5/5 Saswata Kumar D. 3 years ago on Google
The
temple
of
Shri
Lokanatha
is
situated
at
a
distance
of
about
2½
kms
to
the
west
of
Lord
Jagannatha
temple
of
Puri.
This
temple
is
one
of
the
most
important
Shaiva
shrines
of
Odisha.
As
per
local
people
this
temple
was
established
by
Lord
Ramacandra.
From
the
architectural
point
of
view
the
temple
is
not
so
important
but
from
the
religious
point
of
view,
it
occupies
an
important
position
in
the
cultural
history
of
Odisha.
The
legend
says
that
Lord
Rama
on
his
way
to
Sri
Lanka
for
searching
Sita
reached
Puri
and
sat
with
a
vow
to
see
Siva
here.
At
that
time
there
was
a
village
(koown
as
Sabarapalli
in
local
language)
nearby.
Sabaras
(native
of
that
village)
presented
him
a
Lau
or
Lauka
(Pumpkin,
one
type
of
vegetable)
looking
like
a
Siva
Linga,
Lord
Rama
installed
that
as
the
replica
of
Siva
Linga
at
that
place
and
prayed
Siva
to
fulfill
his
desire.
From
that
day
this
Siva
Linga
was
called
'Laukanatha'.
It
is
believed
that
the
word
Lokanatha
is
a
later
innovation
from
the
original
word
'Laukanatha'.
The
innermost
chamber
of
the
main
temple
preserves
a
Shiva
linga
which
is
the
presiding
deity
of
the
temple.
This
linga
is
visible
to
the
devotees
once
in
every
year.
The
sanctum
including
the
linga
is
filled
with
water
throughout
the
year
by
a
natural
fountain.
In
the
night
of
Pankoddhar
Ekadashi
(3
days
before
the
famous
Shivaratri
festival)
all
the
water
is
bailed
out
and
the
Shiva
Linga
becomes
visible
and
thousands
of
devotees
enable
to
worship
the
Lord.
According
to
a
local
tradition,
people
who
suffer
from
incurable
diseases
come
here
for
prayer.
The
flowers,
sandal
paste,
milk,
Curd
(yoghurt),
honey,
beetle
leaves,
Coconut
water,
bilva
leaves,
etc.
offered
to
the
God
throughout
the
year
remain
decomposed
in
the
water
creating
a
special
smell
and
taste
being
medicated
as
a
whole.
people
take
it
as
Prasad,
in
order
to
be
cured
from
the
disese
that
they
suffered
for.
The
Lokanatha
temple
has
four
parts
such
as
Vimana
(Main
Temple),
Jagamohana
(Entrance
Hall),
Natamandapa
(Dancing
Hall)
and
Bhogamndapa
(Offering
Hall).
This
temple
is
built
in
sand
stones.
The
main
temple
is
about
30
feet
from
the
ground
level.
Most
portions
of
the
main
temple
have
been
covered
with
marbles,
so
the
detail
architectural
features
of
the
main
temple
are
not
visible.
The
outer
walls
of
the
main
temple
housed
images
of
different
Deities.
The
image
of
Shiva-Parbati
is
carved
on
the
northern
side
wall.
There
is
image
of
Lord
Kartikeya
on
the
eastern
side
wall.
The
image
of
four
handed
Lord
Ganesha
is
carved
on
the
southern
side
wall.
All
these
side
wall
images
are
housed
inside
small
temples.
Many
small
temples
are
there
inside
the
premises
of
Lokanatha
temple.
There
is
a
small
temple
to
the
left
of
the
inner
courtyard
which
preserves
images
of
Surya-Narayana
and
Candra-Narayana.
The
Satya-Narayan
temple
within
the
premises
preserves
images
of
Vishnu,
Laksmi
and
several
brass
idols.
On
the
right
side
of
the
entrance
to
the
inner
courtyard
you
will
find
a
figure
of
Lord
Hanuman.
The
compound
of
the
Lokanatha
temple
is
about
10
feet
below
the
road
level.
When
you
enter
the
lokanatha
temple
compound
by
climbing
down
the
stairs
from
the
main
road,
you
will
find
a
big
pond
(known
as
Parvati
Sagara
in
local
language)
at
your
right
side.
Devotees
wash
their
hands
and
feets
in
this
pond
before
entering
into
the
temple.
This
pond
houses
a
lot
of
fishes.
Devotees
enjoying
a
lot
by
offering
foods
to
these
fishes.
Lord
Lokanatha's
representative
image
is
in
the
Sri
Jagannatha
temple,
known
as
Bhandara
Lokanatha.
He
is
the
guardian
deity
of
the
Ratnabhandara
(treasure
house)
of
Sri
Jagannatha
temple.
Lokanatha
is
associated
with
Lord
Jagannath
in
several
festivals
like
Sivaratri,
Candan
Yatra
and
Sital
Sasthi.
The
festival
of
Shivaratri
is
observed
in
the
temple
of
Lokanatha
with
great
devotion.
A
meeting
of
Hari
and
Hara
(Siva
and
Vishnu)
takes
place
on
the
day.
On
the
Mahashivaratri
lot
of
devotees
arrive
near
the
temple
to
offer
their
prayer
to
Lord
Lokanatha
with
great
devotion.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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