Rāmānuja’s visit to the Purī Temple has been described by Anantācārya in Prapannāmr̥ta. Winning the Raja over, he sought to alter the Tantric form of worship that prevailed in the temple of Jagannātha. But he encountered stiff opposition from the servitors of the temple. Rāmānuja had the divine service performed by other Brāhmaṇas, based on the Pāñcarātra rites, which are observed in the śrīraṅgaṁ temple. Consternation and disgrace stared at the face of the priests and at nightfall they assembled before the altar of Jagannātha. “Hark thee, O Lord” they cried. “Rāmānuja seeketh to introduce changes in the form of Thy worship. We belong to the old school and we abhor such changes. Save us, we beseech Thee, from this imperious Sannyasi. Otherwise, we will die before Thee.” The deity was moved at this supplication and he appeared before Rāmānuja in a vision and advised him to not insist on changes. But Rāmānuja was adamant. Jagannātha then got him and his disciples miraculously thrown out overnight to a distance of hundred yōjanas to Kūrmakṣētra.
Rāmānuja is known to have never returned to Purī again.