Jagannatha shrine

early 20th century
Not on view
This shrine is in the form of a triptych dedicated to the Vishnu emanation of Jagannatha, "Lord of the Universe," a form of Krishna. It served as a devotional setting for the veneration of this much-loved Krishna ensemble, consisting of Lord Jagannatha, accompanied by his half-brother Balabhadra (nee Balarama) and his sister Sudhadra. Together they form a holy triad, distinguished each by body color, with Jagannatha (Krishna the "dark Lord"), shown with a dark complexion, Balabhadra light and Subhadra white. They became the focus of a major center of Krishna worship, and the temple dedicated to them at Puri, Odisha, in coastal eastern India, assumed the status of one of the four great pilgrimage centers (dham) of Hinduism. Puri thus attracted vast numbers of pilgrims from all over India to its Jagannatha temple, built in its present form around 1135. This portable shrine would have served as a surrogate location for a devotee’s worship, likely carried by an itinerant priest to villages where followers could imbibe the presence of Lord Jagannatha from afar.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Jagannatha shrine
  • Date: early 20th century
  • Culture: Eastern India, Puri, Odiya
  • Medium: Paint on cotton cloth on wood
  • Dimensions: Closed: 13 3/4 x 18 1/8 in. (35 x 46 cm)
    Extended: 13 3/4. x 33 7/16 in. (35 x 85 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2024
  • Object Number: 2024.328
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.