Sivatirtha Matha, a Hindu monastery dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated in the outskirts of old town of Bhubaneshwar in the Indian state of Orissa. In 1970 the Endowment Commission of the temple took place. The Matha under the Sankaracharya Sampradaya is situated in the Rathagada Chowk in the Old Town. The northern entrance gate of the Lingaraja Temple, situated across the Ratha road, is close to the Matha. Sivatirtha Matha facing the eastern side is the site for consecration of wooden logs employed for the construction of famous chariot of Lord Lingaraja. After the consecration ceremony the carpenters used them for construction purpose.
Burial Temples of Sivatirtha Matha
The Sivatirtha Matha, located on the eastern side, houses thirteen burial temples within the complex. These temples, square in plan, have been arranged in one and half rows. On elevation they are in pidha order comprising bada, gandi and mastaka. Three retreating tiers define the construction of the gandi of the temple. Nine shrines are positioned at the rear end of the complex. Of these, four temples on the northern side have been infringed upon by the construction of a private compound wall. The temples situated on the southern side are partly buried. Three among the four temples positioned in the front row are buried up to the gandi. The fourth temple is buried up to the bada.
The Sivatirtha Matha is widely known in the town for the elaborate celebration of Chandan Yatra and Dola Purnima. It is believed that on Dola Purnima Lord Lingaraja visits the temple to have pankti bhogo i.e. community lunch.
Sivatirtha Matha can be arrived availing the road on the right side of the Ratha road that leads Lingaraj temple to Mausima temple. The road is located at a distance of almost 30 meters from the northern gateway of Lingaraja Temple.
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