Govardhan Matha, also known as Govardhan Peeth, is located in Puri, Odisha, very close to the world-famous Jagannath Temple.Being one of the four Amnaya Peethas founded by Adi Shankaracharya, this matha has great spiritual and historical importance.
The Govardhan Matha was established in the 8th century CE by Adi Shankaracharya. That makes it over 1200 years old. It has been a continuous center of Vedic learning and spirituality for many centuries. The lineage of Shankaracharyas at Puri continues even today.
The presiding deity of Govardhan Matha is Lord Jagannath (Krishna), worshipped as Govardhan Nath. The name is symbolic of Krishna lifting the Govardhan Hill to protect his devotees. The matha preserves and promotes the Rig Veda tradition and regards Lord Jagannath as its divine center. The Shankaracharya of Govardhan Matha is considered the spiritual head of this institution and plays an important role in Jagannath Temple traditions.
Govardhan Matha is built in simple Kalinga-style monastery architecture. The matha complex has shrines, meditation halls, study areas, and quarters for saints and scholars. The sanctum houses the deity Govardhan Nath (Krishna). The stone walls and pillared halls reflect Odisha’s traditional architecture. The matha also has libraries with rare palm-leaf manuscripts and Vedic scriptures, making it a hub of spiritual learning.
When Adi Shankaracharya travelled across India to revive Sanatana Dharma, he established four Peethas in the four directions of India.
Sringeri (South) – Sharada Peetham
Dwarka (West) – Sharada Peetham
Jyotirmath (North) – Jyotir Peetham
Puri (East) – Govardhan Peetham
Govardhan Matha was created to preserve the Rig Veda tradition and guide the spiritual life of Eastern India. The Shankaracharya of Puri has a special role in the rituals of the Jagannath Temple, especially during the Rath Yatra, when he gives darshan and blessings.
Long ago, Lord Krishna, in his childhood, lived in Vrindavan with the cowherds. Every year, the people of Vrindavan worshipped Indra, the rain god, to thank him for showers that fed their fields. But Krishna told them that it was not Indra who gave them food, rather it was the Govardhan Hill and nature around them that provided grass for cows, water for crops, and shelter for people. He advised the villagers to worship Govardhan Hill instead of Indra.
This angered Indra, who sent a terrible storm to punish the people of Vrindavan. The rains flooded the land, and the villagers and animals were terrified. Seeing this, Krishna lifted the entire Govardhan Hill on his little finger, using it as a giant umbrella. All the villagers and their cattle took shelter under the hill. For seven days and nights, Krishna held up the hill, protecting everyone until Indra realized his mistake and withdrew the storm. From that time, Krishna was worshipped as Govardhan Nath, the Lord of Govardhan.
When Adi Shankaracharya came to Puri in the 8th century CE, he saw Lord Jagannath as the form of Krishna, the Govardhan Nath who protects devotees just as he protected the people of Vrindavan. He established a Peetha (Govardhan Matha) here and dedicated it to Lord Jagannath as Govardhan Nath. Shankaracharya believed that just as Govardhan Hill shielded the villagers, this Matha would shield dharma, Vedic wisdom, and devotees in the eastern region of India.
Thus, the name Govardhan Peeth carries both the legend of Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill and the mission of Shankaracharya to protect Sanatana Dharma. Even today, Govardhan Matha is seen as a spiritual shelter, guiding people through wisdom, just like Krishna gave shelter with the Govardhan Hill.
At Govardhan Matha, Puri, the key festivals are Guru Purnima honoring Adi Shankaracharya, Rath Yatra where the Shankaracharya plays an important role, and Govardhan Puja recalling Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill. The matha also hosts spiritual discourses and gatherings throughout the year.
