Puri, popularly known as the Jagannath Dham, is one of the Char Dhams (Four most famous pilgrimage circuit) of India. Adi Sankaracharya, during his travels across the length and breadth of India, founded four mathas (monasteries) as seats of
Hindu religion at four ends of India- the Sringeri matha on the Sringeri hills in the south, the Sharada matha on the
Dwaraka coast in the west, the Jyotir matha at Badrinath in the north, the Govardhan matha at Puri in the east. These are
the four major spiritual centres of Hinduism in India and known as Char Dham of India.
Adi Sankaracharya selected four of his senior most disciples to head each of these maths. The Acharyas were:
1. Hastamalaka - Sharada Math
2. Sureshwara - Shringeri Math
3. Trotaka - Jyotir Math
4. Padmapada - Govardhana Math
Each of these maths was assigned the task of maintaining and preserving for posterity, one of the four Vedas (the main
scriptures of Hinduism). They are:
1. Sharada Math - Sama Veda
2. Shringeri Math - Yajur Veda
3. Jyotir Math - Atharva Veda
4. Govardhan Math - Rig Veda
All the Four Dhamas located at cardinal points of the Indian sub-continent are believed to
have been liked by Lord Vishnu intimately. It is said and believed that He takes His bath at Rameswaram, meditates at
Badrinath, dines at Puri and retires at Dwarika.
