Amongst the Pancha Sakhas Sri Achyuta was the youngest. Shri Achyutananda Das was the most prolific writer of the Panchasakhas and has written numerous books (called as Pothi’s), believed not in one life but in many successive lives..Mahapurusha Achyutânanda was a shunya sadhak and a great devotee of Lord Jagannath. He had acquired immense knowledge about almost every aspect, i.e. spiritualism, Ayurveda (Indian healing medical science that uses only natural resources and herbs), various other sciences, and social regulations.
“Mahapurusha Achyutânanda”, is believed to have been born with special mercy or divine intervention from “ ” which is symbolic for Lord Jagannatha Himself (“Vibhuti Yoga, Shrimad Bhagavat Geeta”). Hence the name of Mahapurusha is Achyuta (“A + chyuta”: A= Shri Visnu; Chyuta = created from). Occasionally, “Mahapurusha Achyutânanda” is also referred to as “Achyuti”, which literally means “who has no fall (“chyuti nahin jâhâra” in Oriya language)”. Sri Achyuta Das was born to Dinabandhu Khuntia and Padma Devi in a village called Tilakona in Odisha in about 1510 AD on a “Magha Sukla Ekadasi” (a specific time described in Oriya calendar).
His parents were childless for a long time and were praying to Lord Jagannatha for a child. One night his father had a vision that Garuda (the bird of Vishnu, an Eagle) gave him a child. Next morning he rushed to the temple and prayed at the “GarudaStambha” (a pillar in front of the Jagannatha temple) thanking the Lord for his mercy. At this point there are two different beliefs: some are of the opinion that he (Dinabandhu Khuntia) found a newborn divine child there and he was Achyuta. Some others believe that, soon after this incident (vision), Padma Devi was booned with a divine child.
Mahapurusha Achyutânanda had established various spiritual energetic centers called ‘Gâdis distributed throughout east India (former states known as Anga, Banga, Kalinga, Magadha) and some in Nepal. These ‘Gâdis were host to most of the spiritual actions, discourses, penance, and provided various services to the seekers. Examples are, Nemal, Kakatpur, Garoi, Jobra Ghât (a river bank in Cuttack) etc.
IN THE SERVICE SRI SRI GURU AND GOURANGA!
MRIGANKA MAHANTI, EDITOR
