History, Importance, Interesting & Unknown Facts and Travel Guide of Gundicha Temple, Puri, Odisha
Gundicha Temple is located at distance of just 3kms from the main Jagannath Temple, Puri Odisha. It is well known as the resting place for Lord Jagannath during the Rath Yatra and Garden house of Jagannath as it is located in center of huge garden and also famous as Summer Garden Retreat of Lord and Vrindavan of Puri during Lord’s stay. It is the second most sacred place after Janagannath temple in Puri Odisha. Gundicha Temple is During the summer treat when the Rath Yatra begins, the three main deities are placed here for seven days and worshipped here. During this period thousands of devotee reach here and apart from these days it remains with less number of devotee. Usually the Rath yatra starts on the second lunar day of the Hindu month Ashadha. One day before the Rath Yatra the Dwars of the temples gets opened and it is cleaned and getting decorated for welcoming the Lord. Idols of deities are place on 4 feet high and 19 feet wide seat called Ratnavedi.
On the very first day of the Rath Yatra. The deities are transported in chariots from the main temple to Gundicha Temple. The particular puja of the deities are being done by Brahmin in Gundicha Temple. The deities are smeared with large quantities of Sandalwood twice in a day as cooling agent. A major ceremony is celebrated during this seven days. During Hera Panchami (5th day of the Rath Yatra) the Lakshmi who is left behind in the store room of the main temple is brought today with lots of happiness and is carried by the priest to meet Jagannath. The husband and wife are being placed face to face and lakhs of devotes comes here to worship them during this day.
Lakshmi requests him to come back to the home and Jagannath give his consent by offering her Agyan Mala, which the Lakshmi accepts and lefts the Gundicha Temple in the evening. While returning to vent his anger, Lakshmi ordered one of the attendants to damage a Chariot of Jagannath (Nandi Ghosh). This ritual is known as Rath Bhangha. Likewise the other days such as Dakshina Moda (6th day of Rath Yatra), and Raslila is also performed. The Bahuda Yatra (returning to the main temple) begins on the 9th and the last day of the Rath Yatra where all the three deities are brought out of the Gundicha Temple and is pulled by devotees to reach the main temple by various dances, donging of bells and the chanting of the mantras and song.
There are lots of legends associated with Gundicha temple. The key tale is, Jagannath temple was first time built during the rule of great King Indradyumna, son of Bharat. Gundicha was the queen of Indradyumna, she requested king to build similar temple thus King ordered to build another temple of Jagannath and named after his wife. Thus from this time, temple get popular as Gundicha temple. It is also said that on request of her King started festivity of Ratha Yatra and Lord stayed here for seven days.
As per the another tale, Gundicha Ghar is the house of Lord Krishna's adoring aunt Gundicha. And It is believed that their aunt gives warm welcome to the three siblings, Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra with a special delicacy made of rice called 'padoapitha'.
As history is associated with Lord Krishna, Balarama, Subhadraji and Dev rishi Naradji. Once Mata Rohini told various stories of childhood of Lord Krishna to Rukmani and other queen of Lord Krishna. Mata Rohini requested Subhadraji to stay at door to prevent entry of any person. Thus Subhadraji stood at door and started listening tales, going forward Krishna and Balram also reached at door. This situation was seen by the Naradmuni and requested Lord to see siblings forever like this. This is how three deities are place in same temple campus to fulfil the wish of Devarshi Naradmuni.
How to reach Gundicha Temple, Puri
Puri is very well connected with the roads. Buses are considered to be the main option to reach here. The availability of the buses from the main cities of Odisha are available. The nearest bus stand to the temple is Puri Bus Stand. You can hire even private taxis or cab to reach here from Bhubaneshwar or any other nearby cities. The nearest Railway Station is Puri Railway Station at a distance of just 3kms. The availability of the flight is in Bhubaneshwar called Biju Patnaik International Airport at a distance of 49kms.
