Background of Temple :
There are a few legends regarding the origin of the Jagannath
temple at Jagannathpur. An Oraon servant of the Thakur of Barkagarh
Estate, within which Jagannathpur
Festivals
:
Every year the annual car festival is held at Jagannathpur with
great pomp and ceremony. The ceremonials follow the customs and
ceremonials at Puri.
The celebrated
Temple of Lord Jagannath now existent at Puri was constructed
by Raja Ananta Varman Chodaganga Dev in 12th century A.D. The
wooden images of Jagannath Balabhadra and Subhadra were installed
in that temple. The management of the temple continued under the
Hindu rulers till 1558, when the State of Orissa was conquered
by the Afghan Nawab of Bengal and the temple was attacked by the
Afgan General 'Kalapahad'. Then, an independent Khurda kingdom
was established by Ramachandra Deb, who assumed the management
of the temple.
He consecrated
the temple and reinstalled the deities. Raja Mansingh, a General
of the Mughal King Akbar, defeated the Afghans and annexed Orissa
in to the Mughal dominion. It remained under the Mughals till
1751 A.D. Till 1760, the temple continued under the Khurda Raja,
who was paying tribute to Mughals and Marhattas. Marhattas took
up direct management of the temple till 1803. The Britishers annexed
Orissa into British empire in 1803 and allowed Puri. Raja to manage
the temple.
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