Bada Odiya Matha located in the Baseli Street of Puri town is one of the very important Rajangila Mathas. It was founded in the sixteenth century AD by Atibada Jagannath Das and is affiliated to Utkal Vaishnava sect. The Matha has many important functions to perform in the Jagannath Temple of Puri and takes leading part among other mathas in religious matters. The Bada Odiya Matha which was developed under the patronage of the Gajapati kings of Orissa in memory of the great religious teacher was shining as a bright star in the religious sky up to the earlier years of the present century and was intimately connected with the Sebapuja of the temple. Later on the Matha started declining in importance like all other monasteries on account of many adverse forces which impinged upon these religious institutions.
The Math was placed under the charge of Atibadi Jagannath Das. After the death of Jagannath Das the Matha remained under the charge of the Mahantas who were selected from among the disciples of Jagannath Das. The Bada Odiya Matha is one of the most important Rajangila mathas. Like all other mathas of this category the Bada Odiya Matha has been conferred with Mahanayaka Sari to enjoy many special privileges including the rights to perform the above mentioned special ritual services in the temple.
The custom in the Bada Odiya Matha is that whenever a new Adhikari is appointed in the Matha he applies to the Maharaja of Puri informing him about his appointment with the request to grant the tying up of the Mahanayaka Sari in his favour. The Matha not only had intimate ritual relationship with the temple but also had equally important close association with the Gajapati Maharajas of Puri. Bada Odiya Matha has similar ritual connections with the Gajapati Maharaja of Puri. One of the special privileges which were sanctioned by the Gajapati Maharaja to this monastery was the supply of Sari and other types of clothes (Khandua) which were used by the Gajapati Maharajas at the time of Abhiseka.
Bada Odiya Matha plays an important role in the promotion of educational and cultural activities and the learning of Sanskritic texts. The heads of other monasteries used to take part in such discussions and in the recitation of Bhagabata. The Matha was taking care of the assembled sadhus and scholars, feeding them and providing accommodation for their stay on these occasions. But in the present times the income of the Matha has been reduced considerably and as a result the Seba Puja of the Matha and its educational and cultural functions has undergone a decline to a large extent.
