Kashi Math
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Kashi Mutt (or Kashi Math) is one of the four Mutts which Goud Saraswat Brahmins follow, the others being Gokarna Mutt (Vaishnava), Kavle Mutt (Smarta) and Chitrapur Math (Smarta). Headquartered in Brahma Ghat, Varanasi, it has followers all over the Konkan belt, prominently in Udupi, Mangalore and parts of Kerala.
History
The Kashi Mutt was founded in the year 1542 AD.
Before the Kashi Mutt came up, most of the Vaishnava Goud Saraswat Brahmins were followers of Shri Uttaradi Mutt. During the 15th century, Sri Ramachandra Tirtha of Uttaradi Mutt initiated two to sanyasa - Vibhudendra Tirtha and Sri Vidhyanidhi Tirtha. The latter became head of Uttaradi Mutt and Sri Vibhudendra Tirtha founded a new Mutt at Kumbhakonam which came to be known as Purvadi Mutt (later became Raghavendra Swamy Mutt since the great saint Raghavendra of Mantralaya fame belonged to this Mutt). Because of its proximity to South Kanara and Kerala, the Gowda Saraswats were transferred to this Mutt.
Later when Surendra Tirtha became the head of the Mutt at Kumbhakonam, one of his disciples, Vijayindra Tirtha undertook a Chaturmasya(a religious event lasting four months) at Cochin in 1539–1540. Here, he selected Sri Hanumantha Bhaktha and was given deeksha as Yadavendra Tirtha. Yadavendra Tirtha went on to become become head of the new Kashi Mutt at Varanasi established in 1542 AD. Shri Kumbhakonam Math gave two idols of Shri Vyasa and Shri Raghupati to Shrimat Yadavendra Tirtha along with the rights to guide the Goud Saraswats.
Branches
The Mutt has branches and establishments at Prayag, Haridwar, Bhatkal, Basrur, Hemmady, Bantwal, Panambur ( Suratkal ), Manjeshwar, Rameshwaram, Karkala, Nayampalli near Udupi, Bhagamandala (Kodagu), Bandora (Goa),Walkeshwar(Mumbai), Cochin, Pallipuram (Kerala), Manchakal, Naravi (near Belthangady), Alleppey, Konchady, Hangarakatte, Tirupathi, Bangalore ,Calicut and Nagpur.
The headquarters is located in Varanasi(Shri Kashi Math, 22/86 Brahma Ghat, Varanasi-221001).
Deities
Shri Vyasa and Shri Raghupati also popularly known as Shri Vyasaraghupati.
Guru System
The Kashi Mutt follows a "Guru" system, where in the head of the Mutt appoints a "shishya", who succeeds the Guru after his death. The Mutt has been following the Guru system since it came into being and has been running smoothly to this date.
Shrimat Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji took a new successor Shri Samyameendra Tirtha Swamiji in 2002.
Shri Kashi Mutt are followers of Madhva Siddantha but subtle differences exists which makes a section of the Kashi Mutt followers different in sampradaya to the main-line Madhva followers and Mutts.
Parampare
Shri Yadavendra Theertharu
Shri Keshavendra Theertharu
Shri Upendra Theertharu
Shri Yadavendra Theertharu (2)
Shri Raghavendra Theertharu
Shri Devendra Theertharu
Shri Maadhavendra Theertharu
Shri Gnanindra Theertharu
Shri Yadavendra Theertharu (3)
Shri Upendra Theertharu (2)
Shri Rajendra Theertharu
Shri Sureendra Theertharu
Shri Vishnu Theertharu
Shri Vibhudendra Theertharu
Shri Sumateendra Theertharu
Shri Sudhendra Theertharu
Shri Bhuvanendra Theertharu
Shri Varadendra Theertharu
Shri Sukrateendra Theertharu
Shri Sudhindra Theertharu (Still current Guru as per website of the Mutt [1])
Shri Samyameendra Tirtha Swami - chosen as the next Guru
References
- “Kashi Matha Samsthanada Charithre” by Ganapathi Rao Igal, 1936 (Kannada version)
- “History of Kashi Mutt Samsthan” by Prof. V. A. Shenoy, 1974 ([2])
- Local folklore