Nilachakra
Nila Cakra is placed on the upper most part of the Temple (Deul). Its colour is green (Nila) and it is a sphere (Cakra). Hence it is known as Nilacakra. The Cakra stands for the symbol of Visnu Temple. As per the Hindu Philosophy Cakras are to be placed on the head of Visnu Temple, Trishula the Siva Temple. Hence Cakra is the sign of Jagannatha Temple as Jagannatha is worshipped as Visnu.
It is made of eight kinds of metal. The metals are iron, gold, silver, copper, sisa (tin), dasta, ranga and para. The proportion of the combination is as follows;
50% – Iron, 25% – Copper, 25% – Rest six metals.
The present value of this sphere (as on 2005) in terms of rupee will be two crores.
The height of the sphere is 11 feet 8 inches. Its diameter is 7 feet 6 inches. The thickness of the circle is 2 inches.
The diamates of the circle at the centre of the sphere is 2 feet 2.5 inches. There are eight axles in the sphere. The length of each axle is 1 feet 10 inches.
On the circular centre of the sphere facing towards east is written that the sphere was placed on the 28th day of Makara (January-February) in the 33 royal year of Dibyasimha Dev Maharaja of Puri. Other three names are written Paramanda Maharana, Dharama Sarana Rout and Jagannatha Vidyadhara.
On the opposite side (towards west) it is also written that in 1299 Sakabda on 11th day of Dhanu solar month (Nov-Dec) the sphere was repaired in the reign of Maharaja Mukunda Dev.
The number of different axles from 1 to 8 are also noted in this side.
The Garuda Sevayata is also the Sevayata of Nilacakra. The Nilacakra Sevayata performs two important functions.
(1) Climbs the temple upto Nilacakra by chanting the name of Garuda to fly the flag on Cakra.
(2) Place Mahadipa (Sacred Lamp) on sacred occasions in front of (Nilacakra) sphere holding the same in his head from the temple ground chanting the name of ‘Hari’.
They are also known as Cunara Sevayata as they wash the temple with lime.
One will wonder how a small boy of eight is in a position to climb 214 feet high temple without any fear and hesitation.
Flags of different colours usually white, yellow with a mark of half a moon are placed on Nilacakra with a bamboo stick. The flags give a marvelous look when sunrays are placed in them.
It is believed that knots produced in the flag due to movement of wind can remove the difficulty of delivery of women when knots are weted in water and the said water given to the woman who is on the verge of delivery.
The flag of Nilacakra is known as “Patitapabana Bana” and numbers of poems are written in Oriya by reciting the glory of this flag.
Bhogas are not offered to the God if flag is lost because of wind.
The people who could not visit the lord due to some difficulty feel the presence of God seeing the flag from distant places. They also offer Bhoga at that place which is called ‘Cakramanohi’ if they cannot come to the temple to offer the same.