The metal wheel at the top of Lord Jagannath temple is known as
Neela Chakra (Blue Wheel). The wheel is made of eight metals comprising of
iron, copper, zinc, mercury, lead, brass, silver and gold. It's circumferance
is about 36 feet and it is so designed that there is a wheel within the wheel.
The circumferance of the inner wheel is about 26 feet. Eight hubs join together
the inner and the outer wheels. There are decorative designs on the outer
wheel. The thickness of the Neela Chakra is 2 inches.
The wheel is said to be Lord Vishnu's most powerful weapon,
Sudarshana Chakra (disk). Inside Lord Jagannath temple, Lord Vishnu's wheel is
also worshipped in the name of 'Sudarshana'. But inside the temple Sudarshana
is not in the shape of a wheel, but in the shape of a small wood pillar placed
to the left of image of Lord Jagannath. It is believed that the same Sudarshana
is also at the top of the temple and is known by the name of Neela Chakra.
There is a specific category of people among the temple sevayats to serve the
Neela Chakra and they are known as Garuda Sevaka or Chunara Nejoga. The
pilgrims hold these sevayats in high esteem because everyday at Sunset the
Garuda Sevakas climb to the top of 214 feet high temple to fasten flags ,
offered by the devotees, on the bamboo mast attached to the Neela Chakra. The
pole attached to the Neela Chakra is 38 feet long. After covering the breadth
of the Neela Chakra, this pole extends 25 feet high above it.
Weight 2200 kg
Height 11'8"
Diameter 7'6"
Thickness of Paridhi 2 inch
Width of Paridhi 9 inch
Diameter of central circle 2'6"
Number of wheel bars 8
Length of each wheel bar 1'10"
The pilgrims consider it an act of holiness to offer flags for the Jagannath
temple. Everyday the Garuda Sevaka carries number of big and small flags to the
top of the temple. The flags are either deep red or yellow in colour, but a
crescent moon and a sun in white colour cloth deck the centre of a flag. The
length of the flag varies from 1 feet to 25 feet and may be more. A devotee has
to pay to the temple committee a certain price to tie the flag and the price is
determined by the length of a flag.
The sevayat before climbing the temple must dress himself in proper clothings.
He wears silk cloth and the upper part of his body remains bare. He ties the
flags, offered by the devotees, around his waist which he has to tie on the
mast that day. He also carries a wooden stick in his hand and sets out to climb
the temple. The stick in hand is meant to be used against the monkeys who may
attack. He climbs so swiftly that within minutes he is seen at the crest of the
dancing hall of the main temple. From here he has to climb about a hundred feet
steep wall to reach the Neela Chakra. He climbs this wall in a very peculiar
manner, his back to the wall and his two outstretched legs on two raised parts
of the wall. After climbing the body of the temple he reaches the head of the
temple. This part is orange-shaped and it is impossible to climb this without
any help. There is a device made of iron rings and a rope attached permanently
on the head of the temple and He reaches the Neela chakra with the help of
this. The entire breath taking exercise of reaching the Neela Chakra
from the temple floor takes around 20 minutes. After climbing the Neela Chakra,
he removes the old flags from the pole and ties the new ones.
The Blue Wheel, at the top of 214 feet
high Jagannath Temple, serves very practical purpose technically by protecting
the high rise temple from thunder strokes and lighting. The eight metal alloy
has the capacity to absorb the ferocity of thunder bolts and thus the gigantic
stone-moment remains unharmed. There is a four-inch wide metal-plate which
serves as an earthing, it connects the wheel and a well in the southern side of
the temple, close to the Goddess Vimala temple. This metal plate is about 300
feet long.
