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Archaeological Vestiges of Monasteries in the Prachi Valley, Odisha

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Archaeological Vestiges of Monasteries in the Prachi Valley, Odisha Odisha Review July - 2012 Archaeological Vestiges of Monasteries in the Prachi Valley, Odisha Jayashankar Naik The Prachi, a small river of over 60 km in length known as mathas. Even the Prachi Mahatmya with a catchment area of around 600 sq. km1, a mentioned three namely Antervedi, Viswamitra part of the Mahanadi delta in Odisha along the and Apsara mathas in the Prachi valley7. In course eastern coast of India is an important of time the number of mathas in the valley grew topographical as well as cultural landscape2. up and played an important role in the socio- Presently the parts of the modern day districts of religious cultural life of the people. The presiding Puri, Khurda, Cuttack and Jagatsingpur comprise deity of almost all the mathas associated with the Prachi valley region3. Like the mythological the Vaisnavite deities like Vishnu, Krishna and origin of other rivers such as the Narmada, the Jagannatha also known as Patitapavana. The Ganga, and the Godavari the sacred origin of the antiquity of the mathas as claimed by the present river Prachi is not an exception in the history of Mahantas (in charge of the monastery) to remote the Indian civilization. Its origin and importance ancient time, however, it goes back to the have been depicted in the Uttarakhanda of Suryavamsi Gajapati period i.e. 15th -16th century Padma Purana in the name of Prachi A.D., when the soil of Orissa was flooded with 4 Mahatmya . The valley once cradled a the stream of Vaisnavism. Prior to the existence civilization which is so rich and varied in character of these mathas there were various Ashramas that its glory can hardly be explained. It is like Mudgalamuni Ashrama, Viswamitra Ashrama, considered as the holiest river of Odisha and Bharadwaja Ashrama, Kapilamuni Ashrama and rightly called the Eastern Saraswati5. In its valley, Karnamuni Ashrama, etc. and on the basis of the there is everything that makes the history of present antiquarian remains of the above sites Odisha most outstanding and glorious. Without which would date back from 10th century AD to the study of ancient sites, monuments and th 8 antiquities of Prachi valley, the realm of Odisha 13 century A.D. The Odisha State Archaeology history seems incomplete6. Department unearthed a Buddhist monastery at Kuruma dated to 9th-10th century AD.9 An A survey in the Prachi valley reveals an intensive survey was conducted by the present incredible and splendid existence of diverse author in the Prachi valley which brought 50 monuments of different sects like- Saivism, mathas existing along the banks of the Prachi as Vaisnavism, Sakta, Buddhist and Jain but also the well as the dead channels of the Prachi system. establishment of the numerous monasteries locally Followings are the names of these mathas from 70 July - 2012 Odisha Review Phulnakhara to Konark in which few of them are left bank of the river Prachi. It is at a distance of dealt in detail while approach and location has 38 km from the capital city Bhubaneswar. Inside been given to the rest monasteries. the matha a pidha temple contains an image of Vishnu, being worshipped as Madhava11. 1. Fategarh Matha at Fategarh Bazarsahi: 6, 7, & 8. Deuli Matha, Tirumali Matha & Fategarh matha in the village Fategarh Bazarsahi Sidhavata- Jayadeva Sadhanapitha at Kendu is located in the Cuttack district. Vilva: 2. Sidhagumpha Matha at Jagamohanakuda: All these mathas lies within long. - 850 59¶ 40" E; lat. - 200 13¶ 05" N; elev. -35 ft m s l, Sidhagumpha matha in the village are situated in the village Kendu Vilva or Kenduli Jagamohanakuda near Sundargram is in Cuttack in the Balipatana block of Bhubaneswar tehsil in district and located on the left bank of Prachi. Khurda district. The village is located in the mid- 3. Sadhugumpha Matha at Olatapur: way of the right bank of the river Prachi and on the left bank of the river Kushabhadra. It can be Sadhugumpha matha in the village approached from the right side of Prataprudrapur- Olatapur on S.H.-60 is situated in the same name Banamalipur road and about 3 km east of police station of Cuttack district and located on Prataprudrapur and about 32 km from the capital the left bank of the river Prachi. It is at a distance city of Bhubaneswar. of 35 km from the capital city Bhubaneswar. 9. Kapila Ashrama at Kapilesvarapur: 4. Guptamanika Matha- Varahapur: Kapila Muni Ashrama is a solitary site on Guptamanika matha10 in the village the left bank of the river Prachi12 in the village Varahapur under Kantapara block of Cuttack Kapilesvarapur under Niali block of Cuttack district is located on the left bank of the river district. It is about 7 km from Adaspur and can Prachi. It can be approached at a distance of 4 be approached at a distance of 2 km on the left km from Kantapara connected by a metalled side of Kaliaghai Chowk on Niali-Phulnakhara road and about 36 km from Bhubaneswar. Near (S.H.-60) road. According to tradition this place the matha there is a great tank known as Gupta was the hermitage of Kapila Muni in bygone days Manika and tradition associated with that it was and hence the name Kapilamuni Ashram. Inside also known as Gupta Ganga and the Pandavas the Ashram a pidha temple made of sandstone stayed for some days during their secret faces to east houses a Patalaphuta Shivalinga banishment. Inside the matha a medieval pidha within a circular Yonipitha made of black chlorite temple houses an image of Lord Krishna made stone. Besides loose sculptures of Kankala of chlorite stone along with Ananta-Gopala, Bhairava, Astika Jaratkaru, Nandi, Camunda, Gajalaxmi and the wooden image of Jagannatha. Narasimha etc are kept in the temple premises. 5. Madhavananda Jew Matha at Adaspur: 10. Antarvedi Matha at Trivenighat in Kantapada Sasana: Madhavananda Jew matha is situated in the village Adaspur on SH.-60 and comes under The Antarvedi matha (Plate-1) at Niali tehsil of Cuttack district and located on the Trivenighat13 where the confluence of the river 71 Odisha Review July - 2012 Prachi, Manikarnika, a distributaries of the 11. Sahadakunja Matha at Amanakudagarh: Kushabhadra river and the invisible course of the legendary river Saraswati meets in the village Sahadakunja matha in the village Kantapada Sasana is situated under Niali tehsil Amanakudagarh is located on the left bank of the river Prachi and it comes under Balipatna block of Cuttack district. It can be approached on the of Khurda district. It is about 18 km from right side of the Niali (Nuagaon Chowk) ± Balipatna and 6 km from Niali. It can be Bhubaneswar (Uttara Chowk) road via approached on the right side of Niali (Nuagaon)- Amnakuda. It is about 7 km from Nuagaon Bhubaneswar (Uttara Chowk) road. Chowk on SH. - 60 and hardly 100 m east of the Belesvara and Trivenisvara temple of Bhapur in 12. Pandavakuda Matha at Pandavakuda Khurda district. near Amnakuda: The matha belongs to Gauranga sect. The Pandavakuda matha (Plate-2) lies Legends associated with the matha regarding its within long.-860 02¶15" E., lat.-200 08¶57" N., establishment to the time of the end of Dvapara elev.- 29 ft is situated over a sand-dune in the and beginning of the Kali era. Inside the matha, village Pandavakuda under Amnakuda Panchayat a modern saptaratha pidha shrine faces to east, of Balipatna block of Khurda district and located fronted by a R.C.C. jagamohana, a mandapa on the left bank of the river Prachi. It is about 20 and the Aruna stambha in front is built. Besides, km from Balipatna, 2 km south-west of the village the temple of Baba Lokanatha, a detached Amnakuda and 4 km from Niali. It can be snanavedi, dhuni mandapa and the laterite built approached about 1 km on a kachha road in the bathing steps known as Trivenighat are there. The left side of Niali (Nuagaon)- Bhubaneswar (Uttara presiding deities are enshrined in the sanctum over Chowk) road. a pedestal of 1.20 m in height is a black chlorite image of Lord Krishna along with the three triads- Tradition relates that during the period of exile the Pandavas spent few days in this locality Jagannatha (Patitapavana), Balabhadra and and hence the name Pandavakuda. Further it is Subhadra made of Neem wood; and brass idols said that in order to obtain water Bhima, the of Radha and Krishna are being worshipped. second Pandava threw his gada and where it fell, Rituals like janmastami, devasnana, a tank was formed which came to be known as radhastami, trivenibuda etc are celebrated here. Pandava-Pushkarani14. The matha belongs to The trivenibuda is held on the new moon day in Gauranga sect. The matha is presently under the month of Magha and thousands of people the custody of Mahanta Damodara Das and he congregate here to take sacred bath and on this claimed 1300 years of its existence. The matha occasion a fair is organized here for more than a has its own landed property and the Naga matha week. Besides, social rites such as marriage, of Puri is a branch of this matha. Ancient bricks engagement, thread ceremony, asthibisarjana, (40 x 27 x 8 cm in dimension) has been used on pinda dana are also performed here. The matha the present floor near the entrance of the matha has its own landed property and garden and which suggests the antiquity of the site. maintained by the Mahanta. Till now the matha Inside the matha a modern rectangular is in a flourishing condition in the Prachi valley.
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