77. II. SOUTHERN GATE/ ASWADWAR (Horse Gate)

II. SOUTHERN GATE/ ASWADWAR (Horse Gate):

The southern gate of the temple is known as Aswadwar (horse gate) and it is 5 steps above the public road.

Towards the right side of the steps, a huge figure of Mahavir Hanuman has been installed. The door is said to be the entrance of the Tantrics to go inside the temple.

SOUTHEAST AREA:

7. Rosaghar/Jagannath Temple Kitchen:

There is a big kitchen hall in the outer enclosure of the temple located in agni-kon, the southeast corner of the compound.


8. Kalpa Bata:

"Kalpa" means 1000 years and "vata" means banyan tree. This tree is towards the south side of the temple. This sacred, wish-fulfilling (kalpa-vrksa) banyan tree has been standing here since time immemorial and is not destroyed during the devastation, pralaya. It is a custom of barren women to spread a sari beneath this tree. If a fruit falls within a reasonable time period, they go home knowing they will obtain a child. The Kapila Samhita says one will be free from the sins of 100 lives by worshiping and circumambulating this holy tree.

SOUTH AREA:

9. Sad-bhuja Gauranga:

This beautiful six-armed deity of Sri Caitanyadeva is right near the south gate, the Horse Gate. It is said that Sad-bhuja Gauranga appeared in the dream of a pujari named Ananta Mahapatra, ordering him to install a deity like this. The Puri king was informed of the dream, and then he installed a deity of Sad-bhuja Gauranga.

10. Mukti Mandapa:

It is situated near the south gate. These 16 pillars, 38 feet square platform is modelled after a sastric yajna-mandapa. With the support of the Rani of Raja Mansingh, the Puri King Ramachandra dev built this mandapa 500 years ago.

Mukti Mandapa is also called Brahmasana because Lord Brahma once sat here advising Visvakarma during the temple construction. Today it is the seat of selected scholars who deliberate on various Vedic texts and rituals. They also solve problems concerning temple matters and advise the common people in religious details and social customs.



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