Alarnath temple story, timings, location
After Debasnana Purnima, devotees start visiting Alarnath temple. It is located in Brahmagiri, around 21 km distance from Puri town. Bhubaneswar to Alarnath temple distance is approximately 82 km. Another form of Lord Jagannath is believed to be residing in Alarnath mandir.
Story and significance of Alarnath temple
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On Snana Purnima, the holy trinity of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, along with Sudarshan, had a lavish bath with 108 pots of water. Following that, according to custom, they become ill with a fever for the next 15 days. The deities are subsequently relocated to Anasara Ghara.
With the Holy Trinity unable to give darshan because of illness, the devotees visit to the Alarnath temple where another form of Lord Jagannath has been enshrined. It is widely believed that the darshan of Lord Alarnath during Anasara of deities brings the same fortune and wellbeing.
Carved out of black marble, the idol worshiped at the Alarnath temple has four arms holding conch, club, lotus and chakra. Lord Vishnu’s mount Garuda, usually placed on a tall pillar in front of the deity, is seen kneeling near the feet of Alarnath here. Also, Lord Krishna’s consorts, Rukmini and Satyabhama, are worshipped in the temple.
The temple was built by Rajasthan’s royal Alwar family and was named Alwarnath, which was later shortened to Alarnath. It is believed that devotees receive Lord Jagannath’s blessings after seeing Alarnatha.
Devotees also get ‘Mahaprasad,’ similar to that found at Puri’s Jagannath temple. Apart from that, Alarnath’s favorite ‘Pudding’ (Khiri Prasad) is available in the Ananda Bazaar.
There is a mythological story that Lord Brahma, the creator of the cosmos, came to earth to formally dedicate the Sri Jagannath temple in Puri. The location where Lord Brahma originally landed on Earth became known as Brahmagiri.
Darshan timings of Alarnath temple
The temple doors will be opened at 3.30 am., and rituals such as Mangala Alati, Tadapa Lagi, and Abakasha Besha will be performed. The public darshan will begin on 5.30 am. Similarly, a timetable has been fixed for rituals such as Khiri Bhog, Sandhya Alati and Dhupa, Bada Singhara Besha and Dhupa, and Pahada.
Special measures have been made by the administration to ensure a hassle-free darshan. While barricades have been erected to control the crowd. Police forces have also been deployed.
Beautification of Alarnath Mandir
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved a Rs 8 crore master plan for the development and beautification of the Alarnath temple in Bramhagiri. The project will be finished within a year.
The temple’s entry and exit doors will be beautified. The entry door will be expanded to 40 feet in width and 18 feet in height. The temple’s approach road will also be enlarged to 40 feet, with a drainage system on both sides. In the entire temple, marbles will be replaced with khondalite stones. As part of the master plan, the surrounding areas will be beautified as well.
