Juggernaut, << JUHG uhr nawt, >> is a famous wooden image of the Hindu god Krishna. It is housed in a decorative temple in Puri on the northeast coast of India. The large image is named Jagannath, a Sanskrit word that means Lord of the World. The elaborate forms of worship and the festivals celebrated at the Jagannath temple are known throughout India.
In English, juggernaut refers to a huge or powerful object or task, or threatening force. The word comes from an annual festival in which the image of Krishna is placed on a huge, brightly decorated cart 45 feet (14 meters) high. The cart is supported by 16 wheels 7 feet (2.1 meters) in diameter. Hundreds of worshipers pull the cart through the city by means of long, thick ropes. According to legend, some worshipers have thrown themselves before the huge wheels to be crushed to death. During this parade, Jagannath is accompanied by images of Krishna’s brother Balarama and his sister Subhadra, riding in separate carts. The three deities are a popular subject in Indian art. Anantavarman Choda Ganga, an Indian king, commissioned the temple in the 1100’s.
