78. III. WESTERN GATE/ TIGER GATE (Vyaghra Dwara)

III. WESTERN GATE/ TIGER GATE (Vyaghra Dwara):

Four steps above the public road there is a door at the western side and two small figures of tiger are placed at both sides of it. So, it is also called Bya-ghradwar.

11. Niladri Bihar:

Approached from the western gate, this art gallery is situated between the outer and inner enclosures and displays the pastimes of Lord Jagannath and the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Various stories and incidents relating the Jagannath cult have been displayed here with the help of clay models. The temporary Ratna Simhasan is also exhibited here. The museum is very attractive. There is a prescribed fee to visit the museum.

SOUTH-WEST AREA:

12. Yajna Nrsimha Temple:

Just near Mukti mandapa, it was built by King Codaganga dev before constructing the main temple of Jagannath. Skanda Purana (28.1-2) says Jagannath first appeared in the form of Nrsimha. But King Indradyumna was too terrified to look at this ferrocious form of God. Brahma then prayed to the Lord and He assumed the happy peaceful form of Jagannath.

This ancient four-armed deity of Lord Nrsimha is 5 feet tall: He holds a disc and conch in His upper two hands and sits on a lotus holding Lakshmi- devi on His lap. It is said that Yajna Nrsimha empowered Sridhara Swami to write Bhavartha-dipika, his commentary on Srimad Bhagavatam.

13. Rohini Kunda:

Skanda Purana says that water gushes from this kunda at the time of the universal destruction, and it remains within the kunda at the time of creation. Once a crow named Kaka Bhusanda fell in the kunda and then magically arose with a divine four-armed form.

14. Bimala-devi temple:

Bimala-devi is a 4 handed deity standing on a lotus in the southwest corner of the inner compound. Bimala-devi, worshiped here as Adi-sakti (form of Durga), is the guardian deity for Sri Kshetra dham. Bimala-devi's position is of supreme significance because immediately after Jagannath enjoys His bhoga, it is first offered to her; then it becomes maha-prasadam. As a source of spiritual purity and power, Bimala-devi kindly removes all impediments for her devotees.


NORTH-WEST AREA:

15. Nila Madhava:

It is the name of the original deity of Nilacala worshiped by some Oriyan tribal woodsmen known as the Sabaras. The original deity disappeared and reappeared as Lord Jagannath for the pleasure of King Indradyumna. This Nila Madhava deity is a replica of the original.

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