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Kashi Math is one of the four spiritual schools followed by the Goud Saraswat Brahmins. Members of the Goud Saraswat community predominantly live along the west coast of India, from Mumbai in the north to Kerala in the south. Other Maths followed by Goud Saraswat Brahmins are Gokarna Math (Vaishnava), Shri Gaudapadacharya Math (Smartist) and Chitrapur Math (Smarta). It is one of the 24 mathas of the Dvaita order. Headquartered in Brahma Ghat, Varanasi, Kashi Math has followers all over the Konkan belt, prominently in Udupi, Mangalore, Kochi, Alappuzha and other parts of Kerala and Karnataka.

History

The Kashi Math was founded in the year 1542 AD.

Kashi Math, Walkeshwar branch, Mumbai.

Before the Kashi Math was established, most Vaishnava Gowd Saraswat Brahmins were followers of the Shri Kavindra Math of Madhvacharya. During the 15th century, Sri Ramachandra Tirtha of Moola Math (Jagadguru Sriman Madhwacharya Moola Maha Samsthana) initiated two shishyas as sannyasins: Vibhudendra Tirtha and Vidyanidhi Tirtha. The latter started a new math called Uttaradi Math and became head of the same, while Sri Vibhudendra Tirtha continued the Parampara of Sri Ramachandra Tirtha, the main parampara of Sriman Madhwacharya, now named Sri Raghavendra Math (Mantralaya) after Sri Raghavendra of Mantralaya. Due to their proximity to South Kanara and Kerala.

Later, when Surendra Tirtha became the head of the Math at Kumbhakonam (Mula Matha), one of his disciples, Vijayindra Tirtha undertook a Chaturmasya (a religious event lasting four months) at Kochi in 1539–1540. Here, he selected Sri Hanumantha Bhaktha and was given deeksha as Yadavendra Tirtha. Yadavendra Tirtha went on to become head of the new Kashi Math at Varanasi established in 1542 AD. Kumbhakonam Math gave two idols of Vyasa and Rama (Raghupati) to Shrimat Yadavendra Tirtha along with the rights to guide the Gowd Saraswats.Many others still believe that this Math was formed after it split away from the Pejavara Math at Udupi initiated by Shimad Ananda Theertharu (Madhwacharya).

Branches (Ashrams)

The Math has branches and establishments at Prayag, Bhatkal, Basrur, Hemmady, Bantwal, Dahisar (Mumbai), Panambur (Suratkal), Freshwater, Rameshwaram, Karkala, Kota, Nayampalli which is near Udupi, Bhagamandala (Kodagu), Bandora (Goa), Walkeshwar which is also one of the oldest maths near the Banaganga Tank)[1], Ambalamugal (Kochi-Kerala), Pallipuram (near Cherai, on Vypeen Islands, Kerala), Shirva(Manchakal), Naravi (near Belthangady), Alleppey (Kerala), Konchady, Hangarakatte, Tirumala (Tirupathi), Bangalore, Nashik, Vashi ( New Mumbai), Cochin, Calicut, Nagpur and many more places across India.

The headquarters is located in Varanasi (Shri Kashi Math, 22/86 Brahma Ghat, Varanasi-221001).

Deities

The Mathadhipathi (head of the Math) is supposed to offer daily prayers to the charaprathishta (literally, a moving installation) idols of Lord Shri Veda Vyasa and Lord Shri Rama (Raghupati) also popularly known as Shri Vyasaraghupati.

Shri Vyasa Raghupati


Bhagavan Vedavyas

The great MaharshiBhagavan Vedavyasa was an incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu.The avatara of Vedavyasa took place with dual purpose of giving 'Jana and Abhaya'to the human race on the earth.He showered grace on the world by classifying the vedas and writing the puranas,the Mahabharatha and the Brahmasutras.These, Mahaparopakaras, done by Vedavyasa in the interest of humanity is worthy of worship by the whole world. He is the spiritual teacher of the world.His contribution for the welfare of the mankind is so immence that one person cannot do it in several births that He has done in His life time,which is supernatural indeed.It is our duty to honour and worship Him ans as such the GSB community is a blessed society in this world.We owe for this blessings to the Great lineage of Vaishnava Guruparambara of Shri Kashi math The 20th Madhadhipathi of the Kashimath H. H. Sudhindra Theertha is ta great scholar of the Vedas and ancient scriptures endowed with the simplicity of the GOD_possessed swamiji has sought to preserve protect and propagate the vedic heritage through His discourses over several years and the institutions founded by Him.His illustrious predecessor Mahaswami H.H. Sukrateendra Thirtha died in 1949.Thereafter Shrimad Sudhindrathirtha swamiji has been guiding the Samsthan and its devotees by travelling the width and breadth of India and beyond the Himalayas in Nepal by word and deed.There has not been a single day when the pujas to the presiding deities of Shri Vedavyasa and Shri Raghupathi [Lord Sreeram] were missed.Shri Vyasashram at Haridwar on the bank of sacred Ganga which was built in 1988 as monument to Lord Vedavyasa was dedicated by swamiji for the welfare of the whole world.In 1998 at Kalpi near Kanpur{U.P] the birth place of Vedavyasa a beautiful temple has been built to symbolise and propagate the universal philosophy of Shri Vedavyasa.There is no one higher than Guru.The GSB community truly believe that GOD himself comes to us in the form of GURU and H.H Sudhindra theerthaSwamiji is believed to be living GOD to His true followers.[2]

Guru System

The Kashi Math follows a "Guru" system, wherein the head of the Math appoints a "shishya", who succeeds the Guru. According to the Math's tradition, the shishya should be unmarried, and is selected at a very young age.

Shri Kashi Math are followers of the Dwaita school of Vaishnavite philosophy founded by Maadhwacharya[3], but subtle differences exist between the Maadhwa Siddantha followed by Sri Kashi Math and the main-line Maadhwa followers.

Guru Parampara

  1. Yadavendra Tirtha
  2. Keshavendra Tirtha
  3. Upendra Tirtha
  4. Yadavendra Tirtha II
  5. Raghavendra Tirtha
  6. Devendra Tirtha
  7. Madhavendra Tirtha
  8. Jnaneendra Tirtha
  9. Yadavendra Tirtha III
  10. Upendra Tirtha II
  11. Rajendra Tirtha
  12. Surindra Tirtha
  13. Vishnu Tirtha
  14. Vibhudendra Tirtha
  15. Sumateendra Tirtha
  16. Vasudendra Tirtha
  17. Bhuvanendra Tirtha
  18. Varadendra Tirtha
  19. Sukrateendra Tirtha
  20. Sudhindra Tirtha
  21. Ragavendra Thirtha

The Mathadhipathi

The spiritual head, or the mathadhipathi is also the administrative head of the math and its properties. As a math specific to the Gowd Saraswat Brahmins (sometimes spelt "Gouda Saraswat Brahimins"), the mathadhipathis seldom mingle with members of other communities. The mathadhipathi is not a mere spiritual head of the community. In the past, the mathadhipathi exercised powers over secular matters of the community too. There have been occasions when the mathadhipathi has excommunicated members for violation of his edicts. The current Mathadhipathi of Sri Kashi Math Samsthan is H.H. Srimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji. H. H. Srimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji gave "Shishyathwa" to H. H. Srimad Ragavendra Thirtha in 1989.On July 19 2000, H.H. Srimad Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji divested Sri Raghavendra Teertha Swamiji of all the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the Math, and adopted Sri Samyameendra Thirtha as his successor on May 22, 2002.

Also Read

References

  1. ^ http://www.gsbkerala.com/gsbmutt.htm#kashi
  2. ^ Based on the Book "Bhagavaan Veda Vyaasa Maharshi, The Immortal", by K. Pandurang P. Kamath, edited by V. Sivaramakrishnan, Associate Editor, Bhavan's Journal
  3. ^ Madhvacharya
  • “Kashi Matha Samsthanada Charithre” by Ganapathi Rao Igal, 1936 (Kannada version)
  • “History of Kashi Math Samsthan” by Prof. V. A. Shenoy, 1974 ([1])
  • Local folklore

Kashi Math Websites

GSB Temples

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