हिंदीOn this day
Standing

Govardhan Matha, Puri

The eastern (Purvamnaya) seat of Adi Shankaracharya’s four mathas, at Puri close to the Jagannath temple. It holds the Rigveda and the mahavakya Prajnanam Brahma; its first acharya was Padmapada.

Built: Founded by Adi Shankaracharya (Amnaya Mathas’ reckoning c. 5th century BCE; another widely used reckoning 8th century CE)Where: Odisha (Puri)Deity: Shri Jagannath and Vimala; Govardhanadhari Krishna19.80° N, 85.82° E
  1. 1925
  2. 1958
  3. 1964
  4. 1992
Photo: myself · CC BY 3.0

01Padmapada’s seat

Of Shankara’s four great disciples, Padmapada was the one who, called by his guru from across the Ganga, walked on the water, and lotuses rose under each step. To him Shankaracharya gave the eastern seat at Puri, with the Rigveda and the mahavakya of the Aitareya Upanishad, Prajnanam Brahma, Consciousness is Brahman. The kshetra’s Bhagwan is Jagannath and its Devi is Vimala, whose shrine stands inside the Jagannath temple. Sannyasis of the Vana and Aranya names of the Dashanami order belong here.

02Acharyas of the 20th century

Swami Bharati Krishna Tirtha led the Govardhan Matha from 1925 until 1960. He travelled to America in 1958, the first Shankaracharya to do so, and his book Vedic Mathematics, built on sutras he drew from the tradition, was published after his death in 1965. Swami Niranjana Deva Tirtha followed from 1964 and stepped down in 1992 in favour of Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, the present Shankaracharya, who took diksha from Swami Karpatri. The present acharya began the daily arati to the sea at Puri.

The life of this place

  1. 1925Swami Bharati Krishna Tirtha becomes Shankaracharya of Puri.
  2. 1958Bharati Krishna Tirtha tours the United States.
  3. 1964Swami Niranjana Deva Tirtha is installed.
  4. 1992Swami Nischalananda Saraswati succeeds to the seat.
Visiting

The matha is near Swargadwar, a short walk from the Jagannath temple and the sea. Join the evening arati to the sea if you are in Puri.

Nearby

Shri Jagannath Temple, PuriStanding
Cholas and the Southern Seas

Shri Jagannath Temple, Puri

Purushottama Kshetra, the eastern dham of the Char Dham, where Bhagwan Jagannath, his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra sit in wooden forms renewed in the Navakalevara rite. The present temple rose under the Eastern Gangas and survived repeated raids because the priests carried the deities away and brought them back.

Gundicha Temple, PuriStanding
Sultanates, Vijayanagara and the kingdoms that stood

Gundicha Temple, Puri

The garden temple at the far end of Puri’s Bada Danda, where Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra ride in their chariots every Ashadh and stay for seven days. For the rest of the year it stands empty, its altar waiting.

Sakshi Gopal Temple, SatyabadiStanding
Sultanates, Vijayanagara and the kingdoms that stood

Sakshi Gopal Temple, Satyabadi

The temple of Gopal who, in the katha told in the Chaitanya Charitamrita, walked from Vrindavan to bear witness for a poor brahmin’s promise. Pilgrims to Puri stop here so that Gopal may witness their pilgrimage.

Alarnath Temple, BrahmagiriStanding
Sultanates, Vijayanagara and the kingdoms that stood

Alarnath Temple, Brahmagiri

The temple 23 km from Puri where pilgrims go during Anavasara, the fortnight after the Snana Yatra when Jagannath is hidden from view; for those days, devotees hold, the Lord gives darshan as Alarnath.