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Re : The religious meaning of "Jagannatha"
> > Jagannatha is not a
> > representation of Lord Vishnu, but simply the Lord of the World. It is a
> > complex subject, and unless you really want to know, Jagannatha is
> > Ishvara, and he is the creator, nourisher and destroyer of the world.
>
> How does ``Isvara'' or ``Jagannatha'' refer to anyone
> but Lord Vishnu, in a religious context? I have never
> heard this particular epithet used for Siva, or any
> other deity for that matter.
>
I suppose you have not read the Vedas properly. In the Sri Rudram, there
is a referrence to Shiva as, " ...Visvesvara...Sarvesvara...".
> It is universally acknowledged that the Jagannath temple
> in Puri is a Vishnu temple. Similarly, Jagannatha is a
> very common Vaishnavite name, particularly in South India.
> I do not believe it is common among Saivites.
>
The name common among Shaivites is probably Vishvanath. You perhaps have
chanced to hear the famous temple at Kashi...the kashi Vishvanatha temple?
> If Jagannatha is Isvara, he can be none other than Lord Vishnu,
> as only the latter is praised as the creator, nourisher, and
> destroyer of the world in the Vedas.
>
The Vedas say no such thing. See my quote above...
> Mani
>
Kartik
