Puri Heritage Walk Explores Ayurvedic Traditions and Monastic Legacy

Puri: The 13th edition of the Puri Heritage Walk (PHW) was held on Sunday, drawing more than 40 heritage enthusiasts from across Odisha to explore the city’s rich Ayurvedic heritage and the historic monasteries along Clarke Road.

The walk began with a discussion on the enduring role of Ayurveda in healthcare, described by participants as a system of treatment that restores life much like the mythical Sanjīvanī. The highlight of the walk was the visit to Gopabandhu Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Odisha’s first Ayurveda college, established in 1949. Participants toured departments such as Dravyaguṇa, Rasashāstra, and Shalya-Shalakya, and explored the herbal garden. They observed traditional methods of treatment still in practice and interacted with patients receiving Ayurvedic care for chronic ailments.

As part of the event, distinguished faculty members—Dr. Sonalika Jena, Dr. Rajib Kishore Jena, Dr. Padmalochan Nayak, and Dr. Swarnakanta Jena—were felicitated for their contributions to the field. Discussions also reflected on the timeless legacies of ancient physicians Maharshi Suśruta and Charaka, whose teachings continue to guide Ayurvedic practice.

The second leg of the walk took participants to Clarke Road, where they visited Siddha Brahmachari Mutt, founded in 1428. Here, they had darśan of “Raseshwar Mahaprabhu” and learned about the monastery’s history and traditions from the priests. The group then explored Gandharva Mutt, delving into the spiritual legacy of Mahapurusha Achyutananda. Eminent historian Surendra Mishra and heritage researcher Debi Prasanna Nanda guided the session, highlighting the contributions of the Panchasakha saints. Mishra noted that Gandharva Mutt houses the famed “Gochhanda Vata,” one of the seven heritage banyan trees of Srikshetra.

The sacred seat of Achyutananda’s practice deeply moved the participants, who also reflected on the mystery of the “Śūnya Bāṃphi,” still shrouded in unanswered questions. The walk concluded with darśan of “Maa Jhadeshwari.”

The 13th PHW was coordinated by convenors Biswaranjan Dehury and Dr. Kumar Aurojyoti, with co-convenor Ashoka Manjari Nayak. Among the participants were Rajashree Sahoo, Priyankar Maharana, Jyotsna Mohapatra, Debasis Mishra, Sarmistha Mohanty, Srikant Mishra, Biswamohan Sahoo, Siddhartha Mohapatra, as well as Anurag Behera and Biswajit Das, founders of the Odia blogging platform Srujanee. Students from Gopabandhu Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Burla University, and SCS College also joined the walk, adding youthful energy to the cultural exploration.

The walk reaffirmed PHW’s mission of connecting people with the multifaceted heritage of Puri, blending spiritual traditions with the scientific wisdom of Ayurveda.