Gundicha Mandir

This temple is located at the end of Grand road about three km north east of Jagannth temple. Gundicha Mandira is called the “birthplace” of Jaganantha Swami because here on a special platform called the mahavedi, a celestial carpenter carved the daru that manifested the Deities of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra during the reign of King lndradyumna. This temple is named after King Indradyumna’s wife, Gundicha Maharani. In this area King Indradyumna performed one thousand ashvamedha yajnas.

 During Ratha Yatra, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi, along with Sudarsana, leave Jagannath Mandira for nine days: one day for traveling to Gundicha, seven days spent there, and one day to return home. This Journey is known as to Gundicha Yatra, Nava Dina Yatra (“nine days Journey”), or Ghosa Yatra. It is most auspicious to have darshana of Lord during this time. Every year the Rathayatra culminates at this temple which is surrounded by lush gardens and tall cooling coconut trees. Fragrant flowers and shady trees create a Vrindavan atmosphere which Lord Jaganantha enjoys for 7 days before returning to Sri Mandira.

The cleansing of the Gundicha Temple – Gundicha-marjana – takes place the day before the Rathayatra festival as mentioned in Chaitanya-Charitamrita. Darshan of Jagannatha during His stay at Gundicha temple is known as Adapa Darshana. It is said in scripture that darshan of the Lord Jagannatha at Gundicha temple is equal to ten darshan at Nilachala Temple (main temple). 

The Place where Gundicha temple is situated is known as Sundarachala. Sundarahcala is compared to Vrindavana, and Nilachala, where Jagannatha recides, is compared to Dvaraka. During Ratha Yatra, Lord Jagannatha comes to Vrindavana, as the devotees are in the mood of residents of Vrindavana, begging the Lord to return with them.