The Crown of the Temple
Sitting atop the 214-foot tall Vimana (main tower) of the Shree Mandira is the Nilachakra (Blue Wheel). Made from an alloy of eight metals (Ashtadhatu), it is an awe-inspiring feat of medieval metallurgy and engineering.
The Floating Flag
The Nilachakra is not just an ornament; it holds profound spiritual weight. The flag attached to it, the Patitapabana Bana (Flag of the Savior of the Fallen), is changed every single day by a specialized servitor who scales the sheer face of the temple without any modern safety gear.
"It is a popular belief that the flag tied to the Nilachakra always flutters in the opposite direction of the prevailing wind - a divine anomaly."
Furthermore, it is mandated by tradition that whatever direction you view the Nilachakra from within the city of Puri, the wheel always appears to be facing you perfectly. To bow to the Nilachakra from afar is considered spiritually equivalent to bowing before the deity inside the sanctum.