Mahari Tradition in Lord Jagannath Temple Puri

Dr. Purna Chandra Sahoo has discussed in depth the origin of Mahari-system from the ancient times citing various puranic allusions and quotations from the stone inscriptions and copper plate inscriptions as well as "Chhamu Chitau" of many Kings during their dynastic rule in a vivid manner with his own independent lucid style and has extolled the glorious genesis and development of Mahari system. I was enraptured by his verbose language, super-diction and depiction of the style, pithy and apothegmatic expression embodied in his book. It is the rarest of the rare book, so far written on Jagannatha culture relating to the 'Mahari Seva' which had been dwindled and extirpated from the orbit of Shree Mandir -worship in the gradual passage of time. Similarly, the 'Madeli Seva', 'Binakara Seva', and 'MinaNayak Seva' associated with the 'Mahari Seva' besides Sankhua Seva, Kalabethia Seva, Patara-bandha Seva, Charcha Karana Seva as well as Paika Seva have been obliterated too though "Gitagovinda Seva" had been languishing almost remaining in a moribund state. This envisages a cultural degradation as we, the self-styled social reformers and thinkers had vociferated against the 'Mahari seva' as it had been contaminated or polluted in course of time in a vicious circle. Some had attributed it as a derogatory or passionate service.