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Orissa Review July - 2008

The Role of at Puri in the Culture of Lord Bhagaban Mahapatra

Among the four religious centers of , who in course of his spiritual conquest of whole namely , Ramnath, Dwarikanath, Sri visited Puri (820 AD) and brought many Jagannath Dham, Puri is regarded as the most reforms in the Jagannath temple. He also important Pitha as Lord Himself has taken his established a at Puri which is known as abode at Srikhtra, Puri in this Yuga. He is Govardhan Matha. The Bhoga Mandap, where omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. He is large quantity of Bhoga are generally offered to the only religion. All sects, all beliefs and all Lord to cater the need of devotees was religions have mingled in His introduced by him eternal oblivion. He in the temple. is Lord Jagannath. After Sankar, the Puri is great Vaisnav famous to such an saint from South extent that it is India Acharya regarded as came heaven. It is to Puri during the universally believed reign of that the Jagannath Chodaganga Dham is the . He confluence of all established a religious faiths. The Matha which is precepts of different sects have paid their visits to the holy known as Emar Matha in front of the Lion's Gate, land of Puri and preached their philosophy and Puri. got them involved in the rituals and services of It is also said that Visnuswami established Jagannath temple, and in course of time Jaganath Ballav Matha at Puri which is known as established their Mathas (). playing garden of Lord Jagannath. Many rituals The establishment of Mathas at Puri dates of the temple are performed in this Matha back to the 9th century. The great Sankaracharya, throughout the year.

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Sri , another saint also visited Ganapati Bhatta a great devotee of lord Puri in the 14th century. He also established some Ganesh could see Ganapati in Jagannath on the training centers known as Akhadas, the main day of Snana Purnima on Snana Mandap. He purpose of which was to protect the temple from established a Matha which is known as Raghab the attack of Muslims. These Akhadas are known Das Matha. as Bagha Akhada, Khaki Akhada, Nirmohi The saints and seers of different sects of Akhada and Bada Akhada.Lord Mahavira is the symbol of hero worship (god) of had come to Puri being attracted by these Akhadas. Lord Jagannath and accepted Jagannath as their Lord of Worship. They felt the assimilation of Ballavacharya who belonged to their religious faith in the Jagannath culture. Vishnuswami sect, also established a Prabhuji Accordingly large number of monasteries of Baithak at Puri to preach the glory of Sri Gopal different sects of Hinduism have developed at Puri . by their religious leaders. Generally Mathas are During the reign of King Prataparudra divided in two kinds. Those Mathas administered Deva, Sri Chaitanya from Bengal came to Puri to by Sanyasis are known as Nihangi Matha and see the Lord. He stayed at Puri for a period of those administered by Gruhi are known Gruhi 24 years. His place of stay is presently known as Matha. In Puri, Mathas are developed with the Radhakanta Matha. During his period the following main objectives: Vaisnavism reached the climax point in the (a) To preach and spread the Jagannath culture religious life of people. and the essence of Hinduism. Das, a great saint came to Puri and (b) To give shelter to the pilgrims of different could witness Allah in Jagannath. According to sects and saints, him there is no difference between Allah and Jagannath. He stayed at a place near the sea shore (c) To donate food to the distresse, beggars, which is commonly known as Kabir . poor people and to help poor students in their Nanak, the of Sikh religion also visited studies in different schools and colleges, Puri. The Matha established by him is known as (d) To involve and support in different rituals Mangu Matha. and Nitis of the temple. Tulsi Dasa, a great saint of , Presently about thirty Mathas are closely who composed the famous Ramacharita Manas involved in different rituals and Nitis of Lord came to Puri and realized that he could not see Jagannath. The functions of Mathas in the temple his devoted Lord Ram in Jagannath. He returned are detailed below: back to a place near Puri and sat in meditation. Matha Services: In the night he could see Lord Jagannath in a dream, who directed him to see the Lord in the 1. Emar Matha: Provides Chamara and Canopy temple. Tulsi Das came back to the temple and .Chandrika made of flower are supplied could see Lord Ram in Jagannath. He became daily. overwhelmed with joy. This place where saint 2. Uttar Parswa Matha : Offers daily Mohan meditated is known as (about 8 Bhoga (made of coarse flour and sugar) to km away from the temple). distribute among the devotees.

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3. Trimali Matha : Offers Bhoga during Chandan 18. Venkatachari Matha : Alata and Chamar . Seva. 4. Raghabadas Matha : Offers Bhoga at the time 19. Nua Matha : Alata and Chamar Seva. of Ballav (Morning Tiffin), Chamar and Alata 20. Mangu Matha : Alata and Chamar Seva. seva. Hativesa on the day of Snana Purnima. 21. Labanikhia Matha : Sports of Lord during 5. Jaganath Ballav Matha : Associates with Krishna Janma. many rituals of Lord, such as Ramanabami, Dola Yatra, Dayanachori, Lakha Vindha, Dussahara. 22. Kapadia Matha : Provides dress materials. Provides lotus flower for decoration of Lord and 23. Dasavatar Matha : Cultural function ornaments made of flower. 24. Sunagoswami Matha : Flower for 6. Govardhan Matha : Chief of Muktimandap decoration. Pandit Sabha and gives final opinion on Niti and rituals of Sri Jagannath temple. 25. Sivatirtha Matha : Provides tooth brush for Lord. 7. Badachhata Matha : Alata and Chamar Seva, at the time of daily , and Chandan 26. Mahiprakash Matha : Provides tooth brush. Yatra, to recite some traditional songs at the time 27. Darpanarayan Matha : Offers flower of Mangal arati and Bada singhar. garlands. 8. Radhakanta Matha : Cleaning of Gundicha 28. Gopaltirtha Matha : Hati Vesha for Lord temple before Car Festival. Balabhadra. 9. Jhanjapita Matha : Offers seva and puja at 29. Rani Matha : Provides decorated Tahia the lotus feet of Lord inside the compound wall 30. Nandimata Matha : To stick jari in patta of the temple. At present some Mathas are not 10. Bada Odia Matha : Provides Ballav Bhoga performing their duties with the pretext of paucity (Morning Tiffin) of Lord. Alata and Chamar Seva. of funds. Although Mathas are in possession of 11. Dakhinaparswa Matha : Canopy Seva and huge landed property in papers, but actually they Chamar Seva. do not get any income from these properties. This 12. Revasa Matha : Alata and Chamar Seva. has been due to the implementation of land reform act. To revive the glory of the past, all efforts 13. Gangamata Matha : Alata and Chamar should be made at all levels so that all Mathas Seva. can perform their Sevas for Lord properly. 14. Radhavallav Matha : Alata and Chamar Seva. 15. Ramji Matha : Alata and Chamar Seva. 16. Sana Chhata Matha : Alata and Chamar Seva. Bhagaban Mahapatra lives at Sri Gundicha Vihar, 17. Goswami Matha : Alata and Chamar Seva. Sarboday Nagar, Puri-752002.

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