Sabara Srikhetra, Koraput, Orissa India

Sabara Srikhetra is not as old as the philosophy it professes.  But the pristine High Land of Koraput where it exists is centuries old with a horary past.  So also the Highlanders whose customs and culture have much bearing on Jagannath consciousness which does not remain confined within the limits of a traditional religious theological order, a cult or even a philosophical system which has its orgin from Tribal Culture. Jagannath Cult has no antagonism towards any religion, caste or creed, just as the vedantic culture of India.  Jagannath consciousness lays the foundation for practice of tolerance in the real life of the individual as well as the human society at large.

One of the most interesting facts of Jagannath consciousness seems to have a wonderful capacity to provide nourishment and happiness at all levels of human existence - rich or poor, king or beggar, wise or foolish, learned or ignorant, sinner or virtuous, female or male, well-bread or ill-bread, foreigner or a native.  In fact this philosophy of Jagannath consciousness is in actual practise at Sabara Srikhetra, both in letter and spirit.

Koraput region is the southern most part of Orissa which is associated with Epic Ramayana & is identified as Dandakaranya in the Puranas as well as is the Gazetteer of India. Koraput town stands in the heart of Dandakaranya which assumed the name of Sabara Srikhetra, the Abode of Lord Sri Jagannath in the tribal heartland.  It is truely the God of mankind without any distinction of caste, creed, class or religion.

The Primal God - Sri Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe, is the presiding diety, of Sri Mandira (main temple) of Sabara Srikhetra temple complex on a hillock about 3,000 feet above the mean sea level, (The hillock stands) at the centre of Koraput, the district headquarters town. The main temple is sorrounded by nine side temples of different Gods and Goddesses, commanding the land scape from miles around. 

Koraput is mostly famous for its Jagannath Temple which is also known as Sabara Srikhetra. Srikhetra is normally referred to as Puri Jagannath, but the unique identity of the Koraput temple is because of the fact that no section of the society is barred entry. Sabara Srikhetra was founded by, among others, Sri Abhaya Chandra Mohapatra, the then Public Relation Officer of the Government of Orissa, Sri Krushna Chandra Panigrahy,the Present Secretary of Sabara Srikhetra Temple and Dr. Nirod Gochhayat. Thousands flock to the temple every day for darshan. The Temple trust has built huge accommodation centres for pilgrims and is an important force behind the growing number of tourist arrivals. The trust also runs COATS (Council of Analytical Tribal Studies), a university–like educational institute is a successful attempt to restore and educate tribal way of life, customs, tradition, medicine, language, social structure and history.