Puri Chakratirtha / Chakra Nrusingha Temple, Odisha

Address

Puri Chakratirtha / Chakra Nrusingha Temple, Odisha

Badasirei, Puri,

Odisha 752002

Moolavar

Chakra Narasimha

Introduction

• Chakratirtha is an important pilgrimage center located in Puri, Odisha.
• Situated towards the northern end of Puri town, about 3 kilometers from the Lord Jagannath Temple.
• Located on the right side of Chakratirtha Road, which leads from Subas Bose Chowk to Penthakota, the fisherman village.
• The temple is dedicated to Lord Nrusingha, known by different names such as Chakra Narasimha Temple, Chakra Nrusingha Temple, and Chakra Narayana Temple.
• The temple features a large Chakra (the divine weapon of Lord Vishnu or Jagannath) worshipped in water within the sanctum sanctorum, made of black granite, with a statue of Lord Narayan at the center, known as Chkranarayana.

Puranic Significance:

• The temple houses three forms of Lord Nrusingha:
  • Abhaya Nrusingha: Represents Sri Balabhadra.
  • Chakra Nrusingha: Represents Goddess Subhadra.
  • Laxmi Nrusingha: Represents Lord Jagannath.
• In Puranic texts, the three principal deities—Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswar—are believed to manifest in the forms of Chakra Nrusingha, Laxmi Nrusingha, and Abhaya Nrusingha, respectively.
• Local lore suggests that a cyclone once displaced the Neelachakra (the wheel atop the Jagannath Temple), which flew across the sky and finally fell at Chakratirtha.
• It is also believed that the ‘Daru’ (divine log of wood for the creation of deities) of Lord Jagannath touched the ground at Chakratirtha for the first time, having arrived via the sea.
• Chakratirtha is spiritually significant as it is considered the abode of Goddess Mahalaxmi’s father.

Spiritual Connections:

• The temple has a strong association with the Lord Jagannath Temple.
• Every year, the Agnyamala (sacred garland of fire) from Lord Jagannath is offered to Lord Nrusingha at Chakratirtha.
• The temple celebrates Narasimha Janma (the birth festival of Lord Nrusingha) with great devotion.

Century/Period

1000 Years Old

Managed By

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Nearest Bus Station

Chakratirtha

Nearest Railway Station

Puri Junction

Nearest Airport

Bhubaneswar 

Location on Map

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