8. The glory of Jagannath Puri dham

The glory of Jagannath Puri dham:

There are 4 Dhams (holy abodes) in all the four quarters of India and these are 

1. Badrinath in the north

2. Ramanath (Rameswar) in the south

3. Dwarakanath in the west 

4. Jagannath Dham - Puri or Niladri Dham in the east. 

Out of these, the Jagannath Dham is the most sacred of all. 

It has also been prescribed that after seeing Badrinath, Dwarakanath and Ramanath, one must visit Jagannath Dham at Puri. 

It is also said that the supreme god Vishnu takes His bath in Badrinath, puts on His dress and make-up in Dwaraka, He takes food in Jagannath Puri dham and sleeps in Rameswar. 

All Bhoga or Prasada consisting of rice, pulses and vegetable curries as well as cakes and sweetmeats offered to Jagannath are known as Mahaprasad. 

It is also said that god Vishnu is worshipped in one of the Dhams in each Yuga (age). 

He was worshipped as Lord Narayana in Badrinath during Satya yuga

As Lord Krishna in Dwaraka during Dwapara yuga 

As Lord Ramachandra in Ramanath during Treta yuga. 

Now in Kali yuga, He is being worshipped as Daru Brahma Jagannath at Srikshetra - Puri.

The glory of Puri has been described in various Puranas. It is stated in Brahma Puran that this Kshetra (holy place) protects mankind from Bhavasagar (the ocean of world) and bestows both worldly pleasure and salvation. It is best in all the four yugas, since Vishnu resides here always. It has also been mentioned in Skanda Purana, that Vishnu has Himself created this sacred Kshetra to live here permanently with his consort Lakshmi. 

Since the sinners were able to get liberation immediately after visiting this place, once Yama (the god of death) requested Jagannath to leave the place. But in reply, Lord Jagannath did not agree and declared that He would never leave this Kshetra even during pralaya (the great deluge).

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