Question

Anantavarman decided to erect the Jagannatha temple in the ____ century.
(A) 10th
(B) 11th
(C) 12th
(D) 13th

Answer 1

Hint: The best example of the regional cultures which grew around religious traditions is the cult of Jagannathe at Puri, Orissa. Jagannatha is the lord of the world, a name of Lord Vishnu.

Complete answer:
The wooden image of the deity is made by the people of the local tribe. This suggests that the deity was originally a local god, who was later identified with lord Vishnu. Anantavarman was one of the most important rulers of the Ganga dynasty during the 12th century. He decided to erect a temple for Purushottama Jagannatha at Puri. King Anangabhima III proclaimed himself as the deputy of the god and dedicated his kingdom to the deity in 1230. The authority of the temple in the social and political matters also increased as the temple gained its importance as a centre of pilgrimage. All the rulers who conquered Orissa attempted to gain control over the temple, like the Mughals, the Marathas and the English East India Company. At present, the festivals celebrated at this temple are Ratha Yatra, Chandan Yatra, Snana Yatra and Nabakalebara. The governing body of this temple is the Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee, Puri located at Shree Jagannath Temple Office, Puri in Odisha.

Thus, option (C) is correct.

Note: Originally, the Shree Jagannath Temple is located in the Eastern Coast of India in Puri in the state of Odisha. From the tenth century onwards, the present temple was rebuilt on the site of an earlier temple. It was begun by the King Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva.