PURI
The Abode of Lord Jagannath

OTHER SACRED PLACES IN PURI

Besides Srimandir there are several sacred places of worship in puri. Its eight directions-Ashtadiks are guarded by eight sambhus, with distinct names like, Markandeswar, Yagneswar, Nilankanteswar, Vilveswar, Baleswar, Isaneswar, Patalswar and Kapalamohan. Along with them, there are eight Chandis keeping guard the city. They are Baha Mangala, Sarvamangala, Bimala, Alamba, Ardhasani, Dakshinakali, Marichika and Harachandi. There are many sacred tanks in Puri. Among them the pancha thirthas - Indra yamuna, Manikamika, Markandeya, Swetaganga and Mahadadhi are deservedly famous and ardent devotees take bath in all of them for purging off their sins.

With such immense popularity and inestimable glory built up over centuries, Puri became a great spiritual centre and attracted many philosophers, preachers and monks of international reputation. Savants and seers like Sankara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Kabir, Nanak etc., established monasteries of their own to spread the Vedic culture and glory of the Land. Among such monasteries, numbering seventy, Govardhan Math of Sankaracharya, Radhakanta Math of Chitanya, Raghavadas Math of Ramananda, Uttaraparsva Math deserve unqualified praise for their selfless service. 

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