Jagannath

Jagannath, India: see Puri.

---

Jagannatha

 or Jagannath

Form under which Krishna is worshiped at Puri, Orissa, a famous religious center of India. His temple at Puri dates from the 12th century. The Rathayatra, or Chariot Festival, is held in his honor each year in June or July. An image of the god is placed on a cart so heavy that it takes thousands of devotees several days to move it to the god's temple outside the city. According to legend, pilgrims sometimes throw themselves under the wagon in hopes of attaining instant salvation, a practice that gave rise to the English word juggernaut.