Sri Temple of Lord Jagannath located in Puri, Odisha. file photo
Santosh Kumar Pandey, Angul. An important and shocking fact has come to light regarding the construction history of the world famous Lord Jagannath temple located in Puri, Odisha. Recent research has claimed that the first builder of Puri Srimandir was not a king but a craftsman named 'Pall'.
This information has come to light on the basis of ancient inscriptions and archival evidence, which has given a new perspective to the historical concepts prevalent till now.
According to researchers, this important fact has come to light from an ancient inscription found near the Narasimha temple complex. In the initial lines of the inscription, it is mentioned in Sanskrit language that 'Kulputra Palla' had a major role in the construction work of Nav Purushottam Nilaya i.e. Sri Temple.
In the inscription, Palla has been described as belonging to the Karmakar clan, which indicates that he was a high-class craftsman and architect.
Shilpi did not get a place in history
Till now it is believed that in the 12th century, King Anangabhim Dev III of the Ganga dynasty had built the present Sri Mandir. However, new research makes it clear that although there may have been state patronage, the credit for the actual construction plans, craft and preparation of the initial structure goes to the architect 'Pall'.
According to researcher Deepak Kumar Nayak, this inscription is not only helpful in understanding the construction period of Sri Mandir, but also sheds new light on the craft tradition, worker society and temple architecture of that period.
He said that temple construction in ancient India was not only the work of kings, but generations of skilled craftsmen were behind it, whose names often got buried in history.
Historians believe that this discovery is an important step towards understanding the cultural and religious heritage of Odisha. This also makes it clear how important the role of the local craft tradition and the worker community has been in the construction of a grand religious place like Sri Mandir.
New facts may come to light
After this new revelation, the need for re-evaluation and further research is being felt regarding the construction history of Shri Mandir. Experts say that if other inscriptions and copper plates are also studied in depth, many more unknown facts related to the history of Shri Mandir can come to light.
Overall, the emergence of Shilpi Palla's name adds a new chapter to the history of Sri Mandir and gives respect to the unsung artisans whose art remains the center of faith and culture even today. However, how this research is accepted by the temple administration, Jagannath devotees and other researchers is a big topic.
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