Temple guide
About Us
A Sacred Home of Lord Jagannath
New Jagannath Puri Temple is a spiritual home dedicated to the worship of Śrī Jagannātha, Śrī Baladeva and Śrīmatī Subhadrā, and to sharing the timeless path of bhakti with the wider community.
Situated in Phoenix, Durban, the temple welcomes people from all backgrounds to experience darshan, kirtan, prasadam, spiritual learning and devotional service.
The Mercy of Lord Jagannath
At the heart of everything we do is a simple aspiration: to create a place where people can come closer to the Lord and to one another through devotion and service.
Lord Jagannath is known as the Lord of the Universe — a form of the Supreme Lord who extends His mercy to all.
The name Jagannath Puri connects our temple with the sacred tradition of Lord Jagannath worship and the spiritual culture of Jagannatha Puri in Odisha, India.
Here, we aspire to create a welcoming atmosphere in which everyone can experience something of the joy of Jagannath consciousness through darshan, chanting, festivals, prasadam and seva.
Our Deities
The Deities are the heart of New Jagannath Puri Temple.
Every day, devotees come together to offer worship, music, flowers, food, prayers and loving service to the Lord.
Our principal Deities include:
Śrī Jagannātha - The beloved Lord of the Universe, whose merciful form welcomes everyone.
Śrī Baladeva - The original spiritual master and divine elder brother of Lord Jagannath.
Śrīmatī Subhadrā - The divine sister of Lord Jagannath and Baladeva, whose presence completes the sacred Jagannath altar.
The temple is also blessed by the presence of Śrī Gaurāṅga, Śrī Nityānanda and Śyāma Śilā, each offering devotees another opportunity to deepen their relationship with the Lord.
A Place of Bhakti
New Jagannath Puri follows the devotional tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, the Founder-Ācārya of ISKCON.
Bhakti means developing our relationship with the Supreme Lord through loving devotional service.
At the temple, this devotional path is expressed through:
Darshan of the Deities
Chanting the holy names
Kirtan and bhajan
Hearing and discussing sacred teachings
Offering food to the Lord
Festivals and devotional celebrations
Service to the Deities and the community
A Temple of Service
We believe that devotion naturally expresses itself through service. The temple therefore seeks to provide opportunities for devotees, families, volunteers and well-wishers to participate in meaningful seva.
From caring for the Deities and preparing prasadam to supporting community initiatives and Food for Life, every service can become an offering when performed with sincerity and devotion.
Serve the Lord. Serve the Community.
Annadāna - Support the offering of meals and prasadam.
Puṣpadāna - Offer flowers to the Lord and participate in the loving service of decorating the Deities.
Deity Seva - Help support the daily care and worship of the Deities.
Food for Life - Help extend the spirit of compassion beyond the temple and into the wider community.
A Place for Everyone
You do not have to be a devotee to visit New Jagannath Puri.
Whether you are discovering Lord Jagannath for the first time, looking for a peaceful place to pray, interested in learning about bhakti, or simply wishing to experience kirtan and prasadam, you are welcome.
Come for darshan.
Come for kirtan.
Come for prasadam.
Come to learn.
Come to serve.
Come simply to sit quietly in the presence of the Lord.
Everyone is welcome!
Celebrating Together
Throughout the year, the temple comes alive through festivals, kirtans, spiritual programmes, cultural presentations and community gatherings.
These celebrations provide opportunities for people of all ages to come together in an atmosphere of devotion, joy and spiritual culture.
From the grandeur of Janmashtami and Jagannath festivals to intimate gatherings of kirtan and discussion, there is always an opportunity to participate.
Our Growing Community
A temple is more than a building. It is the people who come together to serve the Lord.
New Jagannath Puri is supported by devotees, volunteers, families, well-wishers and members of the wider community who contribute their time, talents, resources and prayers.
Together, we aspire to develop a spiritual community where people can learn, serve, celebrate and grow in devotion.
Looking to the Future
New Jagannath Puri Temple is part of a continuing journey. Our aspiration is to develop a vibrant centre of devotion, spiritual education, culture, prasadam distribution, community service and devotional fellowship.
As the temple grows, we hope to create even more opportunities for people to discover the beauty of bhakti and experience the mercy of Lord Jagannath.
You are invited to be part of that journey.
Visit the temple.
Meet the Deities.
Join the kirtan.
Take prasadam.
Offer seva.
Come into the presence of Lord Jagannath.