Gundicha Temple in Srikshetra

Next to the great Jagannatha Temple, the most important sanctuary of the Jagannatha is the Gundica Temple. The distance between the gate of Jagannatha Temple and Gundica Temple is exactly 8327 feet (2688.0696 meters). This is also known as Yajnavedi, the birth place of Lord Jagannatha. Every year during Ratha Yatra God used to go to this temple from Badadeula and stays there for seven days, except these few days it is unoccupied.

The temple is constructed in the style of Jagannatha Temple having four sections i.e. Vimana, Jagamohana, Nata Mandira and Bhoga Mandapa connected with kitchen room by a narrow passage. The tower, a construction of pidha type is 75 feet high with a base of 55 feet by 46 feet out side and 36 feet 8 inches by 27 feet inside. There is a plain raised seat, 4 feet high and 19 feet long made of chlorite and this is also called Ratna Vedi. This is the throne on which the images are placed when brought to this temple. There is a temple kitchen at Sri Gundica Temple like that of Badadeul. During Ratha Yatra when deities are placed in Gundica Temple bhogas are prepared in this kitchen. The kitchen style and Bhoga prepared are same as they are done in Sri Mandira.

The Temple is surrounded by a wall and stands in the middle of the garden.

There is a strong belief that one will never have rebirth if he will see the Lord once in Sri Gundica Temple. Moreover one devotee can get the result of witnessing the Lord by hundred years for in Sri Mandira by just once seeing the Lord in Gundica Temple (Niladro Sata Varsani Gundica Mandape Dine).