Ramanuja sampradaya Mathas There are 24 Ramanuja panthi Mathas, of which the oldest are Emar, Achari Matha (near Emar Matha), Daksinaparva and Raghava Das. The Mahanta of the Raghava Das receives the tying of the sari on his head during Snana yatra and is called Mahanayaka, “great leader” The Ramanuja sampradaya Mathas are also called Achari or Sri Matha. All the Mathas from the Ramanuja Sampradaya are under the Totadri Matha (or Ashtagadi Matha) from south India. Emar Matha It is near the lion gate of Jagannatha temple, and it is the most important of the Ramanuja Sampradaya Mathas, established by Ramanuja himself for his disciple Govinda, whose Tamil name was Embarumanar, which was later shortened into Emar. This Matha was also called Ramanuja Kotha, Rajagopalacharya Matha, Raja Gopala Matha and Srinivasa Kotha. The Deities are Patita Pavana, Rama Lakshmana Sita Hanuman, Laksmi Nrishimha, Salagram etc. There are also two vigrahas of Ramanuja, one made of stone and one made of metal (the chalanti pratima that on one particular day in the month of Vaisakha travels to all the major Mathas in Puri). The most important festival celebrated in the Matha is Jhulana yatra. The most important contribution of the Emar Matha is the Raghunandana Library, in front of Jagannatha temple. Their service to the Jagannatha temple consists in providing flowers for the Veshas during Vallabha and Bada Sringara every day, specificlaly the guna and jhampa garlands for the Deities’ nose, and the alaka garland for Their foreheads. During Anasara they provide the Chataka Bhoga and in the month of Kartika the Vallabha Bhoga. On Snana Purnima and Ratha yatra they provide flowers and chandana; during Chandana yatra they provide the Pana Bhoga. They offer the Panthi Bhoga during the 21 days of the Chandana yatra, Nrisimha Chaturdasi, Champaka Dvadasi, Ratha yatra, Dhulya Gundicha, Hera Panchami, Niladri Vijaya, Chakrabhula (Sravana) Ekadasi, Sravana sukla Navami, Gahma Purnima, Kaliyadalana Ekadasi, Rishi Panchami, Radhashtami, Dasahara, Kumara Purnima, Dipavali, Margasira sukla Chaturdasi, Vasanta Panchami, Agni utsava, Dola Purnima, Rama Navami, Pushya Abhisheka, and Amavasya of every month. Uttara parsva Matha It is near the north gate of Jagannatha temple, in Lakshmi Bazar, established by Bhoj Puri, a vaishnava brahmana from the Ramanuja Sampradaya. The Deities are Raghunatha (Ramachandra) Lakshmana Sita Hanuman, Radha Krishna, Balabhadra Subhadra Jagannatha, Lakshmi Nrisimha, Dadhi Vamana, Ramanujacharya, Gopinath jiu, Sri Nrisimha, another Patita pavana, Bhashyakara Swami, Lokanatha, Hanuman, Lakshmi Narayana and 65 Salagrama shilas. The main festivals are Nrisimha Chaturdasi, Vamana Dvadasi, Jhulana yatra, Janmashtami, Rama Navami, the 24 Ekadasis, Dola yatra, Durga puja, Dasahara, and the 10 days festival for Ramanuja starting from Vaisakha sukla Dvitiya. In connection to the Jagannatha Temple, the Mahantas perform the chamara seva, provide the Mohana Bhoga, light the akhanda dipa, and have their own stoves in Jagannatha’s kitchen. Dakshina parva Matha, also called Raghava Das Matha A Ramanuja sampradaya Matha, it was established in 1680 by Raghava Das from west India; it is near the southern gate (Asva dvara) of the Jagannatha temple, in Bali Sahi on a 2 acres area. It is also called Dakshina parsva Matha (a name that is also attributed to the Sri Rama Matha). Raghava Das received the title of Mahanayaka from the Gajapati King. It is said that Raghava Das used to stand on the beach to meditate, without caring for the heat or the rain; parasols offered to him by friendly people were systematically blown away by the wind until one temple Sevaka gave him a parasol that had been used by Lord Jagannatha, which remained strongly fixed in the sand. From that time, the Matha provides parasols for Sri Jagannatha during Anavasara. The Deities in this Matha are Lokanatha Shiva, Parvati, Nrishimha, Salagram, Sita Rama Lakshman, Patita Pavana, Daru Jagannatha Balarama Subhadra Sudarshan. This Matha also has temples in others area. One is at Narendra Sarovara (Gopala Vallabha mandir), with the Deities of Gopala Vallabha, Sri Radha Devi, Sri Sita Rama Lakshman, Sri Gopika, Sri Salagram, Sri Patita Pavana. In Ranapur they have the Braja Bihari mandir, in Kalpara they have another temple dedicated to Nrishimha, in Satyabadi a temple of Raghunatha Dev, in Nallihana a temple of Gramesvara Mahadeva., in Rishipada a temple of Gopinatha, and in Atharnala a temple of Dadhi Vamana, although due to bad the managing the temple has lost thousands of acres of land. The Matha is offering regular service to Jagannatha temple, supplying the special crowns (called tahia) for the Deities on several festive occasions (Snana Purnima, Ratha yatra), the Hati Vesha for Snana Purnima, the cotton cushions for the Pahandi Vijaya, sandalwood for Khadilagi Ekadasi, garlands for Navanka Vesha and Panti Bhoga on several occasions. Jiyar Svami Matha A Ramanuja sampradaya Matha, it is Bali Sahi. It was founded about 800 years ago by Sitaram Svami, who came from south India, together with Sri Raghunatha jiu, a vigraha of Sri Ramachandra. The Deities in the Matha are Sri Raghunatha jiu, Sita Maharani, Lakshmana jiu, Sri Krishna jiu, Rukmini Maharani, Satyabhama Maharani, Sri Venkatesvara, Sri Devi, Bhu Devi, Lakshmi Nrisimhadeva, Sri Ramanuja and other Acharyas. The main festivals are Rama Navami, the sraddha of Sri Ananta Svami, Pana Sankranti (fire walking ceremony), Sri Asmat Svami utsava, appearance day of Sri Ramanuja, appearance of Nrishimhadeva, Snana Purnima, Gundicha ratha yatra, Jhulana yatra, Godamba utsava, Guru Purnima, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Sri Vamana jayanti, Dassera, Kumara Purnima, Dipavali, Sri Venkata Svami utsava, Ola Navami, Sri Kshetra parikrama, Sri Barbar Muni utsava, and the appearance days of various Mahantas. The present Acharya is Sri Indramani Ramanuja Das. Trimali Matha It is at the elephant gate of Sri Mandira. It supplies camphor (karpura) and frankincense (jhuna) for the worship of Jagannatha in Sri Mandira. Sri Ram Das Matha Also known as Bada Matha or Dakshina parsva Matha, this Ramanuja Sampradaya Matha is at the south gate of Jagannatha temple, in Manikarnika Sahi; previously it was situated in Bali Sahi. It was established by Ram Das, disciple of Ramanuja Acharya and Guru of the Maratha governor of Orissa. The main Deities are: a Salagrama shila shaped as Nrisimha, Rama Lakshmana Sita Urmila, 2 Deities of Laksmi Narayana and 2 Deities of Radha Krishna, and 50 Salagrama shilas. In the Jagamohana there is Patita pavan, Hanuman, Radha Krishna, Laddu Gopala and a few Salagrama shilas. The important festivals are Nrsimha Chaturdasi, Rama Navami, Janmastami, Vamana Dvadasi, Jhulan yatra. They provide Bala Bhoga in Kartika, Panthi Bhoga and pana to the temple on certain occasions, many flower ornaments for Bada Sringara, the Sankha Chakra Vesha for the Navanka, and the warm clothes for the Deities in Odana Sasthi. They also have their own stoves in Jagannatha’s kitchen, where they cook the Amrita Manohi Bhoga. The Mahantas of this temple are allowed to do chamara seva for Jagannatha. Venkata Achari Matha A Ramanuja Sampradaya Matha around 300 years old, it is in Bali Sahi. Once the King of Vijayanagara visited Puri accompanied by his Raja Guru, and after having Darshana of Jagannatha, the Raja Guru decided to remain in Puri permanently. At the request of the King of Vijayanagara, the King of Khurda donated some land near the Mashani Mahavira in Bali Sahi (near the Smasana), so that the Matha could be built. The Deities are Patita Pavana, Vamsidhari Gopala, Sridevi, Bhudevi, Krishna, Venkatesvara, Rama abhisekha Deity, Ranganatha Swami, Goda Devi, and 40 Salagramas. They celebrate the festivals of Kumara Purnima, Rama Navami, Janmashtami, Vijaya Dasami, Pongal (Makara Sankranti), etc. The Mahantas offer the chamara seva to Jagannatha in the Sri Mandira and provide the Panthi Bhoga to Sudarshana on Kumara Purnima. Nrisimha Achari Matha A Ramanuja Sampradaya Matha, it is also in Bali Sahi, established by a Vaishnava family named Madrajiguhi. Together with the Venkata Achari Matha, the Nrisimha Achari Matha was established by the descendents of two prominent householder disciples of Ramanuja Acharya. Ramanuja had eight chief disciples, three of which were grihasthas and five were sannyasis. The Deities are Nrishimhadeva, Lakshmi Devi, Patita Pavana, Rama Lakshmana, Guru gadi, Salagram. The main festival is the appearance of Lord Nrishimhadeva, Jhulan yatra, and the appearance days of Sri Radha, Sri Krishna, Sri Rama. They offer Panthi Bhoga and chamara seva to Jagannatha during Ratha yatra. Revasa Matha A Ramanuja Sampradaya Matha, it is near the Jagannatha temple, on the side of Koili Vaikuntha. It was established by a Rajasthani scholar named Ramachandra Ramanuja Das, who was the Raja Guru of Jaipur. He was initiated by Tridandi Swami Raghava Jatendra Mahadeshi. The Deities are Raghunathajiu Lakshmana Lal Mata Janaki, Hanuman ji, Gopal ji, Lal ji, Gopinath Deva, Radha Krishna, Caturdha murtis (Jagannatha Balabhadra Subhadra Sudarshana), Lakshmi, Ramanuja Swami, and many Salagramas silas. The festivals celebrated are Jyestha Purnima, Snana yatra, Guru Purnima, Jhulan yatra, Janmashtami, Vamana Dvadasi, Suniya, Durga puja. They also celebrate a yajna for nine days during Ratha yatra. The Mahantas offer the chamara seva to Jagannatha and Panthi Bhoga during Snana Purnima, Ratha yatra and Niladri Vijaya. Bada jhadu Matha Established in Kalika Devi Sahi, ner the Samadhi Matha by Ramanuja Das of the Ramanuja Sampradaya, it was previously known as Ayodhya Ananta Kota. As the name suggests, this Matha was in charge of cleaning the floor of the Jagannatha temple. The Deities are Raghunatha jiu, Radha Krishna, Lakshmi, Satya Narayana, Laddu Gopala, 30 Salagramas, and Hanuman. Just next to it there is a Sana Jhadu Matha, too. Subha Lakshmi Narayana chata Matha A Ramanuja Sampradaya Matha, it is near Town Thana (city police station), in Grand Road. The main Deities are Subha Narayana or Subha Lakshmi Narayana, Radha Krishna, Nitai, Gaura, Nrsimha, Madana Mohana, Garuda. The main festivals are Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Govardhana puja, Kahali bhoga, Nrishimha Chaturdasi, Guru Purnima, Jhulana yatra. Siddha Matha It is in Dolamandap Sahi. The Deities are Ananta Swami, Gopalji, Nrishimha, Jagannatha Balabhadra Subhadra. The festivals are Radhastami, Janmashtami, Hanuman jayanti, Kumara Purnima, Ratha yatra, Pana Sankranti. Samadhi Matha or Jayarama Matha It is in Kalikadevi Sahi, between the Bada Jhadu and Chhauni Mathas. It is also called Jayarama Matha, after a Vaishnava sadhu who lived here and used to regularly remain in samadhi every fortnight from Dvadasi until Dasami. Two other famous sadhus who lived here (between the late 19th and early 20th century) were Vasudeva Ramanuja Das and Damodar Ramanuja Das. Vasudeva was a sannyasi but out of humility hewore white clothes like a babaji and returned the obeisances that people offered him by saying, daso ‘smi. He recited the Bhagavata Purana daily and built a small temple of Narasimha within the Sri Mandira near to the Sad bhuja Gauranga shrine. Damodar Ramanuja Das used to take care of the gardens inside Sri Mandira, investing money he collected. Other Mathas in this Sampradaya are Girisvami Matha (in Shyama Kali Lane), Vasudeva Baba Matha (in Svargadvara road), Achari Matha (south east of Simha Dvara, in front of Narasimhachari Matha), Jatiraj Matha (on the sea shore), Rima chhatra Matha (in Grand Road), Nua Matha (in Marichikota Lane), Sundaradas Matha (in Marichikota Lane), Kataki Matha (near Uttara parsva Matha), Bedi Hanuman or Mahavira Matha (at Bedi Hanuman temple, Chakratirtha road), Ranganayakachari Matha (in Suara Sahi), Narendra Mahala Matha (on the right side of Radha Vallabha Matha on Grand Road), Siddha Matha (in Dolamandapa Sahi), Pandita Matha (also called Chakratirtha Matha, in Pathuria Sahi).
Posted on: Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:45:56 +0000
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