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XI.—A Description of the Temple of JacGannaT’ua * and of the Rat’y-JATRA, 
or Car Festival. By F. Manspacu, Esq., in a Letter to Lieutenant-Colonel 
Waxtrer Rareicn Gitpert, by whom it was communicated to the Royaz 
Asratic Sociery. 
Read 3d of December 1831. 
To Colonel Gilbert. 
Pooree, the 27th October, 1827. 
My pear Sir: 
Although you personally have visited Jagganndt’ha and its famous Hin- 
du temple, yet I am sure that some account from a person who for several 
years has resided there will not prove entirely uninteresting, and I there- 
fore thought it best to employ my evening leisure hours to put to paper the 
information I have been able to collect from time to time, trusting to your 
kindness and indulgence with regard to the imperfections in style, language, 
and, in fact, every thing else. ' 
The temple was erected by Rajah Anunc Burm Déo, and completed 
in A.D. 1198. All theland within twenty miles of the temple is considered 
holy ; but the most sacred spot is enclosed with a stone wall twenty-four 
feet in height, and forms nearly a square, two sides of which measure each 
six hundred and seventy-six feet, and the two other six hundred and sixty 
feet inlength. Within this area are about fifty temples dedicated to various 
idols; but the most conspicuous consists of one lofty tower, two hundred feet 
high and twenty-eight feet square inside, and is called the “* Bard Dewal,” 
and two adjoining stone buildings with pyramidical roofs. The idol Jac- 
GANNAT’HA, his brother Batannapra, and his sister SuUBHADRA, occupy the 
tower. ‘The first pyramidical building, which is sixty feet square, is con- 
nected with the tower, and is the place where the idol is worshipped during 
the bathing festival (Sndn-Jdird), and adjoining it is a low building on 
pillars, with a fabulous animal in the centre, which is intended as an awning 
to shelter the entrance from the rays of the sun; and after this again is a 
second building with a pyramidical stone roof, where the food prepared for 
* Vulg. Juggernaut’h. 
