The Maths( Temples ) and Ashrams
Associated with Lord Jagannath
The MathsAccording to a 1929 edition of the Puri Gazetter, "Mathas are monastic houses originally founded with the object of giving religious instructions to 'chelas' or disciples and generally of encouraging a religious life." As many as seventy maths existed in Puri at that time. The maths surrounding the Jagannath temple sprouted and flourished under the openly religious rulers of Puri town. Way back in the distant past, sadhus and holy men began coming to Puri to take darshan of Lord Jagannath. They came into contact with and had influence over the Gajapati Kings, who along with other wealthy persons, donated land to them, so they could establish maths and ashrams. As time passed, the various maths became involved with the ritual worship in the Jagannath temple. Among their early duties was amritamanohi, the growing of food (bhoga) that was offered to Lord Jagannath. The mahaprasad was distributed to the pilgrims, students, ascetics, beggars and others who had a limited means of income.The leader of a math is called a Mahanta or Mathadhari, and is generally selected from among the disciples or chelas. The maths are affiliated with and espouse the teachings of different sects. Some of the sects represented in the maths of Puri town are the Angira sect, Adwaita sect, Ramanuja sect, Ramanandi sect, Atibadi sect, Gaudiya sect, Pancha Ramanandi sect,Gauda Mahaba sect, Nimbarka sect, Ananta sect, Utkal Vaishnava sect, Madhavacharya sect, Dashanami sect, Pushtimarga sect, Gurunanak sect and the Kabir sect.
Currently, many maths no longer perform service in the Jagannath Temple. Those that still do, do so on a limited basis. Also, some maths are entitled to khei, a portion of the Kotha bhog that is offered in the temple.
All four maths (akhadas) were established for defense purposes by King Narasingh Deva I. They were composed of strong, brave sadhus whose function was to guard the temple. Bagha Math, Khaki Math, Hati Math and Nirmohi Math
The Beje pratimas (small, easily transported images that represent the larger deities) of Lord Jagannath, Lady Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra visit the gardens of this math on different festival days, like Basanta Panchami, the 1st, 4th, 5th and 12th days of the bright fortnight of Falguna. The Jagannatha Ballava Math supplies ornaments of flowers (eg. tilaka and jhumpa) for Badasinghara Vesha. It supplies kora (a sweet) for Kaliya Dalana Vesha and Pralambasura Badha Vesha. This math also provides dayana for the dayana chori ritual. It is situated on Puri's Grand Road, the site of the Ratha Yatra. It has no Mahanta, but is directed by a board working under the Comissioner of the State of Orissa. Jagannatha Ballava Math
This math is located near the south gate of the temple. It supplies tahia for four festivals, namely Snana Purnim, Ratha Yatra, Return Ratha Yatra and Niladribije. It also provides part of the Hati Vesha, tuli for pahandi and an amount of sandalwood for Sarbhanga neeti on Khalilagi ekadasi and flower garlands for Nabanka bedha. In addition, Raghava Das Math offers adhara pana bhoga and Panti bhoga on specific festival days. Raghava Das Math
Founded by Atibadi Jagannath Das, the early 16th century poet-saint of Orissa, this math supplies the materials for some of the rituals. The math provides trimundi chandua and silk clothes for Chaka apasara, till oil for Phooluri neeti, oil and ghee for Deva deepawali. It also repairs Kanakamundi, offers Chakata bhoga in Anasara and adharpana bhoga and Panti bhoga on certain days. On the day of Neeladri bije, the Mahanta makes manjana of ratnavedi. Oriya Math
Established by Ramanujacarya, this math provides chandrika and chausara fashioned from flowers for the Lords' Badasingha Vesha, mala and chula for the Nabanka ritual. Emar Math offers pana bhoga during the time of anasara and bala bhoga during the month of Kartika. Emar Matha
This math offers panti bhoga, and provides the makara chula and part of the Hati Vesha on Snana Purnim. Makara chula is also supplied for Makara sakranti. Gopaltirtha Math
Established about 1000 years ago by the great Sankaracarya (an incarnation of Shiva) in the Swargadwar area (Puri's cremation site at the shore of the Bay of Bengal). One story goes that Puri became on the the four holy dhamas (abodes of the Lord) due to the presence of this math. The head of this math, also given the title Sankaracarya, also assumes the role of chief (nayak) of the Muktimandap of the Jagannath temple. The temple authorities consult him regarding religious and ritual matters as necessary. Govardhana Math
Located near the Lion Gate, this math performs kirtan during Mangala Arati, Pahuda Arati and Bala Dhup. They do the Padma Vesha and offer Kshira Bhog. Bada Chhata Math
This math provides ornaments made from flowers like alaka and chausara during Chandan Yatra. It makes majanaof ratnavedi at the time of banaklagi, provides adhibas jala from the well of Sitala for Snana Purnima, and offers panti bhoga to Dola Gobinda at the time of Agni Utscaba. The Mahanta of the Suna Goswami Math is also the Mahanta of the Darpa Narayana Math. Suna Goswami Math
Located next to the Emar Math, this math is associated with the Guru Nanak sect. The math provides a sacrificial ram to be offered to Goddess Bimala on the annual Maha Navami night. Mangu Matha
Another math of the Guru Nanak sect. Baaul Math
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, stayed in this math when He visited Puri in 1510 AD. Some of His personal possesions have been preserved there. Radhakanta Matha
The Mahantas of these two maths (as well as a few others) are entitled to do Upachara Chamara Seva, but they seldom do. These maths are controlled by the State Endowment Commissioner. Kothabhoga Math and Mahabir Math
These two maths are under the control of the Jagannath Temple Managing Committee. The Delhi Balak Ram Das Math is located near the Gundicha Mandir. Chaulia Math and Delhi Balak Ram Das Math
This math is controlled by a committee subordinate to the Chairmanship of the Collector, Puri. It is in the Swargadwar area, at the burial site of Atibadi Jagannath Das, who translated the Bhagavata Purana into Oriya. Sata Lahadi Math
Also located near Swargadwar, this math is associated with the Kabir sect. According to tradition, the mystic poet, Kabir stayed at this math when he visited Puri. Kabir Choura Math
This math, located outside of Puri near Kakatpur village, performs a function in the Nabakalebar ceremony. Bauli Matha
Other Maths Associated with Ritual Worship in the Jagannnath Temple:
Sri Ram Das Math or Dakshina Parshwa Math Uttara Parshwa Math Trimali Math Mahiprakas Math Sankarananda Math Gangamata Math Radhaballava Math Labanikhia Math Chhauni Math Jhadu Math Papudia Math Nebal Das Math Devagiri Math Pipila Sadabarta Math Sanachhata Math Jhanjapita Math Samadhi Math Balaram Kota Math Badasantha Math Ramji Math Sidhabakula Math Venkatachari Math Narasinghachari Math Ghumusara Math (now in ruins)Chaitanya Gaudiya Math A Few Maths Not Associated with the Ritual Worship:
Purusottama Gaudiya Math
Panjabi MathThere are four ashrams (hermitages) involved with the performance of certain rituals of the Jagannath Temple. They are the Angira Ashram, the Markandeya Ashram, the Pandu Ashram and the Parasara or Ugrasena Ashram. The ashrams are managed by various local communities. The rituals they are connected with involve being visited by deities from the Jagannath Temple, on certain auspicious days. For example, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Shravana, the Narasimha deity visits all four ashrams in a ritual called Badi Nrisimha Bije. At each ashram, the Deity is offered Sital bhog. This ritual visit is also performed on the full moon day of Margashira. On the full moon day of Shravana, Lord Sudarshan pays a similar visit to each of the four ashrams. The Ashrams
The majority of the ashrams in Puri, however, are not directly involved in the Temple's rituals. The more famous of these ashrams are Abhiram Paramahansashram, Adwait Bramhashram, Bhagavata Ashram, Bharata Shevashram, Divyadham Ashram, Haridas Ashram, Karar Ashram (founded by the renown Kriya Yogi Sri Yukteshwar Giri), Maa Anandayamayi Ashram, Nigamananda Ashram, Omkarnath Thakur or Neelachala Ashram, Pranavananda Ashram, Satsangha Ashram and Vijaya Krishna Goswami Ashram.
Note: Since the time of this article was printed the number of Maths ( Temples ) has increased tremendously.