The #PrachiValley is an area of about 600 sq. km spanning across four districts of Odisha: Puri, Khurdha, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur.
#PrachiValley has seen rise and fall of civilizations, religions, regimes across the ages – from mythical times to almost the 17th century.
#PrachiValley is dotted with temples and monuments belonging to Shaiva, Vaishnava, Shakta, Bauddha and Jaina religions. While many of them are in ruins, many others are not yet discovered.
Some discovery in the #PrachiValley recently make some archaeologists conclude that it could be older than even Indus Valley civilization.
While the mythological origins of the river Prachi is described in Prachi Mahatmya (a text on the sacredness of Prachi), opinions differ about the historical record of the river Prachi and #PrachiValley
Many historians build a strong connection of Prachi river with the reign of Kalinga emperor #KharabelaTheGreat, arguably the greatest ruler India has ever seen.
Some historians even identify the big canal created by the Nanda kings and later extended and widened by Kalinga’s greatest emperor #KharabelaTheGreat. However, some dispute it.
While experts like KP Jaiswal and BM Baruah have ignored Prachi, Dr Radha Charan Panda concludes quoting the 'Ubhaya Prachi Tate' words of Hatigumpha inscription that the Mahabijaya palace of #KharabelaTheGreat was built on both the banks of river Prachi. #PrachiValley
What is the origin of the word Prachi? In Odia and Sanskrit, it means East. So, it could be towards the eastern side of some location. Or it could have come from the word Prachina, meaning ancient. #PrachiValley
#PrachiValley is arguably the largest, richest and most diverse cultural landscape that India has.
Jayadeva, one of the greatest poets of India and the author of GitaGovinda was born in the village Kenduli, in the #PrachiValley
Visit #PrachiValley for its beauty, its history, and the sheer joy of discovery. It will take you just over an hour to reach there. Warning: no such assurance about in how much time you can cover it.
Temples, ponds, wells, monasteries dot #PrachiValley. Archaeological excavation has thrown some light on the heritage of the valley. But isolated findings have not been able to help weave a coherent story of the valley.
While there are many temples in the #PrachiValley, the Barahi temple at Chaurashi is one of the most fascinating for its intricate art.
Prachi Mahatmya, the book, describes dwadasha shambhus or 12 Shiva temples in Prachi Valley.
These 12 Shiva temples in #PrachiValley are those of Kapileswara, Gokarnneswara, Bilweswara, Shibhaneswara, Rameswara, Angeswara, Amareswara, Grameswra, Siddheswara, Someswara, Nrutyeswara & Mukteswara.
In addition to these, there are numerous Shaiva temples too in the #PrachiValley
Please follow tweets of @ashishsarangi and @taranitrotter to learn more about the temples in the #PrachiValley.
Here is such a thread. But there is more.
Here is such a thread. But there is more.
@ashishsarangi @TaraniTrotter Perhaps #PrachiValley is the biggest base of matha or monastery culture in Odisha. This thread gives you a list of such monasteries.
@ashishsarangi @TaraniTrotter Some of the mathas or monasteries in the #PrachiValley are Fategarh Matha at Fategarh Bazarsahi, Sidhagumpha Matha at Jagamohanakuda, Sadhugumpha Matha at Olatpur, Guptamanika Matha at Varahapur, Madhavananda Jew Matha at Adaspur, and Kapila Ashram at Kapilesvarapur
@ashishsarangi @TaraniTrotter Some of the other mathas or monasteries in the #PrachiValley are Deuli Matha, Timulali Matha and Sidhavata Jayadeva Sadhanapitha at Kenduvilva, Antarbhedi Matha at Triveni Ghat in Kantapada Sasan, Sahadakunja Matha at Amanukadagarah and Pandavakuda Matha at Amankuda.
Yet other mathas or monasteries in #PrachiValley include Radhakanta Matha at Nuagaon, Arkatirtha Matha, Ahnuria Matha and Siddha Matha at Nilai, Kusababa Matha at Bagalogarh, Musibaba Matha at Sahajahanpur, Dash Matha at Tolagopinathpur and Chandrasekhara Matha at Madhaba
Taila Matha at Taila, Siddha Matha at Pradhan Sahi, Nagarushi Matha at Nageswara, Sadbabaji Matha at Sialikanta Hadiakanda Matha at Masuridiha (Nuapitapada), Uttarayani Matha at Pitapada, Balitubi Matha at Nachgaon are some of the other mathas or monasteries in #PrachiValley
Other mathas in #PrachiValley include Ratnavata at Sanhuli, Ananta Bata at Bhainchigoradi, Belavana Gadi Matha at Kesaraipur, Gurudeva Matha at Vandesvara, Gotirtha Matanga Muni Ashrama at Kantikula, Draupadi Matha at Kantikula, and Ekanta Ashrama at Charichhaka
Khiragachha Matha at Amaraprasadagada, Gopala Matha at Kudapatana near Binishpur, Agikhia Matha at Sohagpur, Prachiguru Dharmakshetra Matha at Narasinghpur, Madana Mohana Matha at Nuapatana, Madhubana Gadi Matha at Madhuban are some of the other prominent mathas of #PrachiValley
Viswamitra Matha & Chakia Matha near Kakatpur, Rohana Matha at Bolara, Deuli Matha at Bajapur, Dadhichi Ashrama at Mudugala, Kalaboda Gadi at Otanga, BalaramaDasa Gadi at Erabang, AnantaAbadhuta Matha at Konark & Kuruma Buddhist Monastery are some other monasteries #PrachiValley
But #PrachiValley is important in history of Odisha not just for the religious activities. It has reflected the changing Odisha lifestyle and culture for centuries.
Social historians say that #PrachiValley has well reflected the changing lifestyle and social norms of coastal Odisha. At one time, the deep river Prachi was used to sail to the sea for commerce by Odia sadhabas.
With change of time, #PrachiValley became home to many peasant-warrior class Khanadayats, who had paika forces to support the king of Utkala during the latter’s military expeditions.
With advent of Vaishnavism, post 15th century, #PrachiValley became the major centre of activity of Vaishnavite Bhakti cult, which explains the building of so many mathas or monasteries.
While there are both Vaishnava and Shaiva temples in #PrachiValley, most of the mathas are Vaishnaba mathas, maybe because they came up later, when Vaishnavism became dominant in Odisha
#PrachiValley has been the centre of activity of commerce, art, religion and military cultures in Odisha at different times.
Prachi river was a deep, navigable river and a lot of maritime journeys started from there. #PrachiValley
The Shola and now non-existent Baranga, alongwith Prachi were used for starting sea voyages.
There are evidences of ports for Boitas (ships) in the #PrachiValley. There is a Boita Diha near Chaurashi. It apparently has signs of a port with a big iron pillar used for tying ships while resting
There is a Shiva temples called Bandareshwara to the north of Chaurashi. It is believed that the temple derives its name from Bandara (port in Odia), which was nearby
Even today, there are various kudas or mounds called Boita Kudas (or Ship mounds). They were all supposed to be connected with sailing of ships. Maybe, not all sailing was connected with sea voyage. Some say there were inland waterways too
One example of such inland activities was transporting stones for Konark, through the Chitritpala river, which is still called locally as Patharabuha Nai or river of stone transportation #PrachiValley
Many conclude that till Konark was built, Prachi and Chitrotpala were deep rivers. After Konark, they became shallow and hence unsuitable for navigation. #PrachiValley
It is said that the temple of Mangala in Kakatapur was established by a trader (Sadhaba), Dadhibaman Sahoo, who had got the idol of Maa Mangala from Sri Lanka.
Even after that, the locals, especially the people from Thodia community continued with their commerce activities locally. Balipatna, Satpatna, Bajpur are known for their business activities #PrachiValley
