Bada Chhata Matha is one of the most important monasteries of those belonging to the Ramanandi Sect. The most important ritual duties of this Matha is to provide lotus dress (Padma besa) for the adornment of Lord Jagannath on every Wednesday and Saturday which fall during the period from Magha Amabasya to Basanta Panchami. This matha was initially confined to a small spot under a banyan tree in front of the Lion`s gate of the Jagannath Temple of Puri and the sadhus of this sect used to spend time there under an umbrella. In accordance with this tradition when this place changed into a monastery it bore the name as Bada chhata matha.
The Bada Chhata Matha gets the daily sacred fire called Vaishnabagni from the Jagannath Temple of Puri to kindle the fire at the principal seat of the monastery which is called Gadighar. It is at this place that the sacred fire is kept burning throughout the day. The Vaishnavas of the monastery play on drums before the waving of lighted candles called Mangala Arati early morning at the temple, the purpose being to awaken the deities from slumber. Similarly they play on drums and sing devotional songs as the last rite called Bada singhara at night inducing the deities to go to sleep. Besides, the sadhus of this monastery provide music and play on drums accompanied by devotional prayers when the deputy of the Lord Jagannath is taken out during Dola and Chandan festivals.
The Bada Chhata matha is regarded as the centre of preceptors (Gurugadi) for the public. The childless parents seek blessing of the sadhus of this monastery for getting children and those who face child mortality donate the child to the monastery as a disciple of its sadhus as soon as it is born the belief being that such a child is sure to survive. When the child is sufficiently grown up and has passed the stage of mortality the parents approach the sadhus and beg them for the child. The Bada Chhata matha is typically a gratuitous matha which offers accommodation and hospitality to sadhus of Ramanadi sect who come on pilgrimage to Puri. Whenever any ceremony or festival is observed publicly or privately at Puri the sadhus of Bada Chhata matha both resident and visiting, are invited to attend such occasions and offered food.
The sadhus of the matha worship Lord Rama and Sita as their supreme deity. They also pay homage to Hanuman, the devotee of Rama. The matha has a big statue of Lord Hanuman at the southern side which is a figure of great religious importance. Crowds of people offer prayer to Hanuman everyday at this place. There is a small monastery called Dasabatar matha under Bada Chhata matha near Gundichaghar. In this matha the statue of Ramchandra in the bow breaking (Dhanurbhanga) posture is worshipped and there is also a stone statue depicting all the 10 forms of Lord Vishnu (Dasabatar). There are several such mathas in Puri which are affiliated to Ramanandi sect.
