PURI, the MOKSHAPURI Puri, one of the seven Mokshapuris, is a pilgrim centre on the coast of Bay of Bengal. This pilgrim centre is located at a distance of 60 Km from Bhubaneshwar, the state capital of Orissa and is easily accessible by road and Train. Bhubaneshwar is well connected to other major cities by Air, Train & Road.

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Sankaracharya Math at �Swargadwar�, Puri is located at a distance of 1.5 Km from Railway Station ; and at 5 Km from Bus Station.

The presiding deity of Puri is Lord Jagannath and the awe inspiring temple complex of Lord Jagannath is an architectural fete.

Kanchi Kamakoti Sankaracharya Math and Veda Patasala Foundation stone for ‘Kanchi Kamakoti Sankaracharya Math and Veda Patasala’ was laid in the year 1973 by Honorable Sri B.D. Jatti, then Governor of Orissa. And thus a branch of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Sankara Mutt was established at Puri in the year 1974, at ‘Swarga Dwar’ (facing the beach & the Bay of Bengal on the other side of the road). A two-storied structure was built. At the entrance, an arch reading “ Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Sankaracharya Math’ greets visitors. It is hard to miss this while walking along the sea shore.

Shrine of Sri Balarama , Sri Jayadeva and Sri Padmavati

Shrine of Sri Adi Sankara with his disciples

Shrine of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

Veda Chanting Session in progress

Activities

In the main building, the ground floor houses the Veda Patasala and in the first floor, there is a temple complex with three Sanctum Sanctorums, all in a row. The central Sanctorum is �Adi Sankara Mandir�. Here, Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavadpada is flanked by his four principal disciples Totakacharya, Hastamalaka, Sureswara and Padmapada.

Panchayatana deities are also installed here. Abhisheka pooja is performed everyday.

The Sanctorum on the right side is the mandir for �Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu� who was one of the earliest proponents of Bhakti Marga in Bengal.

The Sanctorum on the left houses the mandir for Geeta Govinda fame Jayadeva. Lord BalaKrishna is seen flanked by Jayadeva and his wife Padmavathi.

The Veda Patasala in the Sankara Math complex was started in January 1974. KumbaBhiShekam was conducted in June 1974.

Day-to-day Temple activities

The day starts with Swastivaachakam. At Adi Sankara Sannidi, nithya Rudraabhishekam performed, followed by Purushasuktham, Alankaram and Archana.

The Paatasala students participate in the rendering of Rudram etc. Regular pooja is offered at the sanctum Sanctorum of Sri Chaitanya and Sri BalaKrishna.

A special feature is the recital of Jagannatashtakam during mornings and evenings. Daily Morning routine includes rendering of Totakashtaka, Lingashtakam, Jagannata Ashtakam, Bhavani Ashtakam etc.

Every evening between 6:15 to 7:15, Jagannatashtakam and Vishnu Sahasranamam are recited.

Special Poojas
Fortnightly Pournami Pooja, Maha Sivaratri & Annual Krishna Janma Ashtami are the occasions when special Poojas are performed.

Acharya Jayanti Mahotsav

The four Jayanti Mahotsavs of Sri Adi Sankara, HH Sri Paramacharya Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamiji, HH Sri Jayendra Saraswati Sankaracharya Swamiji and HH Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Sankaracharya Swamji are celebrated every year.

Veda Patasala

A Veda Paatasaala was inaugurated in June 1974 for Rg veda and Atharva Veda ‘Pippalada Sakha’. This Atarva Veda Patasala was the only one in the region at that time. We are indebted to the divine efforts of Paramacharya in restoring and preserving the otherwise almost lost Sakhas of Atarva Veda.

Sri D.S Thyagarajan, popularly known as ‘Tamaraipakkam’ was the Rig Veda Adyapak & Sri Kunj Bihari Upadyay was the ‘Atharva Ved Adyapak’ when the Patasala was inaugurated.

So far, more than 50 Vidyartees have completed ‘Samhita’. Currently there are 7 students, all of Atharva Veda ‘Pippalada Sakha’. Shri Sashank Shekhar , who was associated with the growth and activities of this branch right from inception and was a student in 1974 is currently the ‘Atharva veda pippalada sakha adyapak’. He has the distinction of receiving applauds from all the three Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Acharyas of our times.

Visits of Sankaracharcharyas

His Holiness Sankaracharya Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamiji, the 68th Peetadhipati of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam had visited Puri in the year 1936 during His Kasi Yatra. Information on this holy visit is displayed in the temple complex. His Holiness Jagaduru Sri Jayendra Saraswati Sankaracharya Swamiji, the 69th Peetadhipathi visited Puri and stayed in the mutt during Dec74-Jan75; Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Sankaracharya Swamiji, the 70th pontiff, has visited this mutt in the years 1992, 1993 & 1997.

Health care

�Sri Sankar Homoeopathic Charitable Dispensary� sponsored by �Kanchi Kamakoti Sri Jayendra Saraswati Charitable Trust� was started in 2005 and functions inside the Mutt complex . Dr. Babaji Mohapatra, Govt. Regd. Doctor, heads this unit. The Dispensary is open between 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday ia a holiday. The daily attendance of patients is about 75. Treatment is rendered free of cost.

Devotees

A sizeable number of devotees ( local residents and pilgrims) visit the mutt.

Publications

Sankaracharya Slokas like Jagannathashtakam etc. have been translated into the local language(Oriya) and have been published in the form of books and pamphlets, which are distributed free of cost to the devotees visiting the Mutt.

For further details, contact :

Sri Sashank Shekhar,
Veda Adyapak ,
Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Sankaracharya Math,
near Sonali Hotel, Swargadwar, Puri– 752001, Orissa.
Phone : 09938497704.