Entrance to Gundicha Mandira
Gundicha Mandira is
north east of the Jagannatha temple at the end of Badadanda or Grand
Road. It is around two kilometer (one mile) from Jagannatha temple.
In the Gundicha Temple
there is a mahavedi where the
deities of Jagannatha,
Baladeva and Subhadra appeared
during the time of King Indradyumna. This
is recognized as the “birth place” of
Lord Jagannatha, and is named after King Indradyumna’s wife,
Gundicha
Maharani. In this area King Indradyumna performed thousand
Ashvamedha
Yagnas.
Ratha Yatra
Lord Jagannatha,
Baladeva and Subhadra along
Sudarshan, leave
Jagannatha
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 Jagannatha
at this time.
Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra
Darshana of
Jagannatha during His stay at Gundicha temple is
known as Adapa
Darshana. It is said in scripture that darshana of the Lord
Jagannatha at
Gundicha temple is
equal to ten darshana at Nilachala Temple
(main temple). The place where the Gundicha temple is
situated is also known as Sundarachala. It is
compared to Vrindavana.
