By Shreya Garg
Did you know there’s a strict rule as per which the preists are not allowed to sleep in Jagannath temple in Puri? Well, yes! Sleeping inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple at night is not advised in line of temple tradition. So, as the final aarti of the day concludes, the doors of the temple are sealed shut. What’s more is that those who have dared to stay the night in the temple have only had chilling experiences to share with others. Wondering why this rule exists in the first place? Well, what can explain this is the fact that lord Jagannath is considered not an idol, but a living God. He too, like others, has a proper daily routine. So, at night, the God doesn’t want to be disturbed in the inner sanctum of the temple, because He’s resting and doing his own thing. There’s an interesting legend that explains why priests are not allowed to sleep in the temple. Also read: Draw This Symbol To Get Any Wish Fulfilled At This Ganesha Temple What does the legend say…The legend has it that once there was a priest who had drifted into sleep inside the temple. Later, he woke up breathless and his eyes grew wide with fear. He later described what he saw unfolding in the temple at that night. He shared how the bells of the temple rang on their own in the absence of wind and people. He also saw some shadows and heard some footsteps. Wondering what sense to make out of this description? Well, all this is attributed to the existence of gods, demigods and Chiranjeevis who roam around the premises of the temple to seek the blessings of the lord. Since lord Jagannath is considered as an avatar of lord Vishnu, all the other gods and demigods come to meet him and seek his blessings at night. The perception of locals is that the divine energy of the temple grows manifold at night. Simply put, it can be said that once the night comes, Lord Jagannath’s temple becomes His alone. No human presence is allowed to share that space. (Disclaimer: This article is based on popular beliefs. Times Now is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the information and facts provided here.)