Alarnatha Temple or Alvarnaatha (Sanskrit: अल्वार् नाथ), (Oriya: ଅଲାରନାଥ) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and located in Brahmagiri, Odisha, near Puri. It becomes crowded during the krishnapaksha of Ashadha, after the Snana Yatra when devotees are not allowed to see the central icon of Jagannath (a form of Vishnu) in his Puri temple. During this period, popularly known as Anasara or 'Anavasara' (literally meaning no opportunity to see the lord of Puri), instead of having darshan in the Puri temple, devotees believe that Jagannath during this time manifests as Alarnath Dev, at the Alarnath temple in Brahmagiri, which is about 23 km from Puri. It is considered one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
The temple is associated with the visit of the saint Ramanujacharya to Odisha. [1] Chaitanya Mahaprabhu during his stay in Puri used to see the deity form of Jagannath daily. During Anavasara when Jagannath and his sibling deities were taken to the secret chamber for 15 days, he was unable to see the Lord. So as per legend, Jagannath directed him to go to Brahmagiri and visit the Alarnath temple. Still today the Shila over which Chaitanya Mahaprabhu used to do Sankirtana is there. Many historians opine that Alvars once visited this place, but there is no mention of it in Divyaprabandam. But still the temple is considered one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
The temple opens at 6 AM and closes at 9:30PM. Baal Bhoga (breakfast) is offered in the morning. At midday, different kinds of rice, daal, and vegetable curries are offered along with kheeri (rice pudding) as dessert. At night, different kinds of pitha and khichudi with plantain fry is offered. During Anavasara time the Kheeri bhoga offered to Alvarnaath Swami is much hyped and in demand.
Jagannatha is a deity worshipped in regional Hindu traditions in India and Bangladesh as part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra, and sister, Subhadra. Jagannath, within Odia Hinduism, is the supreme god, Purushottama, and the Para Brahman. To most Vaishnava Hindus, particularly the Krishnaites, Jagannath is an abstract representation of Krishna, or Vishnu, sometimes as the avatar of Krishna or Vishnu. To some Shaiva and Shakta Hindus, he is a symmetry-filled tantric form of Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation.
The Ratha Yatraof Puri, also rendered as the Ratha Jatra, is considered the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually, on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh (June–July). The festival is held at the city of Puri, in the state of Odisha, India and associated with the deity Jagannath. During the festival, three deities are drawn by a multitude of devotees in three massive, wooden chariots on bada danda to Gundicha Temple whereby they reside there for a week and then return to the Jagnannath temple.
Puri is a coastal city and a municipality in the state of Odisha in eastern India. It is the district headquarters of Puri district and is situated on the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as Sri Jagannatha Dhama after the 12th-century Jagannath Temple located in the city. It is one of the original Char Dham pilgrimage sites for Hindus.
Thirunelli Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Maha Vishnu on the side of Brahmagiri hill in Kerala, India, near the border with Karnataka state. The temple is classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple is at an altitude of about 900m in north Wayanad in a valley surrounded by mountains and forests. It is 32 km away from Manathavady.
The Jagannath Temple is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Vishnu – one of the trinity of supreme divinity in Hinduism. Puri is in the state of Odisha, on the eastern coast of India. King Indradyumna of Avanti has built the main temple of Jagannath at Puri. The present temple was rebuilt from the tenth 10th century onwards, on the site of pre-existing temples in the compound but not the main Jagannatha temple, and begun by Anantavarman Chodaganga, the first king of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. many rumours are spread about the temple but there is no solid proof of it. The temple is one of the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
The Rathayatra of Mahesh is the oldest chariot festival in Bengal, and is said to have been celebrated since 1396. The first temple of Jagannath Deb was built by Raja Manohar Roy Of Sheoraphuli Raj who also denoted large portion of land in establishing the Jagganathpur Mouza. It is held in Mahesh, a historical locality within Serampore in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is a week-long festival and a grand fair is held at that time. People throng to have a share in pulling the long ropes (Rosshi) attached to the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balarama and Subhadra on the journey from the temple to Mahesh Gundicha Bari and back within 8th day.
Gundicha Temple, is a Hindu temple, situated in the temple town of Puri in the state of Odisha, India. It is significant for being the destination of the celebrated annual Rath Yatra of Puri. While it remains vacant most of the year, the temple is occupied by images of the deities of Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra for seven complete days every year during the annual Rath Yatra festival.
The Arulmigu Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal Temple is a temple dedicated to Venkateshvara, a form of the Hindu deity Vishnu. It is located at the Indian village of Thirupparkadal at Ranipet district, Tamil Nadu. It is considered one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
Brahmagiri is a town in Puri district, Odisha, India.The Vishnu Mandira.
Kshirachora Gopinatha Temple is in Remuna, Odisha, India. The name "Remuna" is from the word "Ramaniya" which means very good-looking. "Kshirachora" in Odia means Stealer of condensed Milk and Gopinatha means the Divine Consort of Gopis. The reference is to child Krishna's love for milk and milk products. It is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
Mahaprasad is the term applied to the 56 food items offered to Lord Jagannath in the holy Temple of Puri, located in Odisha, India. The Bhog/Naivedya offered to him and later to Maa Bimala in the Grand Temple and remains of that Nivedana is known as ‘Mahaprasad’. Mahaprasad is also widely named as the famous Chappan Bhog.
Nilachala, also rendered Niladri refers to a region corresponding to Puri, in the Indian state of Odisha.
Shri Shri Hari Baladev Jew Bije is a famous Hindu temple located in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district, in the state of Odisha, India. The name Jagannath is a combination of the Sanskrit words Jagat (Universe) and Nath.
The Vimala Temple or Bimala Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Vimala or Bimala (ବିମଳା), located within the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri in the Indian state of Odisha. It is generally regarded as a Shakti Pitha, among the holiest temples dedicated to the Hindu Goddess.
Narasimha Jharni, also known as Narasimha Jharni cave temple, is a temple located in Bidar, Karnataka. It is associated with Lord Narasimha, an incarnation (avatar) of Hindu God Vishnu. The ancient temple is excavated in a 300m tunnel under the Manichoola hill range situated at around 4.8km from the city. The temple is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
Jagannatha Perumal Temple (also called TirumaḻisaiTemple is dedicated to Hindu god Vishnu located in Tirumalisai, Chennai City, Tiruvallur district, in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Jagannatha Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Thirumangaivalli. The temple is believed to be the birthplace of Thirumalisai Alvar, one of the twelve Alvars whose work is compiled as Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. The temple is Classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
Adhirangam Ranganathaswamy temple or Ranganatha Perumal Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Adhi Thiruvarangam in the Taluk of Sankarapuram, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, it is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas and Vijayanagar kings. It covers an area of 5 acres (20,000 m2) and has a historical grain storage container. It is classified one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.
Adi moola Srinivasa Perumal Temple or Adi moola Venkataramanaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in a village called Mookanur, in the Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu, India. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, it is believed to have been built by the Pallava dynasty. It is considered one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition. The temple is Constructed in the foot hill of a mountain Dedicated entaierly to Lord Vishnu. This structure was earlier maintained by Tenkalai Brahmins and now is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, follows the Vaikhanasa agama and is a pure Vaishnavate temple. There is no Ganesha shrine inside the temple complex. The divine-deity is the Kula-devata of many Brahmins and Gounder's in the Dharmapuri district.
Abhimana Kshethram or Abhimana Sthalam are a list of 108 sacred Vishnu temples apart from the other 108 Divya desams. Abhimana desams or close abodes, these temples are the most significant temples in the Vaishnavite tradition which has similar greatness as Divya Desams. These set of temples is classified as an Abhimana Kshethram as it is mentioned in Various Puranas and Ithihasas such as Ramayana and Mahabharata and have Significant Sthala Puranas based on the Ithihasas and Various Puranas of Hinduism. The temples are also said to be visited by many Religious scholars and saints such as Ramanuja, Adi Shankara, Madhvacharya, Nathamuni, Yamunacharya, Manavala Mamunigal, Purandara Dasa, Narayana Teertha, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and by many other great Vedic teachers and Rishis. Some of these Temples are said to be visited by the Alvars who did not sing the god's grace due to various reasons. Out of these 108 temples Rajagopalaswamy Temple, Mannargudi is considered as the 1st out of the 108 Abhimana Kshethras as Thirumangai Alvar is believed to have visited the temple and is believed to have built the tall flag post outside the temple with the help of cotton bales. The other Alvars who are believed to have visited the temple at various periods were seemingly lost in under the beauty of the presiding deity and were at a loss for words.