Ukhra Mahanta Asthal
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Ukhra Mahanta Asthal | |
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উখরা মহন্ত অস্থল | |
Burdwan | |
Leadership | presently headed by Sri Kamalāsharan Devāchārya |
Location | |
Location | Ukhra, West Bengal |
State | West Bengal |
Architecture | |
Type | Mutt with Navaratna temple |
Founder | Dayaram Devacharya |
Ukhra Nimbarka Peeth Mahanta Asthal is a 250-year-old
Foundation
This Mutt was founded in the mid-18th century by Swami Dayaram Devacharya of the
Main Deities
This Mutt’s temple houses the holy icons of the main deities of the
Temple of the Mutt
This Mutt’s temple is an architectural spectacle and stands as an evidence of Bengal’s old architectural style, it is a Navaratna(i.e. Nine pinnacled) temple and incorporates architectural styles of Brajbhoomi, i.e. areas centering on Mathura-Vrindavan and Bengal. The floor of the temple is unique; besides being chequered, it has British era silver coins embedded in its floor at the cross sections.
Quite miraculously a tulasi (basil) plant grows from a crevice of the cornice of this temple serving as a testimony to the sacredness of this place consecrated by the presence of holy icons as well the saints who have spent their lives of devotion and sacrifice over here.
Raas and Jhulan festival
The Raas and Jhulan festivals premised on the legendary Raas lila of Lord
Mahantas of the past and present
This place has seen the presence of legendary saints who were towering spiritual personalities of their times; many of them had actively propagated Nimbarka Vaishnavism and have to their credit the establishment of several bastions of spirituality. One of the former Mahantas Swami Damodarchandra Brajavasi ordered his disciple to establish the Nimbarka Mutt at Kenduli in the district of
As of 2015, it is headed by an affable, self-effacing saint with an ever-smiling countenance, Mahanta Sri Kamalāsharan Devāchārya who happens to be the 58th Acharya in the Nimbarka Vaishnava spiritual lineage. He is the spiritual successor and main disciple of the former Mahanta Late Sri Shukdevsharan Devacharya.
Financial woes
Owing to forcible acquisition of land by the Govt for Andal airport and the forcible and often unlawful confiscation of land and other property for various purposes by the Govt and others, the Mutt is at present facing a financial crisis, in spite of that the present Mahanta ensured proper renovations and extensive re-painting of several important sections of the establishment and especially the temple.
See also
References