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Lord Shri Jagannath Temple, situated off the Tindivanam Highway at Moratandi, is administered by the Pondicherry Utkal Samaj, Puducherry. Nestled among sylvan settings, the temple provides a serene environment for worship away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The temple has large open spaces and is surrounded by trees and gardens, providing the serene environment , peace and tranquillity.
The temple was first conceptualised by Pondicherry Utkal Samaj in the year 2003 and was consecrated by the Utkal Samaj in the year 2007.
Over the years, several devotees have collaborated to make the sanctified premises a thriving centre of art, culture, and divinity. There are plans to construct a larger temple on the same site, which would be a mini replica of the Puri Jagannath Temple. The temple construction work will begin soon in this year.
Lord Jagannath along with his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister maa Subhadra, adorn the Ratna Bedi , the sanctum sanctorum of the present temple, along with the Sudarshana Chakra. The deities (murtis) of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Maa Subhadra made of neem wood (Daru Brahma) symbolise Chaitanya (consciousness), Shakti(energy), and Jnana(knowledge) respectively. The deity of Lord Jagannath is identified by the large circular face symbolizing someone who is anadi (without beginning) and ananta (without end) and two large round eyes (Chakadola ) , one symbolizing the sun and the other the moon. In the Odia culture and tradition , Jagannath is affectionately prayed in many names , to mention a few as Jagā or Jagabandhu (Friend of the Universe), Kālia (The Black-coloured Lord, or the Timely One), Dāruēdebatā (The wooden god), and Chakāākhi or Chakānayan (With round eyes) and Chakadola. Lord Jagannath does not appear in the traditional Dashavataras(ten avatars) of Vishnu, although in certain Odia literature, he has been considered as the ninth avatar.
Pondicherry Utkal Samaj organizes various festivals such as RathaYatra, Ganesha Chaturthi, Dola Purnima, SnanaYatra, and Krishna Janmashtami. RathaYatra festival , both Gundicha and Bahuda are organized on a grand scale, every year in the premises of the temple. As part of the ritual, the deities are taken to the decorated chariot in a spectacular rhythmic procession called pahandibije , followed by pulling of the Chariot (Rath) by thousands of devotees from Pondicherry and adjoining areas participating in the function. The temple also participates in the Masi Magam festival of Pondicherry , celebrated locally in the Tamil calendar of Masi. In this festival, the visiting deities of Shree Lami Narayan from nearby Shree Lami Narayan Temple , Tindivanan are hosted and offered puja in the temple premises for two nights before they proceed to the Pondicherry sea for ceremonial bath. The Samaj also endeavors to share with all the cultural richness of the Odisha by hosting Odishi and other dance in the temple premises and continues to strive in this direction with the blessings of Lord Jagannath.
Shree Jagannath Temple,
The Pondicherry Shreekhetra,
Navajuga Nagar,Vill: Pattanur,
PO: Thiruchitrambalam,
Dist: Villupuram,
Tamilnadu. Pin: 605111