Sri Gundicha Temple (Odia: ଗୁଣ୍ଡିଚା ମନ୍ଦିର) is the final destination of the annual Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra. While the Sri Jagannath temple is the starting point, there is a three-kilometer long Grand Road connecting these two temples. Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhai Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra stay here for nine days. The temple has two main gates. The western entrance of the temple is the main entrance from which Bhagwan Jagannath enters the temple during the Rath Yatra. And the eastern gate is used for departure.
The temple is built using light gray sandstone and architecture similar to other temples of Puri. The temple is functioning under Shri Jagannath Temple Administration, Puri. Apart from the nine days of the rath yatra, there is no permanent deity in the temple, that is, the temple is empty during the rest of the year. The main attraction of the temple is its huge beautiful garden spread around the main temple, hence it is also called The Garden House of Jagannath.
As per mythology, the temple Gundicha based on the name of Indradyumna’s queen Gundicha (the legendary builder of the main temple). Rani Gundicha had a peep at the divine image of Jagannath being created by the celestial architect Vishwakarma. Impressed by the image, she insisted on her husband building the temple for the deity and starting the Ratha Yatra. Another variant suggests that Jagannath was pleased with her temple and promised to visit her house, and is also known as birthplace of these three deities.
Shri Gundicha Temple
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