JUGGERNATH, properly JAGATNATH (the Lord of the World), a celebrated temple and place of Hindu worship, on the sea-coast of Orissa, and district of Cuttack, esteemed the most sacred of all the Hindu religious establishments. It is situated a few miles to the N.E. of the Chilka Lake, close to the sea shore, and when seen from a distance is a shapeless mass of building, but forms an excellent landmark for navigators in approaching so low a coast. The temple of Juggernath stands within a square area enclosed by a lofty stone wall measuring 650 feet on a side. The inclosure is entered on the E. by a grand gateway, from which a broad flight of steps gives access to a terrace 20 feet in height, enclosed by a second wall 445 feet square. From this platform the great pagoda rises to the height of about 180 feet from the platform. At the gate of the outward wall are two large statues of singhs, an imaginary or fabulous animal, nearly as large as an elephant. Juggernath is said to be one of the incarnations of Vishnu;
but the original dedication of the temple is involved in fable. It is known to have existed for above 800 years, and is mentioned as a celebrated place of Hindu worship by the oldest Mohammedan historians of India. The idol itself is a huge disgusting image of the human form, made of wood, with a frightful black visage, and a distended mouth foaming with blood. On each side of him is another image, one part of which is painted white, and the other yellow; the first is said to be the image of his sister Shubadra, the other that of his brother Balaram. The throne of the idol is placed on a stupendous car or moveable tower about 60 feet high, resting on wheels, which, from the weight, indent the ground deeply as they move along. Formerly devotees threw themselves under the wheels, and were crushed to death, but these horrible deeds are now prohibited by the British government. The tower is drawn along by the people by means of ropes, amidst the shouts of the ignorant multitude; and upon the car are the priests and attendants. The concourse of Hindu pilgrims to this shrine is immense; the aged come to die at Juggernath; and so numerous are these pilgrims, that the approach to it is known at the distance of 50 miles by the quantity of human bones strewed on the way. The impurity of the Hindu idolatry is strongly indicated by the indecent sculptures that cover the walls of the temple and the sides of the machine.
The resort of Hindu pilgrims to Juggernath is the source of a considerable revenue; and the British, by the conquest of the province of Cuttack from the Mahrattas in 1803, had succeeded to all their rights as sovereigns, and consequently to the right of collecting this tax on the superstition of the inhabitants. The pilgrim tax thus became a regular source of revenue to the East India Company. At home the measure was disapproved by the Court of Directors, but the president of the Board of Control, Mr. Dundas, took a different view; and, through his influence, a despatch was framed, to the effect that, as the tax on pilgrims had been levied under Mohammedan and Mahratta governments, there did not appear any objection to its continuance under the British government. In 1839, under the administration of Lord Auckland, the subject came again under notice, when arrangements were made for the abolition of the pilgrim tax, and shortly after the British government wholly disconnected itself from idolatrous worship. It is a circumstance for congratulation that the government has thus purged itself from a foul scandal, which lowered its character and impaired its usefulness. The superintendence of the temple is now exercised by the rajah of Khoordah, who is forbidden to receive any payments from pilgrims except such as may be voluntarily offered. One of the chief periods of pilgrimage is in March, when the Dole Jattrah takes place; and the other in July, when the Ruth Jattrah is celebrated. Distant S.W. from Calcutta 250 miles. E. Long. 86.5., N. Lat. 19.49. (v. r.)