Janjhapita Matha – A Sacred Gaudiya Vaishnava Monastery of Puri ( ଶ୍ରୀଝାଞପିଟା ମଠ ) is a famous 400-year-old Gaudiya Vaishnava monastery in Puri. It is believed that the monastery existed during the time when Shree Krusna Chaitnya Mahaprabhu (ଶ୍ରୀ କୃଷ୍ଣ ଚୈତନ୍ୟ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ) stayed in Puri and spread the path of devotion (Bhakti). According to monastery records, it was established during the reign of Shree Prataparudra Deva ( ଶ୍ରୀ ପ୍ରତାପରୁଦ୍ର ଦେବ ).
History says that this area was once covered by dense forest. Prabhu Nityananda ( ପ୍ରଭୁ ନିତ୍ୟାନନ୍ଦ ) came here with a group of young boys and danced in divine ecstasy filled with love for Lord Gauranga. Later, Narottam Das Thakura ( ନରୋତ୍ତମ ଦାସ ଠାକୁର ) visited this sacred place and became deeply emotional, as it had been blessed by the footsteps of both Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu.
Inspired by this spiritual atmosphere, his disciple Shreela Seva Das Babaji ( ଶ୍ରୀଳ ସେବା ଦାସ ବାବାଜୀ ମହାରାଜ ) built a small hut here and spent his entire life in prayer and devotional practice. After his disappearance, the worship deity Shree Shree Radhakanta Jew ( ଶ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ ରାଧାକାନ୍ତ ଜୀଉ ) was brought from Vrindavan to this monastery and continues to be worshipped to this day.
The main deities of the monastery are Shri Shri Radhakanta Dev Jiu, along with three sacred Shalagram stones. Daily worship is also offered to the lotus feet of Gauranga Mahaprabhu.
Inside Shree Jagannath Temple, at plots no. 123, 133, and 134 on the northern inner enclosure, there is a sacred platform associated with the lotus feet of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Every day, special worship is offered to the lotus feet of Gauranga Mahaprabhu ( ଶ୍ରୀଚୈତନ୍ୟ ପାଦପଦ୍ମ ଚଉତରା ) .. The temple records ।ଶ୍ରୀମନ୍ଦିରର ସ୍ବତଲିପି) also mention this service and tradition.
Before the annual Rath Yatra festival, under the leadership of the head monk of Janjhapita Matha, Gaudiya Vaishnavas and Babajis visit ଶ୍ରୀଗୁଣ୍ଡିଚା ମନ୍ଦିର to clean the temple and its throne. This sacred tradition is known as “Gundicha Marjana Lila,” and Jhanjpita Math continues to play a leading role in this ritual every year.
