Indradyumna Sarovara

Indradyumna Sarovara is situated in Makubana, sacred city of Puri in the state of Odisha, Bharat. This sacred lake, located in the revered land of Lord Jagannatha, holds immense spiritual significance. It was deeply cherished by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is recognized as a divine incarnation of Lord Krishna in the age of Kali.

The sacred waters from the Indradyumna Sarovara were used by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for cleaning the Gundhicha Temple. The cleaning process begins one day before the commencement of world famous Ratha Yatra.

Indradyumna Sarovara, located near the Gundicha Temple in Puri, is one of the five sacred bathing sites—known collectively as the Pancha Tirtha—that pilgrims traditionally visit to complete their pilgrimage to Lord Jagannath. Pancha Tirthas are the sacred bathing spots which hold immense religious importance. Bathing here brings blessings, auspiciousness, and one can attain moksha, liberating from the cycle of birth and death. Swetaganga, Mohodadhi, Markandeya Sarovara,
Rohini Kunda, and Indradyumna Sarovara are the five sacred bathing spots or Pancha Tirtha in the land of Puri.

As described in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had performed Jala krida along with his devotees, in the holy waters of Indradyumna Sarovara. The Lord playfully sprinkled sacred water over the assembled devotees surrounding Him. In turn, the devotees also splashed water on the Lord. This was one of the divine lilas performed by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Indradyumna Sarovara is the sacred Titha, since all the Tirthas of the world reside in this Sarovara. Taking a punya snana here offers your immense spiritual benefit. Millions of devotees from the nook and corners of the world visit this place to experience its natural beauty.

This sacred tank is particularly significant in the traditions surrounding Lord Jagannath.

On March 24, 2022, a historic discourse was delivered beside the sacred Indradyumna Sarovar. The subject was the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Swaminarayan Bhashyam, a Sanskrit commentary that presents Swaminarayan’s Vedantic philosophy.

In the ancient era of Satya Yuga, King Indradyumna, a devout ruler and great patron of dharma, performed the grand 100 Ashvamedha Yagna. According to history, it is the place where cows are kept for dana or donation for brahmins. According to Vedic tradition, as a part of the ritual, he donated 1000 cows to the brahmins.

During the yajna, the cows walked in the area, the repaeted impressions of their hooves created natural depression in the earth. Over the time, these hooves made a larger impact which naturally created large cavity in the earth. This empty space was eventually filled by water. Thus, a lake was formed and popularly came to be known as Indradyumna Sarovara.

Indradyumna Sarovara is far more than just a beautiful site—it’s a wellspring of spiritual vitality, woven with legends, sacred traditions, devotional rituals, and enduring faith. Taking a ritual bath in this water is a spiritual cleaning process and washes away all the sins.

This place holds immense significance as part of religious observance. Devotees who would Puri to have the darshan of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabadra and Subadra devi, often make it a point to bathe in the sacred sarovara.

In many ways, the Sarovara acts as a spiritual cleanser before a devotee proceeds to the temple for darshan (sacred viewing) of the deities. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi herself had bathed in these waters, which further enhances its sanctity.

The best time to visit Indradyumna Sarovara is from October to February. The pleasant weather makes your pilgrimage very spiritual.

Rath Yatra: It is the major festival celebrated in Puri, Odisha. The water from this sacred pond is used for many rituals and cleaning purpose.

Chandan Yatra: This festival is celebrated with great devotion, faith by singing bhajans and dancing. The Deities are anointed with sandalwood paste to provide a cooling effect during the summer heat and are taken on a boat ride in Indradyumna Sarovara.

Kartika Purnima: It is also known as Tripuri Purnima, celebrated in the Karthika Maasa (October-November) on the full moon day. This day is highly regarded for performing punya snana (sacred bath).

Gundicha Temple: This temple is located near Indradyumna Sarovara. During the Ratha Yatra festival, Lord Jagannath, along with His elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, reside at the Gundicha Temple for seven days before returning to their main sanctum.

Narasimha Temple: This ancient Narasimha temple is located in Puri, Odisha. The Narasimha here is known as Yagna Narasimha. It is located west of Gundicha Temple and east of Indradyumna Sarovara.

Jagannath Temple: This temple is famous for Ratha Yatra, which is celebrated annually. The temple is dedicated to the divine trio—Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra (Balarama), and their sister Subhadra—who together form the principal deities worshiped at the shrine.

Markandeya Tirtha: It is the sacred Tirtha, associated with sage Markandeya. It is used for bathing purpose.

Loknath Temple: It is also known as Lokanatha Temple located in Puri, Odisha. Here, Lord Shiva is worshiped as Lokanatha. This temple was established by Lord Sri Rama. He installed pumpkin-shaped Shiva Lingam, called as Lauknath, which later came to be known as Lokanatha.

Have you visited the Indradyumna Sarovara or are you planning a visit soon? Then consider taking Tirtha Yatra’s Jagannatha Puri Yatra. All arrangements are well taken care of.

If you wish to travel on your own, here are a few options.

By Air: The nearest airport is to reach Indradyumna Sarovara is Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar. From here, a taxi or an autos can be hired. Even there are bus facility to reach the destination.

By Railway: The nearest railway station is Jagannath Puri Railway Station. From here, taxis or cabs, auto rickshaws, and cycle rickshaws can be hired. Even bus facilities are also available to reach the temple.

By Road: OSRTC – Odisha State Road Transport Corporation ply regularly from various cities like Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Kolkata, Cuttack, Vizag, etc.