Owing to lack of preservation efforts, Emar Mutt of Sakhigopal, which had a close connection with the famous Sakhigopal Temple, has now been abandoned
SAKHIGOPAL: The recent demolition of medieval monasteries in Puri prompted a fierce debate over the legality and extremity of the matter. It was a painful experience for monks and locals of the area who felt that their faith was being attacked.
A lesser known fact about the most notable among the demolished monasteries i.e. Emar Mutt is that it had several branches across the state. One of them is the Emar Mutt of Sakhigopal, which was constructed sometime during 1850-60. Like in Puri, the Emar Mutt of Sakhigopal too was on the main street leading to the temple, just a few meters away from the entrance. Among the many smaller branches, the monastery stands apart due to its historical importance.
This small building has an important historical value along with Jagannath Sadak. The old colonial structure has often attracted tourist although currently it’s in a bad shape. Interestingly, the monastery had a close connection with the Sakhigopal temple. Many ritualistic services were rendered at the site. These included providing flowers, tulsi and fruits for the daily ‘prasadam.’ The mutt had its own orchard and garden, which had a hundred coconut trees. The thick grove of coconut trees surrounded the building on three sides.
The building boasts six rooms with four arches in the front and one arched entrance. The monastery is unique with its mesmerising symbols of Lord Vishnu’s Sankha, Chakra and Padma that are being inscribed under the flag post at the entrance of the mutt.
Until 1920, it functioned as an extension of Puri Mutt and used to be an important halting point for travelers who travelled by trains after 1898. Post independence, it was variously used by the temple authorities and was converted as the Land Settlement Office till 1972, after which it was declared unsafe.
Since then, it has been abandoned and remains unoccupied. It is presently owned by the Satyabadi Gopinath Endowment Trust, who is waiting for a court judgment after which they will demolish it and make a new building.
Even though years of neglect have rendered the building unsafe, it is still in its original state. No alteration has been done to the original structure except that one arch has been walled in. The wooden roof beams are caving in. Vegetation is growing from the crevasses. However it can easily be restored, the original solid brickwork and lime plaster can be reworked and a few iron beams can replace the wooden beams.
This last vestige should be properly restored with proper conservation. It can be a fitting example of the age-old Mutts tradition of being social institutions which focused on spiritual and religious teachings.
Chaitali Shome,OP
