Jagannath(far right) with his brother Balarama(far left) and sister Subadra (center) in Radhadesh, Belgium The story of Jagannath
Jagannath is a sanskrit term used to describe a deity form of Krishna. The term means lord(nath) of the universe(jaga).
Jagannatha is a special very merciful form of Krishna who is very popular among vaishnavas. There are two interesting stories associated with this deity.
First is the story of how Krishna appeared to a great devotee of the lord, King Indradyuma and ordered him to carve a deity from a log he would find washed up on the sea shore. King Indradruma found a mysterious old brahmin carpenter to carve the deity, but the carpenter insisted that he not be disturbed while he was carving the deity. The king waited anxiously outside his room, but after some time, all sound stopped. The impatient Indradyumna worried what had happened and assuming the worst, and opened the doors - only to find a half-finished deity and the carpenter gone! The mysterious carpenter was none other than Vishvakarma, the heavenly architect. The king was distraught as the deity had no arms and legs. Utterly repentant that he had interrupted the carving, the king was only pacified when Narada muni appeared and explained that the form the king now sees is a legitimate form of the supreme personality of godhead. The second story here was narrated to further explain and remove any doubts and confusion.
The second reason for Lord Jagannatha's appearance is the story of how Krishna was evesdropping on the gopis as they spoke amongst themselves of His pastimes, and how much they loved him. Sister Subadra was instructed to keep watch and ensure Krishna wasnt nearby while the gopis spoke of Krishna. But after a while Subadra was overwhelmed by the gopis devotion and the stories discussed that she became completely engrossed in listening. She didnt see the approaching brothers Krishna and Balarama. As the brothers listened their hairs stood on end, the arms retracted, the eyes grew larger and larger, and they smiled broadly in ecstacy. That is why Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra look like they do.
This form is worshiped by vaishnavas as the abstract form of Krishna.
The temple in Puri, India is the most popular temple for Jagannath.
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