7. Ratnavedi and Garuda Stambha

Ratnavedi or Jagati is an elevated platform on which the deities (Chaturdha Murti) sits inside the temple. According to to the mukti mandapa pandita sabha the ratnavedi or pedestral contains number of  Salagrama. The Salagrama is nothing but ammonite fossils but taken to be a holy stone and worshiped by the followers of Vishnu from the ancient times. The Salagrama shila is found in the bed of river Gandaki a tributary of the Ganga. It is also found in the bed of The Narmada.  

In the Nata Mandira of the temple on the eastern side the holy Garuda stambha is located . Everyone must have felt the uncommon scene of big eyes behind the Garuda stambha. One the first sight the Garuda stambha looks like an ordinary stone column surmounted by a garuda figure on the top.But on close examination the shaft seems to be a remnant of a old plant, some says it has the impression of Saal tree shorn of its bark. Now the interesting fact is the 7 fit long shaft of the Garuda stambha is not an ordinary stone but a Salagrama stone which is unique in the fossil record of India.Another fact is the Garuda placed on the shaft and the Ratnavedi are on same height from sea level.. Amazing but true.

6. Kala Pahada

A General of Bengal Governor Suleiman Kirrani, named Kalachand Roy or Kala Pahad fell in love with the daughter of kirrani and got married on the condition that he converted to Islam. But repentance came who wanted to come back to Hinduism. For this he came to Puri to convert himself again to Hinduism-but the orthodox pandas of Puri Jagannath temple refused him to accept as Hindu In tune with the dictates of this new faith, he now believed that idol worship was a heathen activity, and went about destroying all Hindu idols in the region and embraced the new faith with the passion of the convert.

He invaded Orissa in 1568 and marched up to Puri. Kalaa Pahaad wanted to burn the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, and in one of his attacks on the temple at Puri he did succeed in wrenching the idols from the temple. He threw the idols unceremoniously on the street and kicked them around a bit before carting them all the way to the banks of Hooghly and set fire to them. However, the ’brahmapinda’ or the core saligram stone (considered a sacred stone that is alive) had been removed from the idols beforehand by the priests who had anticipated the attack and had been hidden at Sonpur. When the priests of Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar apprehended his attack they filled the sanctum with husk. Kala Pahad tried his best to take it out, but in the end set fire to the dump. After he left, the priests put the fire out, but by then the sivalingam had cracked and been disfigured.

5. Aruna Stambha

The 16 sided monolithic pillar measuring 11 meters in height which you can see in front of the Eastern gate of the temple or the Simha Dwara. Originally it was not there at Sri Jagannath Temple Puri. It stood in front of the famous Sun Temple at Konark and in the 18th century Marathas when ruled Orissa they dragged the Aruna Stambha through sea shore till Puri Jagannath Temple. Amazing transportation of such a huge pillar..but its true..

In Oriya Aruna meaning the Sun and that's the reason it was kept in the eastern gate.

4. River on Bada danda and Bada Sankha

Chariot Festival at Puri was initially performed with 2 sets of chariots ( A total of 6 Chariots ). As there was a river flowing through in between Sri Mandira and Mausi maa temple, the first set of chariots were used to bring the lords till the river, then lords had to ferry across the river in three giant wooden boats and aboard the other set of chariots till Mausi maa temple. Amazing but true.
The place where the river was flowing is called as bada sankha on Bada danda. In Puri local language Sankha meaning small bridge and hence the name came as Bada sankha.

3. Madala Paanji

Historical Document. : After the death of last independent king Mukundadev, Kalapahad invaded orissa & burnt the sacred wooden deities near river Ganga. After this the Delhi Emperor sent Manasingh to keep tranquil & peace in Utkal, during the region of Bhoi king Ramachandra, who inherited the ‘Gajapati’ title of Orissa. He organized the ‘Navakalebar’ for the second time by newly installing the images made of wood & then called ‘Daru – Brahma’ & most probably he had appointed a ‘Karan’ to write the daily affairs of Lord Jagannath in a ‘Panji’, which was being kept in the shape of ‘Madal’ (Drum) & thus that sacred temple record was called by the name “Madala – Panji”

2. The only place to have a vertical view of the temple

Several devotees arrive to Puri  Jagannath Temple for the darshan of the Lord Jagannath every day but, ignorantly enough, many have not bothered to take the complete vertical view of the Jagannath Temple Puri. On reaching the Bata Mangala (a goddess temple), one can get a complete vertical view of the temple. Astonishingly enough, this is only point in the premises from where Puri Jagannath temple can be viewed right from the basement up to the apex of the flying Patitapawan bana (holy flag). Standing right in front of the Surya Mandir and the Bali Mandir gives a holistic view of Jagannath Puri temple (the Shri Mandir)and if one moves even a wee bit away, he/she would definitely miss some minute parts of the ethereal view. One can question the architectural structure of Jagannath Temple Puri but there are no firm judgments on it.

1. The Maha Laxmi Temple

The Maha Laxmi Mandir (temple of the wife of Lord Jagannath). Here, one can feel the cool breeze of the Bay of Bengal with the soft murmuring sound of the sea. It's the only place within the premises of the Jagannath Puri Temple where the sound as well as the breeze of the sea is distinctively felt. Astonishing but true, the sound dies the moment one climbs down the steps of the Maha Laxmi Mandir. Folklore testifies that since Goddess Laxmi happens to be the daughter of the mighty ocean; there still persists a strong bond between the two, which is experienced at her house inside the temple