Advaita Brahma Ashram was founded by the saint called Advaita and is an ashram in the downtown part of Puri in Orissa. The saint who founded it is said to have lived for over 300 years, of which nearly the last 50 years were spent in this city. Moreover, it is believed that he travelled across various parts of the Indian subcontinent, including the Himalayas and also part of Bangladesh. The ashram is situated in Girnarbant on old sand dunes surrounded by lush greenery. This place is characterised by a spiritual environment.
An Overview Of The Ashram And Its Founder
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Located in downtown Puri, in an area known as Girnarbant, the Advaita Brahma Ashram is a religious establishment founded by the naked Saint Advaita. The ashram is also known as Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Ashram. He was said to have lived for over 300 years and was often called Sri Sri Jogeswar Brahmabit Barista Digambar Paramhansh Maharaj, Languli Baba or Nanga Baba Totapuri. The saint is said to have spent a fair amount of time travelling across the country, including the Himalayas and several parts of neighbouring Bangladesh. Moreover, he supposedly also traversed routes across major rivers in the Deccan region such as the Ganges, Narmada, Krishna and Sindhu, amongst others. He settled in Puri in the last 40 or 50 years of his life. The ashram is built where he is said to have attained Mahasamadhi in the 1960s.
The ashram’s founder, the wandering Sanyasi Advaita, owes his name Totapuri to the fact that “Tota” was his monastic name while “Puri” was his sub-caste. He also led Ludhiana’s Naga Math. He was schooled in the Advaita discipline, having grown up to believe that the world is an illusion. Moreover, he was also a believer of the Monism Advaita philosophy and is believed to have studied the Vedas quite extensively. This establishment is built on expansive dunes and is surrounded by trees like palm, mango, date, cashew nut, neem and more, as well as diverse fauna. The overall ambience around the ashram is quite serene, and it is an excellent place to meditate. Make sure to have the Prasadam here.
Must Read: Places To Visit In Puri
Best Time To Visit Puri
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Puri is one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites in India and is home to the famous Jagannath Temple and other religious and non-religious sites. For this reason, the city witnesses a large footfall of tourists throughout the year. However, the best time to visit is generally said to be during winter. The months from October to February are ideal for your trip to Puri since this is the time of year when you experience the most pleasant weather. The cool climate is perfect for sightseeing, visiting temples, or attending aartis. If you were to visit during the monsoon season from July to September, you would be met with frequent showers and humid weather unsuitable for outdoor activities. This is primarily because the city is situated alongside the Bay of Bengal.
Another reason many don’t recommend visiting during the monsoon season is that the sacred Rath Yatra is organized in July, or sometimes at the end of June, attracting thousands of devotees to the city. Similarly, visiting anytime from March to June would mean having to endure high temperatures and extreme humidity, which is less than likely to be ideal weather for outdoor activities.
5 Of Puri’s Most Renowned Attractions
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Puri is one of India’s most important pilgrimage destinations and has several things that you must see, 5 of which are as follows:
- Your trip to Puri would be incomplete without a visit to its most important temple, the Jagannath Temple. This beautiful temple, built sometime in the 11th century, houses the deities Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra. The Rath Yatra is celebrated with great enthusiasm here. The temple has been attacked several times over the years and is only open to Hindu devotees.
- When you visit the Jagannath Temple, you should also take some time to go to Narendra Pokhari, which is nearby. It is a massive tank of religious importance constructed in the 15th century.
- Since the city is a pilgrimage destination, it is no surprise that many temples are dedicated to different deities here. You can visit Lokanath Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is also believed that Lord Rama installed the lingam at this temple.
- Puri isn’t just a religious destination but is also famous for its lovely beaches where you can go for a quiet walk, watch the sunset, swim, and more. Puri Beach is one of the most popular places to visit and is known for its beautiful sand sculptures. Astaranga Beach, Baliharachandi Beach and Swargadwar Beach are equally attractive and worth a visit.
- Pratyush Ocean World is a water park with numerous rides and activities, perfect for summer fun. It is especially fun for children.
Suggested Read: Places To Visit In Odisha In June
How To Reach Puri
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Puri is well-connected to other parts of the country, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting there. If you happen to live somewhere close, you can think about driving here since the roads are well maintained. However, there are regular buses that run between Puri and some neighbouring cities like Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, so this is a very convenient option.
Taking a flight to Puri would mean flying into the Bhubaneswar airport, about one hour away, and then driving here. If you do not wish to avoid this commute, it would be a good idea to take the train since Puri has its own railway station, which is on the line from Chennai to Kolkata.
Further Read: Temples In Puri
Advaita Brahma Ashram is a wonderful place to visit in Puri if you are spiritual and wish to uncover the country’s many different spiritual and religious sites. You would undoubtedly enjoy your time at this ashram. You would also find countless other such sites and attractions across the state so perhaps you could take some time out and plan a trip to Odisha too. You could make a lovely family holiday out of it too!
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Frequently Asked Questions About Advaita Brahma Ashram
Does it take a lot of time to visit the Advaita Brahma Ashram?
No, you can be done seeing the ashram is about 2 hours.
What is the cheapest way to get around Puri?
The cheapest mode of transport that you can take to explore Puri is either a rickshaw or an autorickshaw. Both of them are also easily available throughout the day.
What must one be mindful of while in Puri?
Since one must be respectful when visiting religious places, make sure to wear clothes that fully cover your body and perhaps wear loose fitted clothes to be more comfortable. It would also be ideal to read about the different rules and rituals at its temples before you visit them.
How long does the festival of Rath Yatra last in the city of Puri?
The very famous festival of Rath Yatra in Puri goes on for nine days.
What was Puri once known as?
Sri Kshetra or Utkal are two other names that are often associated with Puri.
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