2. SOURCES

SCRIPTURES OF THE SECT
(1) Publications
      It was possible to bring together an extensive collection of the sect's own printed writings and pronouncements. Furthermore I tried to collect, as far as possible, older pamphlets of both the denominations besides their principal works. Such pamphlets often contained interesting local versions and are for individual local groups often more important than the theoretical principal works. These pamphlets are in most cases handed out with reluctance and for short period, so that they even had to be copied at times.

(2) Manuscripts & Records
      In addition to this, I was successful in copying some manuscripts and records not intended for the general public. Among these were, besides others, a description of Visvanatha Baba's life which is of special significance, since monks are forbidden to talk about their previous worldly life, a few palm-leaf manuscripts with Bhima Bhoi's songs not published so far, as well as hand-written records from various places on history, construction and structure of each community.

Medieval Texts
The Medieval Oriya Scriptures in which Mahima Dharma has its origin to some extent are not only essential for gaining a clear picture of these teachings, but they also portray an important phase in the history of Jagannatha worship. Their collection, translation and compilation is a completion of the Sanskrit texts on the Jagannatha Culture. Most of these texts are published. However, I could still find a few palm-leaf manuscripts in use by Mahima followers and got them copied here and there which partly conveyed interesting versions of the prevailing texts.

Government publications and Court records

(a) In the "Jagannatha Temple Correspondence" there were complete records about the "Temple turmoil" of 1881, as well as contemporary reports on the appearing of the founder of the sect.
(b) At the "Religious Endowments Commission", it was possible to see the case records of the litigation stretching over thirty years between both the denominations of Mahima Dharma and to copy important portions from it.
(c) The court records about the disturbances possibly connected with the founder's death (see below) could not be traced so far, in spite of thorough search in the archive of the Collectorate and in the palace of Dhenkanal, in the "Board of Revenue" in Cuttack and in the "State Archives of Bengal" in Calcutta.