‘Shree’ means ‘Mahalaxmi’, the consort of Sri Jagannatha and ‘Khetra’ means land or kingdom. Puri is therefore the kingdom of Mahalaxmi, who happens to be the goddess of wealth, beauty and prosperity. Anyone who comes here never lacks food or is ever hungry. Shreekshetra is one of the many names for Puri which is situated on the Sea Shores of the Bay of Bengal in Odisha. This revered pilgrimage center is regarded as the most sacred and divine place in India, as it serves as the eternal abode of Sri Jagannatha. In ancient scriptures like the Skanda Purana and Brahma Purana, Sri Jagannatha is also known as Lord Purushottama, and the holy place itself is named Puri, after the Lord, as Purushottama-kshetra. In fact, this sacred land is proclaimed to be the divine “body” (“Bapuh”) of the Lord Himself. The glory of Purushottama-kshetra is extolled in the Skanda Purana with the following words.
“Although Lord Jagannatha is all pervading and is the source of all and there are also other holy places which destroy all sins, yet this holy place is superior as it has become the body of this Supreme Being. He Himself is present there assuming a Form and has indeed made that place known by His own name”. (Utkala-khanda, Chapter 1, verses 8 & 9).
Puri holds a significant place among the four sacred pilgrimage sites, known as the “Dhams,” in India for Hindus. Bhagvatapada Adi Shankaracharya, the great reformer of Sanatana Vaidika Dharma, designated these four Dhams as Jagannatha Puri in the east, Dwarika in the west, Badrinath in the north, and Rameswaram in the south. However, it is evident that Adi Shankaracharya bestowed a primal position to Puri when he appointed his esteemed disciple, Padmapada, as the first Acharya of Shree Goverdhan Peeth, which he established in Puri. Additionally, Adi Shankaracharya proclaimed the Rigveda, the foremost and holiest of the four Vedas, as the scripture to be propagated by this Peeth.
As per the Brahma Purana, Purushottama Kshetra extends over a distance of ten yojanas (equivalent to 90 miles) and spans a width of five kosas (ten miles). This holy place is known by different names such as Shankha Kshetra, Neelachala, Uddiyana Peetha, Dasavatara-kshetra and Martya Vaikuntha. At its heart lies the Holy Temple of Sri Jagannatha, surrounded by divine protection from eight forms of Shiva known as Ashta Shivas, eight forms of the Goddess known as Ashta Shakti, and eight forms of Sri Hanuman known as Ashta Mahaveer. The Kshetra is adorned with countless sacred temples and holy sites.
Within this sacred area, there are five Tirthas or holy sites: Markandeya Sarovar, Shwetaganga Sarovar, Narendra Sarovar, Rohini-kunda, and the Mahodadhi (sea). Additionally, the hermitages (ashramas) of four ancient Rishis, namely Angira, Bhrigu, Kandu, and Markandeya, can be found within this kshetra. Furthermore, this holy place has been blessed with the establishment of monasteries by the eminent Acharyas of various Vedic sampradayas, including Bhagavatpada Adi Shankaracharya, Shree Ramanujacharya, and Shree Nimbarkacharya.
Puri Shree Shankha Khyetram
- Shree Balabhadra
- Shree Subhadra
- Shree Jagannatha
- Shree Sudarshana
- Madhava
- Bhudevi
- Shreedevi
- Shree Mandira
- Shree Kshetreswari Bimala
- Shree Mahalaxmi
- Uttara Durga
- Bata Mangala
- Garuda Stambha
- Bhoga Mandapa
- Kalpabata
- Rohini Kunda
- Bata Ganesha
- Uchhista Ganapati
- Saraswati
- Nabagraha
- Konarka Surya Dva
- Padapadma
- Jajna Bata
- Satya Narayana
- Sakshi Gopinatha
- Jaya Bijaya
- Agneeswara
- Indrani(Bajreswari)
- Kshetrapala
- Kuttama Chandi
- Mukteswara
- Ghorakali
- Batamarkandeswara
- Katyayani Budhima
- Gopeswara
- Bedha Kali
- Pataleswara
- Bhubaneswari
- Baikuntheswara
- Jogeswara
- Aishanyeswara
- Shitala
- Bhetamandapa
- Pakashala
- Dakshineswari
- Kundaleswara
- Gauranga
- Shree Rama
- Barabhai Hanumana
- Nirmalya Hanumana
- Neelachala Upabana
- Rameswara
- Chakra Narayana
- Chaturdhama
- Kanapata Hanumana
- Niladri Bihara
- Bayabyeswara
- Shiali Lata
- Koili Baikuntha
- Tapaswi Hanumana
- Subarna Kupa
- Ananda Bazar
- Debasnana Mandapa
- Chahani Mandapa
- Baishi Pabachha
- Kashi Biswanatha
- Fate Hanumana
- Patitapabana
- Singhadwara
- Meghanada Pacheri
- Badachhata Matha
- Uttara(hasti) Dwara
- Paschima(byaghra) Dwara
- Mangaleswari
- Durgamadhaba
- Dakshina (ashwa) Dwara
- Prahari Hanumana
- Chhauni Matha
- Aruna Stambha
- Jagannatha Ballava
- Narendra Puskarini
- Bisweswari
- Dolabedi
- Banadurga, Makardhwaja
- Banadurga, Alamba Devi
- Atharanala
- Bhargabi Nadi
- Sapta Matruka
- Markanda Puskarini
- Markandeswara
- Bhagabati
- Banadurga
- Ghata Mangala
- Chamundeswari
- Harachandi
- Pandu Ashrama
- Nikumbhila Bata
- Kandu Nrushimha
- parvati sagara
- Shree lokanatha
- Jambeswara
- Basheli
- Kapala Mochana
- Mani Karnika Mandira
- Barahi Devi
- Shyama Kali
- Shankaracharya Matha
- Mukti Shala
- Sweta Ganga Puskarini
- Ugrewara Ashrama
- Dakshina Kali
- Siddha Bakula Matha
- Narayani
- Sodashaputri
- Marchika Devi
- Charchika Devi
- Arddhasoshini (mausima)
- Daria Hanumana
- Chakra Narayana
- Chakratirtha
- Shree Gundicha Mandira
- Adi Nrusimha Natha
- Nilakantheswara
- Indradyumna Puskarini
- Siddha Hanumana
- Beleswara
- Mukteswara
- Batamangala
- Kapoteswara
- Badadanda
- Saradhabali
- Muktimandapa
- Mahodadhi
- Swargadwara
