Puri being a coastal district of Orissa , is famous for its Historic antiquities
,Religious sanctuaries , Architectural Grandeur , Sea-scape beauty,moderate climate.It
holds a wealth of attraction for the visitors. It boasts of a continuous history from the
3rd Century B.C. to the present day and its unique monuments like those of Lord Jagannath
at Puri , the Sun God at Konark are the famous in the world. It has the Chilika lake , one
of the largest brackish water lakes in India, that holds a picturesque
Sea-Scape beauty. It offers an ideal resort for birds who migrate from different
parts of the continent . By virtue of Geographical location , the climate of Puri is
equable through out the year.
Puri the abode of Vishnu as Jagannath which
contributed the word " Juggernaut" to the English language, represents
its integrated individuality as its cultural heritage , a unique blend of claims of time
and eternity with a power answerable only to wisdom . Puri's compendious heritage has been
representing that spark of immortality that the Oriyas and the Indians have own against
the powers of negation , through a spirit of university , adaptability , and an astute
mixture of the present which no other culture can aspire to explain as its self
justification. The name of the Lord as Purusottama (perfection personified) or as
Jagannath (Lord of Universe) represents a universality in true with the familiar faternity
of mankind (Vasudheiva Kutumbakam). Adi Shankaracharya visited Puri
, set up the Gobardhan matha (monastery) as the exception from his other three mathas as a
vaishnavite, defined Jagannath as the Supreme one. It is thus not only one of the four
Dhams (Holy Places) for Hindus but the most pious and sacred place.
Various sectarian head visited Puri on piligrimage , setup his own monastery for
continued serve to Lord Jagannath and returned .
Spiritually
mollified - The list includes Kabir and the "Torani' of Kabirchaura nayak the founder
of Shikhism , visited Puri and gained entrance into the temple by performing a miraculous
feat of showing the trinity reflected on his palms . He setup the bauli and Mangi mathas
which still attract the Shikhs from the worldover . Sankar Deva of Assam had followed the
same path . Other religious heads and dignifiers like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Rai Ramananda
, Jayadeva, Gorakhanath, the father of Nath, cult of religious icoloclasm
supposed by visited Puri. Saint Totapuri a vedant teacher of Ramakrishna has also
visited puri.
Bhakti Krishnatirtha and Muquaddam Jahanies visited Puri . The latters synthesized
"Pir" concept at konark bears testimony . Sridhar Swami , SadhuSundar Das and
the devote ma visited Puri for fulfilment of their spiritual Craze.
The Quintessential
characteristic of its culture and philosophy has made it from Pan-Indian to
Pan-Continental. The Car-Festicval of Shri Lord Jagannath now not limited to Puri or
Orissa rather it is celebrated in global scale , the reverberation echos of which are
heard from Los Angeles to Piccadily from Heidelberg to Tokyo.
The Jagannath culture is not
only pre-dominated in Puri but it is global. Its Universal affirmation is secular defusion
of such an attitude is futuristic. It calls for unity in diversity is an age of
diverse perversity. The consecration of all the empire by Gajapati of Puri .Kapilendra
Deva to Lord Jagannath , the lord emerging as "istadeva " and
"Rastradevata" and rolled down the centuries as the crest of nationalism which
found Madhusudan Das (the eminent barister of British era )in 1928 to cryout 'serve us,
Lord Jagannath'. The dazzle of Kohi-noor, originally gifted to Lord Jagannath , the Hum of
devotional "Janana"(non-bhajan), the cries of Chandan Hajuri (the chief
warier of Maharani Laxmibai) and 'the Mahaprasad brotherhood' have been unifying
forces and symbols of national unity .
The
evolution of Odissi Dance and music out of the Devadasi-institution still enchants all
with its mystic rhythm. The Orissan school of architecture emerging from here is a
poetry frozen in stone.
The Patta-paintings and applique work are a craze in the west ,particularly in U.S.A. of
today . The Shell-craft of Puri have a major appeal.
It is thus
here at puri that the pattern of a Pan-Indian ,(nay, global) culture of tomorrow is on the
anvil . People are individual atoms ever contributing their properties to the
"matter" of Jagannath Dharma without conciousness of mutual distinctions . Puri
belongs to humanity , the seat of an eternal education , the bridge that gulfs
the past and the future and the blending of diverse impulses for a single embodiment in
the march of all fulfilling time .
Temples and sanctuaries , beaches and glorious lakes, colorful ,vibrant and the numerous
festivals for every reason and for every season that can take on a"Jagannath-like
momentum" .
Puri has
then all and much more for all.
Excellently connected by air, rail,and road , Puri invites you to its
hospitable environs and promises you an experience you will never forget .When others talk
of taking you down memory lane .
Puri will take you back to your ancient linkages . When others talk of romancing
with the stones, her ancient architects and sculptors will show you what it really means ,
Visit Puri , rediscover the three R's i.e. Rest, Relax , Recall and
write your travel diary better than your friend.
She's been waiting for you for centuries.................
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