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Nimavats put on white garments as other Vaishnava sadhus do. But they are distinguished from other Vaishnava sects by their tilak-mstrk which comprises a circular black dot marked in the centre of double vertical streak of white-earth or Gopichandan. Their necklace consists of two strands of tulsi beads used close to the neck. According to the Nimbarkis one strand stands for Lord Krishna and the other for Goddess Radha as both the deities are conjointly worshipped as their tutelary deity. The saints of this sect bear such terms for surname as Dasa or Sarana. The main monastic centre of the Nimbavats is at Vrindaban and they are most numerous around Mathura and in West Bengal. The Nimbavats are of two classes - Viraktas and Grihastas. Not only do the monasteries perform the religious programmes and propagate the philosophies doctrine of the sect but also the monasteries run educational institutes and provide lodging to the students. The medium of instruction in these panthasalas is invariably Sanskrit and the Sanskrit scholars and the Bidyarthis are made well versed in different shastras. There are five mathas belonging to the Nimbarka sect in Puri. They are: 1. Sri Radhaballava matha, 2. Sri Ramji matha, 3. Sri Chikiti matha, 4. Sri Dukhishyam chhata matha and 5. Sri Chaudia matha. The head sadhu of each of these mathas is called Mahanta and the public address him as Mahanta Maharaj. Each of these mathas is in many religious matters linked with the Jagannath Temple. They perform such specific ritual duties as are granted by the Gajapati rajas of Puri. In the olden days the matha used to devote full time to religious discussions and propagation and to meditation and worship of their respective tutelary deities. There was very little time left for attending to secular and political matters. But with the change of time the mathas have been entangled in many secular and political affairs affecting or influencing their religious life. |
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