 hours of the swearing-in of the newly-elected government. “I am very happy that now all the devotees will be able to have darshan of Mahaprabhu easily. Many congratulations to all the devotees.”
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FOUR GATES
Simhadwara or Lion’s Gate: It is so named because of two colossal statues of crouching lions, carved in a naturalistic style, with crowns on their heads on either side of the gate. The lion is a symbolic representation of Mokskya. Hence is is popularly said that if you enter in the temple through this gate, you will attain mokshya. The gate faces east opening on to the Bada Danda or the Grand Road. The statues of the two guards to the temple Jaya and Vijaya stand on either side of the doorway.
Earlier, the untouchables who were not allowed to go inside the temple used to offer their prayers to idol of Patitapavana (saviour or deliverer of the downtrodden and the fallen) on the northern side or to the right as a devotee enter the temple, remaining outside the Simhadwara. In front of the image, a small image of Garuda has been installed. This Patitapavana image of Jagannath, however, is different from the main deity.
22 flights of steps (Baisipahacha) from the eastern gateway lead to the inner enclosure. The idols of Kasi-Biswanath, Ramachandra, Nursimha and Ganesh have been installed on the southern side of the Baisipahacha. The devotees while going up the steps must step on a stone called Yamashila engraved into the 3rd step, which, it is believed that frees from the reasons to be punished by Yama (the god of death).
Parents often make their children slowly roll over the steps to bring them spiritual bliss and happiness.
In front of the entrance there is the beautiful Sun Pillar (Aruna Stambha), which originally stood before the Sun Temple at Konark and was shifted here by the Marathas.
Just before the commencement of the Ratha Yatra (car festival), the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are taken out of the temple through this gate. On their return from the Gundicha Temple they have to ceremonially placate Goddess Mahalakshmi, whose statue is carved atop the door, for neglecting to take Her with them on the Ratha Yatra.
Aswadwara or Horse Gate: The southern gate has on each side a galloping stallion with the figures of Jagannath and Balabhadra on their back in full military array. These sculptures depict the legendary Kanchi expedition of the Lords, and have been installed recently. Horse symbolically represents ‘Kama’ or lust. The inner enclosure is approached by ten flights of steps from the southern gateway.
Vyaghradwara or Tiger Gate: The western gate has on each side a figure of a tiger made of mortar, representing Dharma. Seven flights of steps from the western gateway lead to the inner enclosure.The deities of Rameswar-Mahadeva, Sri Jagannath Dwarakanath, and Badrinath are installed in the outer enclosure in a shrine known as Chaturdham.
Gardens have been set up both the sides from which flowers are collected for the daily worship of the deities. The shrines of Chakranarayana, Sidheswara, Mahabir Hanuman, and Dhabaleswar Mahadeva are located in this area. On the northern side, the Niladri Vihar has been constructed which depicts the popular legends on Jagannath through models and paintings.
Hastidwara or the Elephant Gate: The northern gate had on each side a colossal figure of elephant, which is said to have been disfigured during the Muslim inroads. Subsequently, these figures were repaired and plastered with mortar and placed at the northern gate of the inner enclosure (Kurma Bedha). This gate represents artha or prosperity.
There is also the sacred Suna Kuan from which 108 pitchers of water are taken for the ceremonial bath of Lord Jagannath during the Snana Yatra. On the western side of the outer enclosure, near the gate of the kurmabedha, stands a banyan tree and on a raised platform, Koilibaikuntha. During the Nabakalebara, the images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are being constructed here.
