Jagannatha Puri

The city of Puri is also called Jagannatha Puri, Nilacala, Sri Ksetra or Puri-on-the-Sea. It is considered equal to Vrindavana and Navadvipa (the Birthplace of Lord Krishna and Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu respectively).

It is one of the most sacred Vaisnava holy places. It has been a holy place of pilgrimage for devout Hindus since ancient times

Sri Devi or Laksmi, the svarupa-shakti of Lord. That tract of land which is in influenced by the Sri-Shakti is thus known as Sri Ksetra.

Jagannatha Puri is situated on the bank of Bay of Bengal in East-Indian in the tropical state of Orissa, about 310 miles south of Calcutta. Utakal is another name of Orissa. Orissa was also known as Udradesa.

The city is shaped like the shadow of a Conchshell. The shape of the Conchshell bears the spiritual significance of Jagannath Puri being the abode of the Godhead, Vishnu, who carries a Conchshell as part of his eternal paraphernalia. In the center of the Conchshell shadow there is a portion of raised ground called Nilgiri or "the blue hill." On the crest of Nilgiri stands an imposing temple complex dedicated to Vishnu as Jagannath, "the Maintainer of the Universe." In Sanskrit jagat means the universe, and natha means the maintainer.

For thousands of year’s great sages and other exalted persons have traveled to Puri on pilgrimage. Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu chose to reside here for the last eighteen years of His life.