Sri Jagannatha Puri - The Reservoir of Divine Love (A Big Book)

Once Lord Kṛṣṇa heard from mother Rohini narrating the feelings of separation being experienced by the inhabitants of Vraja during a great meeting of inhabitants of Dwaraka and Vraja in Kuruksetra, the land of righteousness. Lord's heart moved upon hearing this narration and intense affection arose in His heart for them. Due to these intense ecstatic feelings of the Lord, His transcendental body transformed into a form which is known as Jagannātha.

There are four significant holy places in India and each place has a special significance in a particular era. In this age of Kali Śrī Kṣetra Jagannātha Puri is considered the most important holy place. In Satyayuga, King Indradyumna constructed this temple and installed the deity of Lord Jagannātha. Thus he introduced the whole world about the glories of Jagannatha and His Śri Kṣetra. All other holy places such as Vṛndāvana, Dwarakā and Navadīpa are also said to be present here. Śri Jagannatha Temple represents Dwarakā, Gundica Temple represents Vṛndāvana and Gambhīrā etc. represent Navadvipa. Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu resided here for 18 years and relished the most confidential and sweetest pastimes of Krsna in the mood of Rādhārāṇī.

India is a holy land and every speck of dust here is surcharged with righteousness. In such a great land of dharma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears in order to deliver the saintly people and annihilate the miscreants. What does Dharma actually mean? Dharma means the eternal nature of a living entity to serve Kṛṣṇa - The Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Lord is very anxious to take all the living entities back to His spiritual abode. He Himself appears on earth in His various incarnations or sometimes He sends His dearmost devotees in order to accomplish this task. The places where the Lord performed His pastimes in past ages are called dhama or the holy places of pilgrimage. Such places e.g. Badrikāśrama, Rameśvaram, Dwarakā and first and foremost Jagannatha Puri are therefore meant for the deliverance of the living beings from material life. Even today, thousands of pilgrims travel to such places for spiritual benefit. It is also said that, there is a particular worshipable deity and dhama for a particular age. Therefore, in this age of Kali, Śri Purusottama Kṣetra is the dhama and the worshipable deity is Lord Jagannatha.

Śrī Kṣetra Jagannātha Puri is an ancient hub of great culture, knowledge as well as dharma and spirituality. It has been famous for its incomparable pride and spiritual influence since ages. A lot of information about this is obtained in Purāņas. This holy place has been a picturesque playground of nature since ancient times. Nilācala mountain situated at the midst of the beautiful blue ocean on one side and a scenic forest on the other side, enhances the beauty of this holy place of Sri Kṣetra.

**Contents and Sample Pages**