Puri: The excavators lined up in front of Bada Akhada Mutt located on the Bada Danda (Grand Road) facing south of Jagannath Temple in Puri on Tuesday morning. However, the demolition had to be halted and postponed after the talks between the district administration and mutt chief (Mahant) and several saints remained inconclusive.
Its Significance & Contention
- It is a two-storey structure with 85 rooms, which includes 27 shops.
2. This structure is in the line of fire since it falls within 75-metre radius of 12th century shrine where demolition is being carried out by the district administration to secure the temple and implement the state government’s grand plan to turn the Pilgrim Town into a World Heritage site.
3. The temple with idols of Sita Ram inside the mutt, Gadi (seat of the founder), an idol of Guru Gopal Das, temple kitchen and the room of the mahant will be left untouched during the demolition drive.
4. The akhada was set up in 1352 AD by Guru Gopal Das after a council of Panch Akadha of Naga Sadhus, who were working for religious security of Hindu shrines, decided to protect Jagannath Temple from the attacks by Muslim invaders.
5. It belongs to the Pancha Ramanandia sect.
6. Hundreds of Naga Sadhus were deployed there. For 14 years, they fought the attackers and pushed them away from Puri.
7. In a clash with police in 1954, many Naga Sadhus were killed, following which, they stopped coming to Puri.
8. The Mahant of Bada Akhada Mutt is appointed by an 18-member Naga Akhada (council) during Kumbh Mela.
9. Singhadwara fire station and police station operate from this mutt.
