Chapter 1 - Introduction

the south to the Mātiānadi, a small stream on the north (Map.No-3). But two krosas out of the five have been, it is said, engulfed in the sea and the remainder very closely represents the present extent of kṣetra.* Even locally, persons residing at a distance of ten miles from the Jagannatha temple are considered to be the resident of Puri. 2. Different Names of the Kṣetra:- The kṣetra of Purusottama is mentioned in Purāṇas as Niḷācaḷa, Nilagiri, or Niḷādri, Sankha kṣetra, Dasavatāra kṣetra and Srikṣetra. Besides these ancient names, other appellations of the kṣetra, are Caritra, Bhauma kṣetra, Dibya kṣetra, Purusottamapura, Jagannath kṣetra, Jekaranāt, Jugernaut, Purusottama kṣetra, Jaggarnāth-pooree, Purusottama-Puri and lastly Puri. The most ancient name of the kṣetra was Niḷācaḷa or 'Blue-Hill' given to it to ennoble one of the sand ridges in the centre of the town, barely 20 feet of high, on which the temple of main divinity (Jagannatha) now stands.5 The name Niḷācaḷa however, is not now in common use. Thereafter, the kṣetra was called as Niḷagirī or Niladri by the local people. The kṣetra of Purusottama was often called as Sankha kṣetra. This sacred city is described as resembling the shape of a sankha (conch shell) in the Purāṇas. The Skanda Purāṇa in its Purusottama Mahātmyam, even mentions the different deities residing in various parts of the conch-shell with the majestic temple of Lord Purusottama occupies the navel or centre position of the Sankha kṣetra. The area from Beleśvara on the east to Lokanatha temple (of the kṣetra) on the west is regarded as the place of Sankha kṣetra. The same Purāṇa further mentions that the city is also called as Dasavatāra kṣetra or the place where from all the ten incarnations of Lord Viṣṇu are emanated. It is said that Lord Viṣṇu assumes different avatāras or incarnations in this kṣetra and goes to different places accordingly for His works. At the end he returned to this place (kṣetra). This kṣetra is also popularly known as Śrīkṣetra. According to Jagabandhu Padhi, the term Śrī before kṣetra denoting either goddess Laksmi or 2