Toshali Sands

During the rule of Suryavamsi King Prataprudra Deva (1497 to 1540 A.D.) Orissa was engaged in many battles and wars. He fought with Husain Shah of Bengal and Krishandeva Raya of Vijayanagar. However, the Kingdom sustained its existence. During this period the great saint of the Vaisnava cult Sri Chaitanya came to Puri in 1510 A.D. who was also known as Gouranga. He along with five associates like Jagannath Dasa, Balarama Dasa, Ananta, Achuta and Yasavanta etc. preached Vaisnavism. People thought Chaitanya was one of the incarnation of Lord Jagannath. He introduced the ‘Madhura Rasa’ or Kirtan to chant the name of Hari. This had a great effect on the society at large and people joined the kirtan procession in large number which can be seen even to-day. It was again a great revival of Orissan Vaisnivism