Bharati Matha
Encyclopedia
Bharati Matha Temple is a temple of the Hindu God
Siva
. This is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar
(The Temple city of India
), a well known heritage place and capital of the State of Orissa
. The temple is a Hindu
monastery
with three stories which was built in the 11th century AD. It is currently used for living Matha
purposes and earlier it was used as a Hindu pilgrimage centre.
, and the Matha was initially used to house the artisans who were engaged in the construction of Lingaraja Temple.
, Prathamastami
, Durga puja
, etc., are celebrated. During Prathamastami, Lord Lingaraja comes here to visit his
uncle in the Matha.
, engagements and name giving ceremonies are observed.
metres in height x 0.84 metres in width, with a thickness of 0.35 metres.
and the construction technique is masonry
type.
There is damage all over the walls due to the growth of vegetation.
trees and Asoka trees are found on the outer wall of the Matha on the northern and southern sides. In the southern side of the entrance there is a cluster of nine small temples and a few detached sculptures and temple fragments kept within a small compound, behind the Matha shrine of Talesvara Siva temple. These nine temples of Pidha order enshrine the Siva lingam
in the sanctum. According to the Matha legend these temples are dedicated to the previous Matha Mahantas in recognition of their contribution and religious merits. These shrines have been erected upon the burial of the deceased Mahantas, which was an interesting and important Matha tradition in the past. These shrines have been named as burial temples to distinguish them from the other temples.
Hindu deities
Within Hinduism a large number of personal gods are worshipped as murtis. These beings are either aspects of the supreme Brahman, Avatars of the supreme being, or significantly powerful entities known as devas. The exact nature of belief in regards to each deity varies between differing Hindu...
Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. This is one of the oldest temples in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
(The Temple city of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
), a well known heritage place and capital of the State of Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
. The temple is a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
with three stories which was built in the 11th century AD. It is currently used for living Matha
Matha
A matha ) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.-Advaita Mathas:...
purposes and earlier it was used as a Hindu pilgrimage centre.
Approach
Bharati Matha is located in the Badheibanka Chowk, Old Town Bhubaneswar. One can approach the Matha on the left side of Ratha road leading from Lingaraja to Ramesvara Goswami is the present Mahanta of the Matha. It is one of the oldest Hindu monasteries of Bhubaneswar.Surrounding
The Matha is surrounded by Ratha road in east, Jamesvara Patna road in south, private buildings in north and Bhrukutesvara temple in west.Tradition and legends
According to local legend as narrated by the Mahanta, the monastery was established by Yajati Kesari, the builder of the Lingaraja TempleLingaraj Temple
Lingaraj Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Harihara, another name for Shiva and is one of the oldest temples of Bhubaneswar, a revered pilgrimage center and the capital of the state of Orissa, India....
, and the Matha was initially used to house the artisans who were engaged in the construction of Lingaraja Temple.
Ownership
This temple is not under any private ownership and comes under public property. It is under the care and maintenance of the Endowment Department and on the personal supervision of Matha Mahanta Pranab Kishore Bharati Goswami.Cultural
Rituals like Kartika purnimaKartik Poornima
Kartik Poornima is a Hindu holy day celebrated on the full moon day or the fifteenth lunar day of Kartik . It is also known as Tripuri poornima and Tripurari Poornima. It is sometimes called Deva-Diwali or Deva-Deppawali - the festival of lights of the gods...
, Prathamastami
Prathamastami
Prathamastami is a rite is held in Orissa, India, for the life and prosperity of the eldest child who is offered a lighted lamp ovation by the senior female relatives followed by elaborate rituals during which the Mantras are recited...
, Durga puja
Durga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
, etc., are celebrated. During Prathamastami, Lord Lingaraja comes here to visit his
uncle in the Matha.
Social
Marriage ceremonies, thread ceremoniesUpanayana
Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge .- Significance of the sacred thread :...
, engagements and name giving ceremonies are observed.
Plan and elevation
The Matha is square on a plan measuring 26.00 square mts. The Matha stands on a high platform measuring 1.50 metres and it has seven mouldings. On elevation, the Matha is a three storied building measuring 11.50 metres in height. With a central courtyard, there are three living rooms in each side of the Matha. Each room measures 6.15 metres in length x 3.45 metres in width. The Matha is enclosed by a massive compound wall that measures 53.60 square metres with a height of 2.52 metres.Decorative features
Door Jambs: The doorjamb of the Matha measures 1.70metres in height x 0.84 metres in width, with a thickness of 0.35 metres.
Building material
This temple is made up of coarse grey sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and the construction technique is masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
type.
Preservation
Showing signs of deterioration because of the growth of wild vegetation and the collapse of wall and superstructure in the east and north.There is damage all over the walls due to the growth of vegetation.
Signs of distress
The Matha is in a dilapidated condition. The rooms in the western wing have already collapsed and only the outer wall exists.Structural problems
The southern wing, which is now used, is also in a dilapidated condition and first floors have collapsed. Rain water is seeping inside the rooms through the cracks in the roof creating danger to the structure.Repairs and maintenance
It was repaired by the Matha Mahanta recently during Durgapuja but only a little work has been done. The building needs total restoration and conservation in view of its archaic architecture.Conservation problem and remedies
Due to the cracks in the roof, rain water is seeping into the rooms.Burial temples
PipalSacred Fig
The Sacred Fig, Ficus religiosa, or Bo-Tree , Peepal is a species of banyan fig native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, southwest China and Indochina...
trees and Asoka trees are found on the outer wall of the Matha on the northern and southern sides. In the southern side of the entrance there is a cluster of nine small temples and a few detached sculptures and temple fragments kept within a small compound, behind the Matha shrine of Talesvara Siva temple. These nine temples of Pidha order enshrine the Siva lingam
Lingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
in the sanctum. According to the Matha legend these temples are dedicated to the previous Matha Mahantas in recognition of their contribution and religious merits. These shrines have been erected upon the burial of the deceased Mahantas, which was an interesting and important Matha tradition in the past. These shrines have been named as burial temples to distinguish them from the other temples.
Reference notes
- K. C. Panigrahi, Archaeological Remains at Bhubaneswar, Calcutta, 1961. P. 19.
- T. E. Donaldson, Hindu Temple Art of Orissa, Vol. I, Leiden, 1985, P. 64.
- Date of Documentation: 22.10.2006