Lord Jagannath

• Jagannath is a deity worshipped in regional Hindu traditions as part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra and sister, deviSubhadra.
• Jagannath within Odia Hinduism is the supreme god, Purushottama.
• To most Vaishnava Hindus, particularly the Krishnaites, Jagannath is an abstract representation of Krishna.
• Sometimes as the avatar of Krishna or Vishnu, to some Shaiva and Shakta Hindus, he is a symmetry-filled tantric form of Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation.

Jagannath Temple, Puri

• The Jagannath Temple at Puri is among the most revered Vaishnava sites in India.
• The current temple was built by Anantavarman of the Chodaganga dynasty in the 12th century.
• The deities in the sanctum are associated with King Indrayumna of the Iksvaku dynasty, who was the nephew of Lord Ram.
• The Jagannath Temple celebrates 148 festivals annually, which includes 12 yatras, 28 upayatras and 108 ritualistic festivals.
• Among these the RathaYatra festival of Jagannath deva celebrated in the month of Asadha (June-July) is the most well-known one.

Temple architectures in India

1. Nagara Style

• Examples: KandariyaMahadev Temple in Madhya Pradesh, Sun Temple at Modhera, Lakshman Temple of Khajuraho, Sun Temple at Konark, Jagannath Temple at Puri.
  

2. Vasara Style

• Examples: Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somnathpura

3. Dravidian Style

• Example: Chennakesava Temple in Belur, Hoysaleswara temple in Halebidu, and the Kesava Temple in Somanathapura.