Hindu Temples of India: Radha Kanta Matha, Puri, Odisha

Radha Kanta Matha, Puri, Odisha

Radha Kanta Matha is a religious mutt, located in located in Puri, a famous pilgrimage town in the state of Odisha, India. This place is also known as Kashi Mishra’s house. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in a room in Kashi Mishra’s house called Gambhira for the last twelve years of his life. The Mutt is situated south east of the Jagannatha temple in Bali Sahi, on the way to Svargadvara., also known as Radha Kanta Matha. The Mutt is located at about 1 Km from Jagannath Temple, 2.5 Kms from Puri Bus Stand and 3 Kms from Puri Railway Station.

History

Purusottama Deva, father of King Prataparudra, invaded Kanchipuram area and defeated the King of Kanchipuram in battle. He victoriously returned to Puri with three idols Radha Kanta, Sakshi Gopala and Bhada Ganesha as souvenir. It is said that he installed all the idols in Jagannath Temple. Bhada Ganesha is still worshipped in an inner courtyard just behind Jagannath temple.

It is said Radha Kanta was also worshipped inside the Jagannatha Temple for some time. Lord Jagannath appeared in the dreams of King Prataparudra and complained about Radha Kanta taking all nice items from his bhoga plate. Hence, the Lord requested him to remove the idol from the Temple. Shocked king requested his Gurudev Kashi Mishra to take the Radha Kanta to his house.

During the Kashi Mishra’s time, only Sri Radha Kanta was worshipped here. Later, when Gopala Guru became the Mahanta of the Matha, he installed a deity of Radharani on the left side of Radha Kanta and a deity of Lalita Devi on the right side. He also established the deities of dancing Gauranga and Nityananda on the left and right side of Radha Kanta.

When Mahaprabhu came to Jagannatha Puri after taking Sannyasa, He stayed at Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya’s House. But after his return to Puri finishing his south Indian tour, he stayed at Kashi Mishra’s House. Kashi Mishra was Rajguru of King Prataparudra, and King had gifted him a house with a large garden near the temple. King Prataparudra was a great devotee of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He suggested to Sarvabhauma that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu can stay in Kashi Mishra’s house.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu decided to stay in Kashi Mishra’s house in a very small room called Gambhira. He stayed in Gambhira for the last twelve years of his life. Gopala Guru, the disciple of the Vakreshvara Pandita, served Mahaprabhu from early childhood at Gambhira. After the disappearance of Vakresvara Pandita, Gopala Guru received the charge of the Seva of Sri Radha Kanta and Gambhira.

The Mutt

The Mutt is renowned for having the Gambhira or the room where Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lived in Puri. His staff, water pot, bed and sandals are still preserved here. There is a lamp here that is never extinguished. It has nice exhibits of Sri Chaitanya’s Lila pastimes. This Mutt also houses the stone idol of Radhakanta is said to have been brought from Kanchi by King Purushottama Deva.

There are idol of Radharani on the left side and an idol of Lalita Devi on the right side of Radha Kanta can be seen. Idols of dancing Gauranga and Nityananda on the left and right side of Radha Kanta can also be seen. The deity of Gopala Guru can be found at the entrance of Sri Radha Kanta Temple, facing east.