Sri Jagannatha Panchakam is the Slokam in praise and as prayer to Sri Jagannatha Swamy of Puri Temple, Orissa. Puri was originally called as Purushothama Kshethra. Lord Jagannath is the manifestation of Sri Krishna, the eight Avathar of Sri Maha Vishnu.
Puri Jagnnath Temple – Legend
“Jagan Natha” means the Lord of the universe. The emergence of this temple is mentioned in Brahma Puran.
Malwa Kingdom
During Sathya Yug, the Malwa Kingdom was ruled by Indra Dyumna. The capital was Avanti. He was a very pious King. He was also an ardent Vishnu Bhakt.
He thought that a superb temple had to be built for Sri Maha Vishnu. He had considered several places. First, he considered Ujjain in which there was a famous Sri Maha Kaleshwar Temple. Then he thought of finding some other place.
Purushothama Kshethra
In his search, he chanced upon the sea shore which was considered as Purushothama Kshethra. There was a legend attached to this place.
Earlier, there used to be an idol of Sri Maha Vishnu vested with the enormous powers of Sri Vishnu. Whoever worshipped the idol had their sins alleviated.
This made Dharma Raja (Sri Yama) very much worried as he was literally left jobless. So, he requested Sri Vishnu to attend to the issue.
Sri Vishnu had ordained the burying of the statue. Though the statue was buried, the place had retained its divinity.
Temple
Indra Dyumna was camping at the sea shore. He was very much impressed by the sea shore and its serenity. He had immediately commenced activities for building the temple.
He had received huge contributions for the building. A lot of scholars and experts were invited for making the building plan. He had done even an Ashwamedh Yagna prior to commencing the work.
Idols
When he was contemplating on the idols to be installed at the temple, he had a dream at night. Sri Vishnu appeared in the dream and told him to use a particular tree near the sea shore for making the idols.
Next day morning, the tree was identified. Sri Vishnu and Sri Viswakarma (the celestial architect) had come in the form of two brahmins and made the idols of Jagannath, Bala Bhadra and Subhadra and handed over to the King.
Sri Jagannatha is also called as Neeladhri because He was originally of bluish color. The place of the temple is considered as the blue hill.
Sri Jagannatha Panchakam
The Slokam contains five stanzas each describing the attributes of Lord Jagannath. It is presented in Devanagari and English scripts with a simple English translation.
रक्ताम्भोरुह दर्प भञ्जन महासौन्दर्य नेत्रद्वयं
मुक्ता हार विलम्बि हेम मुकुटं रत्नोज्ज्वलत्कुण्डलम्
वर्षा मेघ समान नील वपुषं ग्रैवेय हारान्वितं
पार्श्वे चक्रधरं प्रसन्नवदनं नीलाद्रि नाथं भजे (1)
rakthaam-bhoaruha dharpa bhancjana mahaa-soundharya naethra-dhvayaM
mukthaa haara vilambi haema mukutaM rathnoa-jjwalath-kuNdalam
varshaa maegha samaana neela vapuShaM graivaeya haaranvithaM
paarsvae chakra-DharaM Prasanna-vadhanaM neelaadhri naaTham bhajae
I praise the most beautiful eyes of the Lord which diminish the pride of red lotuses. He adorns the garland made of pearls, golden crown and the dazzling gem studded ear ornaments. He is as bluish as the water laden rain clouds. He wears garlands around His neck. He has the Sri-chakra at His side and His face is very pleasant to look at. My humble salutations to the Lord of the blue hill.
फुल्लेन्दीवर लोचनं नव घन श्यामाभिरामाकृतिं
विश्वेशं कमला विलास विलसत्पादारविन्दद्वयम्
दैत्यारिं सकलेन्दु मण्डितमुखं चक्राब्ज हस्तद्वयं
वन्दे श्रीपुरुषोत्तमं प्रतिदिनं लक्ष्मीनिवासालयम् (2)
phullendheevara loachanam nava ghana shyaama-abhiraamaa-kruthiM
vishvaeshaM kamalaa vilaasa vilasath-paadha-aravindha-dhvayam
dhaithyaariM sakalaendhu maNditha-mukhaM chakraabja hastha-dhvayam
vandhae shree-purushoththamaM prathi-dhinaM lakShmee-nivaasaalayam
I praise the Lord who has the eyes like the blossomed lotus flowers. He is handsome with the deep bluish black complexion. He is the Lord of the universe. His holy lotus feet are worshipped by Sri Brahma who sits on lotus. He diminishes all kinds of demons. His face is like the moon. He has the Sri-chakra and Shank in His hands. My humble salutations to the Lord who is the best of the Deities and is the dwelling place of Sri Mahalakshmi.
उद्यन्नीरद नीलसुन्दर तनुं पूर्णेन्दु बिम्बाननं
राजीवोत्फल पत्रनेत्रयुगलं कारुण्यवारांनिधिम्
भक्तानां सकलार्ति नाशनकरं चिन्तार्थि चिन्तामणिं
वन्दे श्रीपुरुषोत्तमं प्रतिदिनं नीलाद्रिचूडामणिम् (3)
udhyan-neeradha neela-sundhara thanuM poorNaendhu bimbaananaM
rajeevothphala pathra-naethra-yugalaM kaaruNya-vaaraaM-niDhim
bhakthaanaaM sakalaarthi naashanakaraM chinthaarThi chinthaamaNiM
vandhae shree-puroShoththamaM prathi-dhinaM neelaadhri-choodaamaNim
I praise the Lord whose handsome physique is like a rising cloud. His face as resplendent as the moon. His eyes are like fully flowered lotuses. He is the treasure house of mercy and compassion. He diminishes the troubles and worries of His ardent devotees. He is the precious gem in the core of the thoughts of His devout devotees. He is the greatest Lord of the Deities and He exists as the dazzling ornament of the blue hill.
नीलाद्रौ शङ्ख मध्ये शतदलकमले रत्नसिंहासनस्थं
सर्वालङ्कारयुक्तं नवघन रुचिरं संयुतं चाग्रजेन
भद्राया वामभागे रथचरणयुतं ब्रह्मरुद्रेन्द्र वन्द्यं
वेदानां सारमीशं सुजन परिवृतं ब्रह्मदारुं स्मरामि (4)
neelaadhrau shanGkha maDhyae shatha-dhala-kamalae rathna-siMhaasanasThaM
sarvaalanGkaara yukthaM nava- ghana ruchiraM saMyuthaM chaagrajaena
bhadhraaya vaama-bhaagae raTha-charaNa-yuthaM brahma-rudhraendhra vandhyaM
vaedhaanaaM saarameeshaM sujana parivruthaM brahma-dhaaruM smaraami
I praise the Lord of the blue hill who has the conch and sits on the throne studded with precious gems. He holds Sri Brahma on the hundred petalled lotus which stemmed from His midriff. He is completely adorned with good decoration. He is flanked by His brother. He keeps His foot on the left side of the chariot. He is worshipped by Sri Brahma, Sri Shiva and Indra. He is the crux and core of the Vedas. He is surrounded by good and pious people. He is the root of Brahmam. My humble salutations to the Lord.
दोर्भ्यां शोभित लाङ्गलं समुसलं कादम्बरी चञ्चलं
रत्नाढ्यं वर कुण्डलं भुजबलैराकान्त भूमण्डलम्
वज्राभामलचारु गण्डयुगलं नागेन्द्र चूडोज्ज्वलं
सङ्ग्रामे चपलं शशाङ्कधवलं श्रीकामपालं भजे (5)
dhorbhyaaM shobhitha laanGgalaM samusalaM kaadhambaree chanchalaM
rathnaaDyaM vara kuNdalaM bhuja-balai-raakaantha bhoo-maNdalam
vajraabha-amala-charu gaNda-yugalaM naagaendhra choodoajjvalaM
sanGgraamae chapalaM shashaanGka-DhavalaM shree-kaama paalaM bhajae
I praise the Lord who holds the anchor and club. He uses them to make the foes nervous. He adorns the gem studded ear ornaments. He is the Lord of the world. His cheeks are without blemish. He dazzles like the gem emanated from the king of serpents. He is as resplendent as the moon. He guards the God of love. My humble salutations to the Lord who reigns in the battle field.
इति श्रीजगन्नाथपञ्चकं समाप्तम्
ithi shree-jagannaaTha-panchakaM samaaptham
