The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c17.s1.239

v2.c17.s1.239

**Jagannatha, his audience and miracles.** All the four outer gates of the sacred enclosure are left open till a late hour at night but the rule is that except in the case of special permits granted by the Khurdā Rājā, pilgrims should enter by the eastern gate, turn to the left in the inner enclosure, circumambulate the great temple once, thrice, or even seven times, generally thrice, and then enter the Dancing Hall by the North. Proceeding thence to the Audience Chamber, and standing in front of a log of sandal-wood which cuts off further approach, they behold the Lord of the Universe in the sanctum in front. Persons paying largely are allowed to cross the bar and enter the sanctum. Persons having special permits—which cost from Rs. 5,00 to 5,000—enter by the southern gate and have the right of getting the inner enclosure cleared of all other visitors for the time they stay in it. They of course have the right of entering the sanctum. The sanctum is so dark that without the aid of a lamp nothing is visible within it even at midday. Going thrice round the temple at noon with the sun glaring on the white-washed houses all round and devoting the greater part of the time in looking upwards towards the cornice and the tops of the temples and other erections to which the attention is constantly drawn by the cicerones, the eyes of the pilgrims get so dazed that it is impossible immediately after to see anything placed in a very dark corner; and under the best of circumstances the poor pilgrims standing before the sandal-wood bar see very little. Even those who get beyond the bar cannot see much at first or until their pupils adjust themselves to the light. The priests attribute this to the effect of sin which renders carnal eyes unfit to behold the divinity. When that sin is destroyed by devotion the divinity becomes visible.