Gundicha Temple
GundichaTemple is a Hindu temple, situated in the temple town of Puri in the state of Orissa, India. It is significant for being the destination of the celebrated annual RathYatra 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 (total 9 days including the start and concluding day of RathaYatra) every year during the annual RathYatra festival.
Known as the Garden House of Jagannath, the Gundicha temple stands in the center of a beautiful garden, surrounded by compound walls on all sides. It lies at a distance of about 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) from the Shrimandira, the main temple of Jagannath. The two temples are located at the two ends of the BadaDanda (Grand Avenue) which is the pathway for the RathYatra.
The temple is built using light-grey sandstone and architecturally, it exemplifies typical Kalinga temple architecture in the Deulastyle. The complex comprises four components: vimana (tower structure containing the sanctum), jagamohana (assembly hall), nata-mandapa (festival hall), and bhoga-mandapa (hall of offerings). There is also a kitchen connected by a small passage. The temple is set within a garden and is known as "God's Summer Garden Retreat" or the garden house of Jagannath. The entire complex, including the garden, is surrounded by a wall.
History of Gundicha Temple
There are a few legends associated with the temple. One is that when a carpenter engraved the statues of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Subhadra Devi at the Jagannath Temple, Queen Gundicha, wife of King Indrayumna, was smitten by them and requested King Indradyumna to build a temple for the deities, to where these idols can be taken to with rituals and processions undertaking a Rath Yatra. Hence, the temple has been named after Queen Gundicha, who is believed to be the deities’ aunt.
Architecture of Gundicha Temple
The temple has a traditional Kalinga style of architecture. It has been built in Deula style with light gray sandstone. The shrine has four main parts: Vimana, Jagamohana, Nata Mandira, and Bhoga Mandapa. Vimana is the main sanctum, Jagamohana is the assembly hall, Nata Mandira is the festival hall and Bhoga Mandapa is the hall of offering. There is a kitchen in the premises that is connected to the temple through a small passage.
The approximate length and height of the temple are 430 feet and 75 feet, respectively. It comprises a throne known as the Ratnavedi, which is made of chlorite. The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Subhadra Devi are placed on this throne when their idols are brought to this shrine as part of the rituals of the Rath Yatra festival.
The temple consists of two gates – the Western Gate, which is the main gate, and the Eastern Gate, which is called the Nakachana Gate. During the Rath Yatra festival, the idols of the deities are carried inside the temple through the Western Gate and carried out through the Nakachana Gate.
