Jagannath Society Of The Americas (JSA) was established in 1992. Shri Balabhadra, Devi Shubhadra, Sudarshan, and Garuda were established in the Shri Ganesh temple at Nashville, TN. This is the first time, with the lead of a few Oriya families, the ChaturdhaMurati was installed as deities anywhere in North America. The principle behind the formation of JSA was to promote Jagannath philosophy among the Indians and others in North America. It has been actively involved in sponsoring festivals, dancers, singers, Jagannath philosophers, and scholars from India and abroad. The same year, with the co-operation of the Indian community, JSA celebrated the Sri Gundicha Jatra and Bahuda Jatra.
The JSA celebrates all the festivals of the Puri temple. All the Puja Bidhis are followed as prescribed by the Puri temple. The Nashville temple priests are specially trained in Shri Jagannath puja padhattis.The temple celebrates the Netroschab, Deva ShnanaPurnima, Anashara, RathaJatra, BahudaJatra, KartikaPurnima etc. The puja of the deities takes place twice every day. However, every Sunday morning, there is puja and bhajans for an hour by the community, followed by the Prasad. The Prasad was cooked in typical Oriya style, and about 75 people eat free every Sunday. On the RathaJatraday, the Prasad is cooked in Puri temple style, and the Prasad to the Lord is served in clay pots. The servers keep their face covered with cloth as done in Puri. Every year, on the Rath Jatra and Bahuda Jatra days, at least 500 people eat the Prasad. On that day, JSA invites a scholar to speak on Jagannath philosophy, a professional Odissi dancer or a group to dance in front of the Lord, and a professional singer to sing to the lord.
Over the years, the organization has managed to transform itself from a struggling inception to a well-coordinated entity that can complete several annual endeavors. JSA prints and distributes an annual calendar to all JSA and OSA members free of charge. It also takes an active part in establishing the Lord anywhere in the USA or India. JSA also have published a prayer book consisting of Oriya JagannathBhajans of famous Oriya poets and in process of publishing another soon. JSA has distributed these Bhajan books to many temples free of cost. It has also produced Jagannath Bhajan CDs and distributed them free of cost to the community.
Our past guest lists are long, but to mention a few scholars: the ambassador to the USA, Dr. Manshing; the chief justice, Hon. RangaNath Misra; Famous writers, Prof. Santanu Acharya; and Smt. Manorama Mahapatra, Prof. Hrudananda Roy, Prof. Nrushingha Panda, Prof. Kahnu Misra, Prof. Chandrasekar Misra, Prof. Rajat Kar, Dr. Kabi Misra etc.
Similarly, among the singers, Smt. Sunanda Pattanaik, Sjt. Bhikari Bala, Prafulla Kara, Maha Prasad Kara. Akhay Mohanty, Pranab Pattnaik, and Binod Bihari Panda have pleased the Lord with their melodies.
The dances of Odiya artists to the melodies of Gita Govinda and Dasha Avatar have captured and enlightened Americans and Indians alike about our Odiya culture.
With the main objective of spreading Jagannath culture, while expressing and experiencing their love and devotion for Lord Jagannath, the devotees of Nashville, Tennessee, and Huntsville, Alabama, decided to install the shrines of Lord Balabhadra, Jagannath, Shubhadra, and Sudarshan at Sri Ganesh Temple of Nashville. In April 1992, the Pratistha was accomplished with His blessings as per the traditional Vedic rituals. This is the first time the ChaturdhaMurati, the Aradhyas of Odiyas, were installed in any Hindu temple in the USA with observance of many traditional rituals around the year.
Jagannath Society Of The Americas, a non-profit religious and cultural organization, was established. Nashville was pronounced as Srikshetra of the USA and the headquarters of JSA. The main objective was to promote Jagannath philosophy and expand its cultural, religious, and educational realms while encouraging devotees to engage in charitable activities in the USA, Canada, and India.
Ratha Jatra and Bahuda Jatras are very popular and attract a large number of devotees at the Nashville temple. These are considered as one of the most important festivals of our temple. Usually, Yajna, Rathapuja, and all other rituals are done as per Vedic recommendations. Every year, JSA invites renowned literary figures, philosophers, and scholars from India, mostly from Odisha,who enlighten devotees with their discourse about Jagannath philosophy. JSA also brings eminent singers and classical Odissi dancers to perform in front of the lords on the RathaJatra day. JSA conducted the first Ratha and Bahuda Jatras in 1993. It has continued to keep this tradition in observing both festivals every single year since then.
In the past, along with the religious and cultural aspects, JSA also participated in helping to fund various natural calamities in Odisha and other places. After the super cyclone, a sum of thirty-two lakhs was spent on constructing a building to serve as flood shelter for the people of Puri. Ordinarily, this building is used as a school during non-flood times.
JSA has been a pioneer in publishing several Bhajan books, which were mailed to more than two thousand Odiya homes in past years and continue to do so. JSA has also distributed more than two thousand Jagannath Bhajan CDs to devotees.
JSA publishes Odiya calendar and delivers to more than 2,500 devotees every year in the U.S and Canada.
JSA has also established a library with a fine collection of Oriya books at the Ganesha temple.
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jagannath Temple Of Americas (JSA)