Flock of Eagles Spotted at Jagannath Temple Sparks 2026 Speculation

A viral video of many birds, including a large amount of eagles, hovering over the spire at the Jagannath Temple in  Jagannath Puri is taking centre stage at the moment, not because of a festival or an event, but because of the attention the video has garnered as its spreads like wildfire across platforms like TikTok.

Like most events that occurred at this temple over the years, the video has raised questions as to whether what the people are seeing is just an occurrence of nature or whether it could represent a sign of something significant that is about to take place.

Devotees have believed for centuries that birds do not typically fly over the temple, therefore seeing a large number of birds, particularly a flock of eagles, hovering near the temple's spire creates quite an impression on the minds of the people. Many devotees view this as sign of a divine nature, while some devotees are speculating that this is the fulfilment of some of the ancient predictions like those contained in the Bhavishya Malika, therefore casting doubt on the timing of the predicted end of the world in 2026.

Discussions Linked to Bhavishya Malika

Due to the current situation Bhavishya Malika has again become prominent. It is the name of an old text produced between the 15th and 16th centuries, written by St. Achyutananda Das and other Saints. The text contains many prophecies relating to Kali Yuga, natural disasters, and changes in society. Vultures or large birds on top of a temple spire can be viewed as an ominous sign in many interpretations. 

Many are discussing how there is a feeling that there will be a major global event or disaster happening in 2026 on social media, with many citing the Bhavishya Malika. However, historians and scholars believe that these prophecies are symbolic and not meant to be taken literally.

Garuda's Symbol or Ordinary Eagles?

There are currently two different religious viewpoints being formed due to the circumstances surrounding the incident that has occurred. There are those who associate the sightings of the eagle with Garuda, the mount of Lord Vishnu. They believe that seeing an eagle (or eagles) may be a sign of God's presence, or maybe an omen of good fortune. They believe the sighting of the eagle has brought an increase in positive energy to both the temple and to the country due to their belief that Lord Vishnu was present within the area where the eagle flew. Conversely, there are others who view these sightings as a bad omen. In particular, they are referring to the 2020 incident where a flag was burned at the temple just shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic started to spread. This incident has created a fear amongst some people that they may experience other misfortunes as a result.

Similar incidents have occurred before

This is not the first instance where a natural event regarding the Jagannath Temple has created such an uproar within society regarding what the different theories could be behind this occurrence. Earlier this year, in April, a bird flew away with the temple flag and flew around the temple site, and at that time, many people theorized on what it could mean, however, later it was reported by experts that this behaviour of the bird was no different than the birds normally behave; consequently, this issue died down. 

Generally, birds are usually found around areas of worship and religious significance. In fact, birds often congregate around tall buildings, in addition to the fact that birds can be attracted to sites by the wind and environmental conditions surrounding the site.

Temple administration's clear stance

The Jagannath Temple staff has released a detailed statement on this subject. The staff claim that the presence of birds circling the temple dome is simply a normal event which occurs naturally. To associate it with any type of good or bad omen is therefore erroneous. The Staff has urged the devotees not to take notice of the false information being circulated via various online platforms, nor should they be frightened or confused due to all of the unsubstantiated fears being expressed.

According to staff officials, there are always birds present within the vicinity of the temple, however, these animals react differently depending on various factors such as their surroundings and climate. Therefore, a more suitable explanation for this event would come through an understanding of this occurrence from an empirical standpoint.

How true is the claim of the world ending in 2026?

At this time, there is no verified scientific proof regarding predictions that 2026 will be the end of the world, nor have any prominent people – such as temple administration or religion's leading scholars confirmed such predictions. Unfortunately, the combination of extreme religious beliefs and fear, along with constant Internet access, leads to many misconceptions about the End Times.

The fact that many kites were observed flying around the Jagannath Temple spire would not be considered an immediate indicator of impending destruction or an indication that the final End has arrived. While I respect your faith and understand that flying kites in this way may be exciting for some, I think that it would be foolish not to consider scientific reasons behind the occurrence. 

Although media coverage has certainly created an environment of speculation and interest regarding this occurrence, there is no reason to believe that it is a harbinger of any form of catastrophic event.

Read More: Pariksha Pe Charcha 2026 Registration Opens, Key Details for Students