VEDIC VIBES: SHANKARA MUTTS (Established by Sri Adi Shankara).

Adi Shankarar with four Shishyas

सदा शिव समारमभां शङ्कराचार्य मध्यमाम्॥

अस्मदाचार्य पर्यन्तां वन्दे गुरु परम्पराम्॥

sadā śiva samārambhāṃ śaṅkarācārya madhyamām..

asmadācārya paryantāṃ vande guru paramparām..

ஸதாசிவ ஸமாரம்பாம் சங்கராசார்ய மத்யமாம் |

அஸ்மத் ஆசார்ய பர்யந்தாம் வந்தே குருபரம்பராம் ||

Salutation to the lineage of Gurus, starting with Lord Sadasiva, with Adi Sankara in-between and continuing up to my present Guru. My pranaams to all of them.

Hi viewer,

Welcome to my blog on Sankara Mutts in India.

The word Shankaracharya is composed of two parts, Shankara and Acharya. Acharya is a Sanskrit word meaning "teacher", so Shankaracharya refers to Sri Adi Sankara as a teacher of Advaida vedanta. Sankara (Bhagavatpada) is believed to be an avatar of Lors Shiva and he established four religious and spiritual capitals in four cardinal directions of Bharat.

When India was divided in more than 300 states,72 sects of religion were practiced, Shri Aadi Shankaracharya emerged on the national scene, who in short span of his 32 years of life, by sheer power of his knowledge, merged all the 72 sects in his philosophy of Adwait (oneness) and united all the 300 states in such a way that for next 200 years no invader dared to attack.The Culture of peace love and non-violence India is known for was protected and re-established by him.

To prevent the vedic traditions from getting distorted and destroyed, Sri Adi Shankaracharya consecrated the four pithas or seats of the Devi, according to the vedic tradition. Through the four Amnaya pithas (centres of sacred tradition), he intended to keep the bright light of sanatana dharma burning.

Bhagavatpada Sri Adi Shankaracharya established Govardhan Math, Puri pitha in the East, linked to Rigveda and Purushottama (Jagannathakshetra).

In the South he established Shringeri Math affiliated with Rameshvaramkshetra and linked with Yajurveda.

In the West it was Dvaraka Math linked with Dvarakadhisha and the Samaveda, and

In North he established Jyothir Math connected with Badarinath and the Atharvaveda.

Sri Adi Shankaracharya re-consecrated the mandirs of Dvarakadhish, Badarinath, Rameshvaram and Jagannath. Each of these four centres are Shakti pithas.

He made his four students the Acharyas of each of these pithas – Padmapadacharya, Sureshvaracharya, Hastamalakacharya, Totakacharya. The traditional lineages from these Acharyas is still functioning.

Sri Hastamalakacharya as the Acharya of Govardhana Peetham in Puri (East), Sri Sureshwaracharya as the Acharya of Sharada Peetham in Sringeri (South), Sri Padmapadacharya as the Acharya of Kalika Peetham in Dwaraka (West), and Sri Totakacharya as the Acharya of Jyotir Peetham in Badrikashram (North).

Special mention should be made here regarding the establishment of another Mutt in Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu, by Sri Adi Sankara. We are talking about Kamakoti Mutt, made famous by Maha Periyava, pujya swamiji Chankdrasekara Saraswathi Swami.

Shringeri Sarada Peetam (South India)

Adi sankara established Sringeri peetam in 8th Century. This is the first one to be established among the four maths.The Sri Sharada Peetham is located in the beautiful and lush environs of Sringeri, a town that nestles in the midst of the verdant hills of the Sahayadri mountain ranges. Sringeri is located in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka in India.

The Sringeri Mutt stands on the banks of the Tunga river. The first pontiff of the Sringeri peetham was one of Adi Shankaracharya’s most senior disciples, Sri Sureshvaracharya. Sri Sureshvaracharya was earlier known as Mandan Mishra and had been defeated by Adi Shankaracharya in a debate, following which, he had become Adi Shankaracharya’s disciple and trusted follower.

Current Shankaracharya of the Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, is Sri Bharathi Tirtha Swami, who is the 36th Jagadguru of the math, in an unbroken line of succession, since the first Shankaracharya Sri Sureshvaracharya. The Sringeri Sarada Peetham is devoted to the study and dissemination of the Yajur Veda, and the study of the Mahavakya, “अहं ब्रह्मास्मि” (Aham Brahmasmi), which literally means, “I am Brahman”.

Bharathi Theerth & Vidhushekhara Bharathi Swamijis

Saradhambal Temple

Goddess Saradha

Tradition has it that after the Acharya had dispersed all the non-Vedic creeds prevailing in the country, He was on the look-out for a convenient and holy place where he could establish an institution to spread the truths of Advaita Vedanta. When the Acharya came to Sringeri, he saw an unusual sight on the banks of the Tunga. A cobra was seen spreading out its hood over a frog in labour pains, to give it shadow from the scorching mid-day sun. Struck with the sanctity of the place, which could infuse love between natural adversaries, the Acharya chose this very location to establish His first Math.

Dwaraka Peetham (Western India)

Pascimāmnāya Śrī Śāradā Pītham or Dwarka Sharada Math, is one amongst the four cardinal peethams established by Adi Shankara, for preserving and propagating Sanatana Dharma and Advaita Vedanta, the doctrine of non-dualism. Located in the city of Dwaraka, Gujarat, India it is the pascimāmnāya matha, or Western Āmnāya Pītham amongst the four Chaturāmnāya Pīthams. It is also known as the Kālikā Matha. Their Vedantic mantra or Mahavakya is Tattvamasi ("That('s how) you are"). According to tradition, believed to be initiated by Adi Shankara, it holds authority over Sama Veda.

The current head of the matha is Swami Sadanand Saraswati.

The Dwarka Sharada Peetham is dedicated to the worship of the goddess Sharada, who is considered to be the goddess of knowledge and learning in Hinduism. The monastery is known for its extensive library of ancient manuscripts and texts, which are considered to be some of the most valuable resources for the study of Hindu philosophy, religion, and culture.

The peetham is also famous for its association with the famous Hindu philosopher and saint, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, who was the founder of the Arya Samaj movement. Swami Dayananda Saraswati was the head of the monastery from 1866 to 1873, and his teachings have had a profound impact on Hinduism and Indian society.

Today, the Dwarka Sharada Peetham is still an important center of learning and scholarship in India, and it continues to attract scholars and students from all over the country and the world.

The Shardha Peeth operates a museum, Shardha Vidhyapeeth Art College and an Indian Research Temple. This Peeth is an ideal learning centre for students who want to acquire knowledge about Indian Culture and Archaeology. The entire research work in the Peeth is carried out in Sanskrit language.

Jyothir Math (North India)

Uttaramnaya Sri Jyotir Peeth Badarikashrama (Jyotir Math also known as Jyothish Math), is located in district Chamoli, Uttarakhand, on the tirtha Alakananda river. The deities worshipped at the pith are Narayana and Shakti – Purnagiri. It is believed that when Adi Shankaracharya or Adiguru came here, he performed penance under a tree known as the Amar Kalpavriksha. The name “Jyotirmath” comes from the divine light of knowledge he is said to have attained, with ‘jyoti’ meaning divine light.

This place is situated at the entrance of the Gandha Madan Mountains. This the same sacred place where, upon the prayers of the ardent devotee Prahalad, God Shri Narasimha gave up his virulent form and appeared before him in his gentle and composed form. This is the place where Shri AdiJagadguruShankaracharya enshrined and worshipped Lord Narasimha. According to the Puranic tradition, the six month winter Nar Pooja was held at this place. Therefore, the Badrinath Yatra is regarded successful only after the visit to the Lord Narasimha here.

Traditionally, the Badarinatha mandira comes under the kshetra of the Uttaramnaya Sri Jyotir Pith. The Narasimha mandira in Jyotirmath is the winter abode of Bhagavan Badarinatha. The Math is having temple of Badrinarayan and Rajrajeshwari Devi. It has a sacred cave where Adi Shankaracharya supposedly undertook tapasya.

The first Shankaracharya, direct student of Sri Adi Shankaracharya was Sri Totakacharya.Swami Avimukteshwaranand is the current 46th Shankaracharya of the Jyotirmath Peetham. He was born in 1969 in Uttarakhand, India. He took over the responsibility of the Peetham in 2006.

The peetham is dedicated to Atharvaveda and propagation of the Mahavakya
अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म--Ayam atma brahma (My atma is brahman Himself).

Sri Govardhana Peetham, Puri

(Shankaracharya Peeth In The East)

The historic and ancient city of Puri near Bhubaneshwar in Odisha is well known for its Jagannath temple and the historic Rath Yatra. Puri is also the location where Adi Shankaracharya set up one of his 4 Mathas In India. This Shankaracharya Peeth is also known as Govardhan Math. The Tirtha or water source associated with this Peetham is Mahadodhi or the sea in the form of the Bay of Bengal

The first Acharya of the Sri Govardhan Math was Sri Padmapadacharya, another direct disciple of Aadi Shankaracharya. The current Shankaracharya of Puri is Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati. He is the 145th Shankaracharya of the Rigvediya Purvamnaya Sri Govardhana Peetha. Niscalananda Saraswati was born in Darbhanga in 1943, the son of the raj-Pandita of Maharaja of Darabhanga. He is the most elite Vedic Mathematician you can find today. He has authored several books on Vedic Mathematics. His work and knowledge of Vedic Mathematics have been instrumental in scientific endeavors, particularly in the Chandrayaan-2 lunar mission. He has helped ISRO with his knowledge for a very long time.

The deities here are Jagannath (Lord Vishnu) and the devi is Vimala (Bhairavi). The mahavakya is Prajnana Brahma. There are Shri Vigraha of Goverdhananatha Krishna and Ardhanareshwara Shiva installed by Adi Shankara.

The Govardhan Matha is engaged in the study and dissemination of the oldest of the Vedas, the Rig Veda. The Mahavakya that has been assigned to the Matha by Adi Shankaracharya is, “प्रज्ञानम् ब्रह्म,”(prajñānam Brahma), which literally means, “Insight is Brahman.”

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, also called the Sri Kanchi Matham or the Moolamnaya Sarvagnya Peetham, is a Hindu religious center of Vedic learning, located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. It is located near the Kamakshi Amman Temple of the Shaktism tradition, which also contains a shrine dedicated to the final resting place of the Advaita Vedanta teacher Adi Shankara.

From available biographical information, it is learnt that Shankaracharya placed one of the five sphatika lingas got at Kailas and kept the Yoga Linga for his own personal worship and that of his successors at Kanchi.

Bhagavatpada Sankara got Kanchi city remodeled and also caused the reconstruction of the three principal temples of Kanchi, viz., the temples of Sri Ekamranatha, Devi Kamakshi and Sri Varadaraja with the assistance of Rajasena, ruler of Kanchi. Sankara consecrated the Srichakra before Devi Kamakshi and thereby secured Her bounteous grace for devotees having Her darshan.

Sankara Bhagavapadacharya retired to Kanchi, the Southern Mokshapuri, towards the end of his earthly career and shook off his mortal coils in that sacred city.

Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada settled down at Kancheepuram (Kanchi) at the end of his peregrinations and spent the evening years of his life in the Math at Kanchi, established on Vaisakha Sukla Purnima of the year Sidharthi - Kali 2620 (482 B.C.)

He initiated a very young boy into the ascetic order, nominated him as his successor in his Kanchi Matha, and placed him under the care of Sri Suresvara, the most aged and the most erudite of His disciples.

Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada attained Videha mukti in his 32nd year - Cyclic year Raktakshi, Adhika Rishabha Maasa, Sukla Ekadasi - Kali 2625 (477 B.C.)

The 68th Acharya of Kanchi, the world-renowned Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swami, became pontiff in 1907 when he was barely thirteen years of age. He shone as Acharya for nearly 87 years.

Currently the 7Oth Pontiff His Holiness Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal is the head of the Kanchi Math and he has anointed Sri Sathy Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi as the 71st successor.

The Sri Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, is a revered Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakshi, a manifestation of the divine feminine energy. The temple holds immense religious significance and is known for its stunning architecture and rich history.