Alarnatha_Mandira
Alarnatha Mandira
Hindu temple of Vishnu in Brahmagiri, Indua
Alarnatha Mandira or Alvarnaatha Mandira (Sanskrit: अल्वार् नाथ), (Odia: ଅଲାରନାଥ) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and located in Brahmagiri, Odisha, near Puri. It becomes crowded during the krishnapaksha of Ashadha, after the Snana Yatra when devotees are not allowed to see the central icon of Jagannath (a form of Vishnu) in his Puri temple. During this period, popularly known as Anasara or 'Anavasara' (literally meaning no opportunity to see the lord of Puri), instead of having darshan in the Puri temple, devotees believe that Jagannath during this time manifests as Alarnath Dev, at the Alarnath Mandira in Brahmagiri, which is about 23 km from Puri. It is considered one among the 108 Abhimana Kshethram of Vaishnavate tradition.