7 Day Prachi Parikrama of Prachi River in Odisha
“ In India rivers are worshipped as mom, matru upasana. Respect to rivers is respect to water as with out water there isn’t any life.” – HH Paramahamsa Prajnanananda ji Maharaj on Prachi Parikrama
Story of Prachi River
Prachi Mahatmya within the Uttarakhanda of Padma Purana describes the glory of Prachi River. The puranic origin of river Prachi is from the ashram of sage Kapila.
Prachi Mahatmya mentions that an enormous submarine hearth, baḍabāgni (nice hearth), originated from the ocean with the facility to destroy the three worlds. People, asuras and devas prayed to Lord Brahma to avoid wasting the three worlds.
Lord Brahma requested everybody to hope collectively to the lord of the ocean, Sagara. He expressed his helplessness. Then they went to the nice rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Rewa. In addition they expressed helplessness. Lastly they prayed to Saraswati. She stated “I will likely be destroyed within the extinguishing the hearth, however for the higher wellbeing of creation I’ll make this sacrifice.”
All of the Devatas suggested her to go underground and that they’d defend her from being fully scorched by the hearth. She went underground and originated from the ashram of sage Kapila, who was doing Yagna to guard the Devatas, Asuras and the people from the hearth.
River Saraswati emerged from the place of fireside ceremony of Sage Kapila. Although she initially flowed westwards, she modified her path and flowed in the direction of East, Prācī. This holy river is since then often known as Prācī Saraswati. Fulfilling their promise, Devatas reside on her financial institution.
Prachi Parikrama
Prachi is likely one of the solely two holy rivers talked about in our scriptures, which have the custom of being a circumambulatory passage (parikramā) from supply to sea and again, on a pilgrimage or yatra. The opposite is river Narmada.
Below the steering of Guruji, H.H Paramahamsa Prajnanananda ji Maharaj, Prachi Parikrama was launched on 04, Chaitra, Krishna Paksha, Chaturthi, 2069 Vishvavasu, Vikram Samvat (11/03/2012). Guruji personally leads disciples and devotees round it. He pioneered the mission in collaboration with Prachi Parikrama Charitable Belief.
In keeping with the Chairperson and Managing Trustee of the belief, Swami Shuddhanand Giri “The holy journey commences from Andhakapileshwar temple. Supply or origin of river has two features – one is geographical and the opposite is religious as acknowledged in our Itihasa -Puranas.
A tributary to Mahanadi, river Prachi presently flows from Phulnakhara or Dakamba close to Naraj. That is the geographical origin, however geography retains altering. What’s unchangeable is the tatwa or the supply as described in our historical scriptures. As per Prachi Mahatmya, the supply is temple of Andhakapileshwar in Niali, Cuttack.
In summers, the remainder of the realm is dry however the submerged linga stays in water, that’s underground within the temple. That is the actual origin of river Prachi.”
When is Prachi Parikrama Carried out?
Prachi Parikrama is finished 6 days earlier than Panka Udhar or Vijaya Ekadashi. It culminates on the day of Panka Udhar Ekadashi.
Panka which means sludge or ooze. It refers back to the flowers and leaves atop the Shivalinga provided throughout one 12 months. As it’s not eliminated, the lord stays beneath all of it and never seen. Solely this present day, all of the choices are eliminated and shivalinga is seen to devotees.
In 2024 the parikrama dates are from 1-7 March 2024. 07-03-2024 is Panka Udhar Ekadashi.
Significance of Prachi Parikrama
A parikrama of river Prachi has two distinct significance.
First, Prachi Valley Civilization has massively contributed in the direction of flourishing of various faiths as evidenced from innumerable temples, maths and ghats on its banks. Most of those are in ruins in the present day.
Alongside the banks of Mom Prachi lots of of Jaina and Buddhist photos are interspersed with Sambhus, Madhabas and Shakti photos. It corroborates the truth that religions flourished with none discord with the spiritual and religious speculations of any part of individuals.
Second, the existence of the Dwadasa Sambhus, Dwadasa Madhabas and Dwadas Shakti pithas. Fulfilling their guarantees to River Prachi, Devatas reside on her financial institution because the Ashta Sambhu, Ashta Madhaba, Ashta Shakti Pitha, Ashta Math, Dwadasha Tirthas, Dwadasa Sambhus, Dwadasa Madhabas and Dwadas Shakti pithas and many others.
The Kapila Samhita offers an eloquent account of the Prachi and its sanctity.
“Ekamra Kanan Purve Yejononte Mahipate,
Naame Prachi Vikhyata Saridete Saraswati
Prachya Dese Mahessaya Yatrasyat
Sangram Gama Krose krose Tate Linga
Tatah Prachi Saraswati”
Which means: On the jap facet of Ekamrakanan, the Prachi Saraswati flows eastward and on each its banks Shiva is worshipped within the type of Lingams.
In Sanskrit tīrtha actually means “a ford, a “crossing place” within the sense of “transition or junction.” The emphasis within the Upanishads and Hindu epics is on religious data, as an alternative of rituals, and this theme seems within the Hindu epics as nicely.
A parikrama of Prachi River bestows innumerable blessings and moksha to oneself and one’s ancestors, after taking tub and providing prayers to the reigning deity of the tirtha.
A devoutly carried out parikrama with Guruji constitutes in a single single act a triple sadhana of uplifting the physique, thoughts, and spirit.
7 Day Prachi Parikrama Route
Padayatra or strolling on foot, is carried out maintaining river to the proper. It reaches the confluence and returns maintaining the river once more to the proper.
Parikrama begins and finishes on the Andhakapileshwara temple with a complete of 108 kilometres to stroll. It takes seven days on the common of 20 kms per day to finish the parikrama.
Day 1
The parikrama commences from Andhakapileshwara temple at Kapileshwarpur in Niali tehsil of Cuttack district. It’s about 51 kms south from of Cuttack.
The Shivalinga is part of the Dwadasha Sambhus in Prachi Valley. The linga right here is at all times submerged beneath water. On Pankodhar Ekadashi day, three days earlier than the well-known MahaShivaratri competition, all of the water is drained out. Shiva linga turns into seen enabling 1000’s of devotees to worship the Lord.
Parikramawasis then attain Gokarneshwara, about one kilometer from Kapila Muni Ashram. It’s thought of because the second Sambhu within the sequence of the Dwadasha Sambhus.
Radhakanta Math is the final vacation spot of the forst day. Situated on the left financial institution of the river Prachi, the Radhakanta math is located at Nuagaon village in Niali tehsil. It’s about one km north-west of Sobhaneshwara temple of Niali.
Established in 1886, it has its personal landed property. Being a Zamindari math it’s self-funded. Legend says that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu resided right here throughout his go to to Puri. Throughout Nabakalebara, Vaishnavas of the Radhakanta math participate within the sankirtan whereas Daru of the lords are carried within the procession. They acquired this proper from the interval of King Pratap Rudra Dev.
Brikshraj Tamal
There’s a tree on the premises of Radhakanta Mutt, which grew from the remaining a part of the wood twig that Sri Chaitanya used to brush his enamel. He buried it and it got here to life in time and changed into an enormous tree nameded Briksharaj Tamal.
Attention-grabbing side of this tree is that with the downfall and upcoming of the mutt, the tree turns into dormant or blooms accordingly. Between 1969-85 the monastery was in a state of wreck, and there was no Mahanta Guru. At the moment, Briksharaj Tamal shed all leaves and have become dormant.
On the finish of this darkish interval new leaves and shoots appeared giving indication of a brand new daybreak. That is when new Guru Mahant Madan Mohan Das Baba arrived. After a lifelong battle, 25 years, the situation of the monastery modified because of Guru Mahant’s efforts. Since then, Briksharaj Tamal stands tall in full bloom.
Day 2
From Radhakanta Mutt, parikramawasis journey in the direction of Musibaba Mutt. Musibaba math in Sahanajpur village close to Jallarpur, about 200 mts. off Niali Charichhaka Highway. Also referred to as Artatrana Gadi, common recitations of the Bhagabat are held right here each night.
After the morning aarti parikramawasis begin the padayatra to the traditional Shiva temple of Sobhaneshwara within the Bangalisahi village. It’s 45 kms from Bhubaneswar and 300 metres off the Niali-Madhaba Highway.
The temple is positioned on left financial institution of the river Prachi, on the entrance of the village. Nakonia Pathar, a 9 level stone, on this temple is thought to punish anyone who offers false statements or lies after touching the holy stone. Individuals consider the liar will die inside days.
Ramayan Period Temple
After breakfast stroll continues in the direction of Tola Gopinathpur for a darshan of Rameshwara temple, 2 kms east of Jallarpur in Niali Tehsil, very near the Prachi river financial institution.
The origin of the deity goes again to the Ramayana period. Sri Ramachandra put in the Shivalinga within the temple, worshipped Shiva and acquired his divine blessing. From this place he went to Sri Lanka the place he killed Ravana. Thus the deity turned well-known as Rameshwara.
From Rameshwara to Somnath temple, the journey is brief even by foot. There is no such thing as a document of the institution of Somnath temple. In keeping with the priest, it’s about 100-year-old temple.
Madhabananda temple is positioned at a distance of 1.5 kms south-east of Panimal chowk on the Niali-Madhaba street, 6 kms from Niali. The worship of Madhaba, one of many twenty 4 manifestations of Sri Vishnu is quite common and an immense affect within the Prachi valley.
The temple can also be generally known as Durga Madhaba due to the presence of a Durga Murti subsequent to Madhaba in garbhagriha. This joint worship of Durga and Madhaba is exclusive to Odishan Vaishnavism, and is yet one more testomony of the nice Odishan means of synthesis.
This temple is called mamughara or maternal uncle’s dwelling of Sri Jagannath of Puri and plenty of rituals of the Jagannath Temple are related to Madhaba temple.
Image 6a – Madhabananda Temple Image 6b – Distinctive Garuda idol within the temple
Day 3
Padayatra continues until Kathakuha Hanuman Temple. No official data, however it’s the oldest temple within the area. It’s a south-facing or Dakhinamukha temple similar to Jagganath temple at Puri. Each devotee or customer experiences direct communication with Kathakuha or speaking Mahavir and therefore the identify.
Subsequent, the holy journey makes a cease at Angeshwara Mahadev in village Angeshwarapada. On the left financial institution of the Prachi River, presiding deity is a black chlorite Shivalinga positioned inside a sq. yonipitha. It is likely one of the Astha Sambhus of the Prachi Valley. The temple is an effective instance of the confluence of Shakta, Shaiva and Vaishnava paths within the Prachi Valley.
After breakfast padayatris attain Nibharana village and search blessings of Grameshwara Mahadev. The current temple is a not too long ago renovated. The priest informs that the unique temple was constructed earlier than the Jagannatha temple of Puri. It’s a protected temple of the State Archaeology division and the every day affairs is managed by a village committee. This is likely one of the Dwadasha Sambhu of the Prachi valley.
Kakatpur Mangala Temple
On the way in which to Deuli Math, pilgrims on Prachi Parikrama go to Maa Mangala temple in Kakatpur city in Puri district. After a darshan of Maa Mangala, a pradakshina of divine mom within the temple courtyard is finished. Black Murti of Ma is superbly embellished in colourful garments and ornaments. She has giant and highly effective eyes.
Out of eight main shaktipithas of Odisha, crucial one is of Kakatpur Mangala on the jap financial institution of the river Prachi. She is being worshipped as Parama Vaishnavi since ages. The temple was constructed by a neighborhood Zamindar Panchanan Mitra Roychudamoni in 1548 CE.
Through the Nabakalebara, clergymen of Puri come to Kakatpur Mangala, to hunt instructions from Mom, for finding the sacred bushes. Acharya, the Pati Mahapatra and the Brahmin priest of the Banajaga jatra prostrate earlier than the Devi looking for divine instructions. Devi guides them, by showing in dream, and giving the instructions to the place the place the bushes are positioned. The Daru is positioned inside seven days.
Deuli Mutt
The sacred journey continues to Deuli math for midday prasad, afternoon aarti, night satsang, evening prasad and relaxation. Deuli math is positioned on the proper financial institution of the river Prachi in Bajpur village of Puri district. This math is straight concerned with Nabakalebara rituals of the Jagannath. The group which comes from Puri looking for Daru keep on this Mutt.
Maa Mangala first appeared on this mutt. Patitapabana is worshipped inside this Mutt. After arrival of the sevakas from Puri in Deuli Math, information is shipped to Maa Mangala temple. Then all servitors proceed to the temple of Maa Mangala with garland, Mahaprasad and different puja supplies in a vibrant procession and do many secret rituals.
Then they return to Deuli math and keep there until the identification of the daru of Lords. It was inbuilt twelfth century CE. Its antiquity is carefully linked to the Jagannath temple at Puri.
Day 4
After an early morning puja at Deuli math, padayatris proceed to Sudarshana temple in Apsara khetra of Saripur in Astaranga tehsil. Apsara khetra is positioned at Sudarshana Mutt.
As per a people story, one cowherd identify Hai Behera noticed the Apsaras taking tub on the Prachi River close to the Mutt. He requested them about their identification. Apsaras instructed the cowherd about themselves however warned him to not disclose it to anyone, in any other case they are going to die. However steadily the incident spreads within the village.
As per Prachi Mahatmya, on Baisakha Purnima often known as Narsimha Chaturdashi, devotees got here right here for Apsara buda or a sacred dip. In addition they supply prayers to the deity.
The cyclone shelter in Keluni muhana or estuary in Keutajanga village in Astaranga tehsil in Puri district is the resting place for the day. Keluni Maa temple is a small temple designed like a chariot which is perched on high of a platform.
Maa Keluni was initially worshipped inside a small Casuarina grove by the native fishing neighborhood. The current temple was made in 2005. It’s the final temple of the Prachi Valley, simply earlier than Prachi river merges into the ocean.
Day 5
After an early morning Prachi puja in Keluni muhana, the return journey commences. River Prachi has modified course throughout the previous years and now it encompasses three small islands. So as to do the parikrama one has to go by boat. There are additionally two different rivers which merge into ocean about the identical place. So river Kadua is crossed by a ship to return again to foremost land.
The stroll is resumed at Tandaghara the place the boat journey was accomplished. After breakfast at Tentulia gadi ghara, parikramawasis take darshan at Ananda bazar Jagganath temple. Then the group reaches Sankareshwar temple close to Kundhei haata in Kakatpur tehsil about 60 kms away from Puri. Greater than 200 years outdated Sankareshwar Mahadeb temple is likely one of the twelve Sambhus.
Darshan can also be executed at Ram Mandir in Kundhei haata. After lunch, and a brief break the stroll recommences round 3 pm, stopping at Pathika Ram mandir briefly.
At Rameshwar Prachi ghat aarti is carried out. Then the journey continues until Prachiguru Dharmakhetra math within the village Narasinghapur of Kakatpur tehsil on the proper financial institution of the Prachi. This place is on the border of Puri and Khordha. Guru Madhusudan Das was a terrific disciple of Vishnu. With an order from Maa Mangala, he got here right here to evangelise Santana dharma and inform Sri Vishnu Katha.
There are 16 temples on this campus of varied deities. It’s a place of nice significance within the Prachi valley area devotees and sadhus go to right here all year long. This can be a standard place for spiritual conferences of sadhus. That is the one Mutt which has the identify of the sacred river connected to it.
Day 6
The day begins with a darshan at 300 12 months outdated Vasudev temple at Nuahaata. Rituals carried out listed below are just like Lord Jagannath temple of Puri.
Khiragacha Mutt within the village Amaraprasadagada in Puri district is the subsequent cease. Additionally referred to as Parasarmuni math, this monastery is greater than 1000 years outdated. Devotees and saints from totally different components of India and Odisha go to right here all year long. In historical days the place was used for spiritual conferences.
Darshan at Amareshwara temple follows morning arti. Amareshwara is located on the Charichhaka – Kakatpur street. Lord Amareshwara of Sarala Mahabharata is one among the many Dwadasa Sambhus of the Prachi valley. The temple is a listed and guarded monument of the State Archaeology division.
The traditional Buddhikeshwara temple of Bhanaragada is the next halt the place midday prasad is organised. The temple known as as Paschim Sambhu amongst Ashta Sambhus. The land of this temple belongs to the king, and he established it. The temple is sort of 150 years outdated, however historical past refers to it as belonging to the period of Konark Temple.
Triveni Sangam
The Antarvedi Mutt at Trivenighat, the place river Prachi, Manikarnika – a distributary of the Kushabhadra and invisible Saraswati meet, is positioned within the village Kantapada Sasana of Cuttack district. It’s about 7 km from Nuagaon Chhak on state freeway 60. It’s hardly 100 meters east of the Beleshwara and Trivenishwara temple of Bhapur in Khordha district.
Legend says that Mutt was established on the finish of Dwapara and starting of Kali Yuga. It’s the Aadi Pitha, then comes Sri Jagannath Temple. Sadhus and sanyasi used to remain right here to supply prayer to the almighty.
The Triveni buda or a dip on the confluence at Triveni Ghat, is held on the brand new moon day within the month of Magha. Hundreds congregate right here to take sacred tub. A good is organized right here for greater than every week. Individuals additionally take tub on the Magha Amavasya. After taking dip, they go to the Antarvedi math, the place Krishna is worshipped. Shiva temple closeby is called the Beleshwara.
Social rites reminiscent of marriage, engagement, thread ceremony, asthi bisarjan, pinda dana are carried out right here. The Mutt has its personal landed property and backyard that’s maintained by the Mahanta. The locals consider that there’s a Guptadhara or secret channel, which flows within the Prachi.
Jayadeva is believed to have had sacred baths at this Ghat throughout the Triveni Amavasya. Sri Krishna breathed his final at this place as per Padma Purana and Varaha Purana. After Jara Sabara injured him with an arrow close to the forest, Lord Krishna left this materials world. Pandavas tried to burn the physique of Lord Krishna however didn’t get success. So, they floated it within the Prachi River.
Day 7
The parikrama resumes earlier than dawn. First cease is at Trivenishwara temple in village Anjira, about 13 km from Bhubaneswar. Then parikramawasis proceed to Antarvedi Mutt on the banks of the River Prachi. At dawn, Prachi Puja and Arati are carried out.
One other village temple whose antiquity is buried in time is Trivenishwara temple. It’s the 3rd Sambhu so as amongst Ashta Sambhus. The current renovation of the temple was executed by the villagers themselves. Lord Sri Ram established the Linga throughout his keep on the place as per puranas. The Pandavas additionally stayed right here after they spent their life within the jungle close to Prachi River Valley.
Andhakapileshwara temple, the start line of the parikrama and the supply of the Prachi River, can also be the ultimate vacation spot of Prachi Parikrama. Purnahuti is carried out right here on Pankodhar Ekadashi day.
After the elimination of all choices previously one 12 months, the lord glistens and shines. First darshan is by Guruji, monks and villagers. A grand yajna is carried out. Earlier than the ultimate oblation the group travels to the origin of the river Prachi to carry out puja and arati there. On return, the ultimate oblation of purnahuti is finished and prasad served. It’s a nice expertise to be in holy firm of Guruji, many monks, in steady divine religious environment for the six lovely days having fun with the character and chanting the identify of God.
Image 16 – Purnahuti at Andhakapileshwara Temple
Journey Suggestions for Prachi Parikrama
Contact Prachi Parikrama coordinator at – [email protected]
Dates for 2024 are 29 February – Mar 6
This can be a visitor submit, together with photos, by Dr. Sruti Mohapatra.