Jagarnathpur - Jagarnath Mandir

This three centuries old famous Vaishnavalaya of Bihar, not only bears the same name of the world renowned Puri Jagannath Mandir, but shares many of its vital features, marking it from the rest of the aalayas of Bihar. Jagarnath is the corrupt form of Jagannath and very popular here. It was built by the Thakur of Barkagar estate in 1961. There are many legends narrating about the fantastic origin of this holy shrine built, in the then most backward area of present Ranchi. According to sthalapurana there was a devout servant of Thakur of Barkagar, who was accompanying his pious master to Puri periodically for worship. Once he fasted for 7 days continuously and experienced at midnight, keenness of hunger on the last day. When he muttered inaudibly his plight, there appeared a man bringing food to him in gold vessels. Attributing it Lord's compassion, he ate and slept. But on the next morning, the theft of temple's gold vessels was reported and there was great hubub in the temple. Hearing it, he produced the vessels left by the strange person by his side. It was inferred that Lord Jagannath himself served him food in the night.

So he was hailed highly for his genuine devotion. On the night followed the Thakur was ordered to build a temple for him at his place with Subhadra and Balabhadra as installed in Puri temple. Devout to the core, and extremely popular as pious king, he obeyed the divine command. Though they are some more local versions they converge at the Thakur's pure devotion for the Lord. The temple thus came into existence has essential parts built as that of its counterpart at Puri including the Guidcha ghat which goes by the name of Mousibar here, where the idols are kept for public worship for a week during the holy annual Rathayatra. It is celebrated with great eclat attended by lakhs of persons, major chunk of them being the animistic aborgins, who were converted to Vaishnavism gradually after the building of temple. The holy tradition of sweeping the platform of the chariot by the Raja of Puri, is practised here too and the head of the family of ex Raja emulates his counterpart at Puri to the point of exactitude. This biggest religious event is uniting the people backward and forward communities marvelously well by bringing them under one umbrella. At this time a very large fair is held lasting for weeks. This gala event and its popularity is the aftermath of the Jagarnath temple for which the Raja and his servant are primarily responsible. This temple stimulated the religious spirit of the people and so similar places of worship were built soon, like the one at Chutia and Seraikella.

It lies 10 km off Ranchi, the fast advancing city of Bihar, having all types of conveyance.

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