Thread by @rasu667

Jagannath Swamy temple - Vizianagaram

#WalkToTemple
#BharatiyaVastukala

Right in center of Vizianagaram, lies a beautiful ancient temple. Ignored & neglected, this temple went into a sorry state, but was restored & brought back 2 glory in past couple of years.
Old pic Google

The temple considered 2 b a replica of Puri Jagannath temple, was constructed acc 2 rules of Pancha Ratra Agama Sastras. Along with Jagannath, Balabhadra & Subhadra, there are smaller temples 4 Venugopal Swamy & another for Mahalaxmi ma in the temple.
Dasavataras on the new walls

Devotees & locals formed the Sri Jagannath Seva Samithi 2 improve condition of the temple. Once they took steps 2 clean the temple, they were shocked to see the sculpture hidden behind thick tough coatings of paint or whitewash. They contacted ASI & endowment dept.

New entrance

2 preserve the sculpture. The Samithi collected 40 lakhs & Endowment dept gave 12 lakhs. Then the face lift was given to the temple.
The huge Dwajastambham, notice the faces on the dwajastambham in 2nd pic. Capturing it fully was a little difficult, its so tall.
Ratha 4 rathyatra

Entrance Mandapam has 4 pillars beautifully sculpted. At 2 ends r Gaja Yalis & middle 2 are either Simhas or Simha yali.
On top of them it is carved.
I went 2 this temple 20 days ago in the hot sun and yesterday in the evening, to clarify some doubts. Hence pics have diff shades.

First pillar
Notice the 4th pic. At the back of the head it is carved like a simha or you can say it looks like the Kirti mukha

This is the second pillar.

2nd pic has Vishnu Bhagvan with Laxmi ma.
3rd pic has Vishnu Bhagvan on his Seshatalpa.
4th pic has Ramanujacharya.

3rd pillar - pic 1 & 2

@_ugra_ notice the way the head is turned back here too. Nagas on top.

4th pillar - pic 3 & 4

Ceiling is shaped differently. This is a complete stone temple without use of iron etc.
2nd pic - Ramanujacharya, stone vighraha. The pillars and cover for him are recent addition, though he is centuries old.
3rd pic - Hanumanji, again in a similar addition.

Venugopal Swamy & Laxmi ma r in 2 separate mini temples in same temple.

Coming in we see the 2 big Dwarapalas. In great condition. When this temple was started 800 years ago, during shankusthapana, they found these two Dwarapalas, suggesting an older temple lost in time.

Jagannath Swamy, Balabhadra & Subhadra. Though I don't take pics of garbagriha, these murtis r taken on the Rath Yatra. Hence archaka said I could take pics.
Bottom half took a pic of the alwars.
Mound of Chandan in the pic is how we see Varaha Narasimha Swamy of Simhachalam. +

Similarly on Chandan Yatra day, they remove Chandan of this idol too. Fascinating.

There is a fascinating story 4 this temple too. It is believed that this temple was built during the time of Cholas (I'm assuming Kulottunga Cholas)
Small temple in 1st pic is Laxmi Narayan temple

Since inscription is not there, there is no info abt which king built it.
The king wanted 2 build a temple similar 2 Puri here. When every 12 years, idols are changed in Puri, King asked them 2 give him those idols. But he was refused.

Pillared mandapam around the compound

Those days the idols used 2 b immersed in the sea every 12 years. On the night of immersion the king kept divers ready & retrieved the idols. They were brought here & prana pranista was done. The same idols r there till now.

That the wooden idols have survived for many centuries is a miracle.
1st pic is Varaha Swamy with Bhudevi on top & Rahu, Ketu at his feet.
2nd pic notice 2 layers of petals on top of the pillar
3rd pic Gaja mukha on top of the pillar.

1st pic, there used 2 b a door leading to a huge area of flower garden of the temple. At a later stage, a Diwan sold off the garden 4 his benefit.
2nd pic, part of temple property. A cook for temple came, stayed & tried to occupy it. Now it is disputed.

Brahma, Saraswati on Hamsa.
I think Shiva Parvati on Gaja.

Temple is under endowment dept who takes income from huge lands of temple. Except for archaka salary & power bills, not much given to temple.

To all devotees & locals who safeguarded this gem 🙏🙏🙏