MathasMathas (Mutts) of (Mutts) of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunity

Vandhe tham thva supoornapramathi manudhina sevitham devavrundai:Vandhe vandharumeese sriya udhaniyatham Srimad Anandhatheertham

Compilation as a seva by:V.Prabhakar Rao

(www.Rayarusgrace.org)Singapore March 2009

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunity

Many people have expressed to me their lack of clarity about the various Mathas of our community, their origins, their interrelationships, their significance etc. To some extent I

also had within myself some questions of similar kind. Hence I set about gathering information about the various mathas, from as many sources as I could, and looked for a coherent pattern. I am glad I embarked on this project, as in the process I became more acquainted with these very ancient institutions bearing phenominally powerful histories

behind them, and nurtured by very divinely Yathis. With a namaskara to Srimad Acharya, Guru Sri Raghavendra Rayaru and to all the Yathis of Madhva Parampara, let me

commence my presentation.

Sri Gurubyo Namaha

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunity

SSri ri MadhvacharyaMadhvacharya established eight established eight mathasmathas ((ashtaashta mathasmathas) in ) in UdupiUdupi and nearby and nearby villages to collectively manage Sri Krishna villages to collectively manage Sri Krishna MathaMatha. He also appointed a disciple . He also appointed a disciple

to head each to head each mathamatha. The eight . The eight mathasmathas and the disciples are:and the disciples are:PalimaruPalimaru MathaMatha -- Sri Sri HrishikeshaHrishikesha TirthaTirthaAdamaruAdamaru MathaMatha -- Sri Sri NarasimhaNarasimha TirthaTirtha

KrishnapuraKrishnapura MathaMatha -- Sri Sri JanardhanaJanardhana TirthaTirthaPuthigePuthige MathaMatha -- Sri Sri UpendraUpendra TirthaTirthaShiruruShiruru MathaMatha -- Sri Sri VamanaVamana TirthaTirthaSodheSodhe MathaMatha -- Sri Vishnu Sri Vishnu TirthaTirtha

KaniyooruKaniyooru MathaMatha -- Sri Rama Sri Rama TirthaTirthaPejavaraPejavara MathaMatha -- Sri Sri AdhokshajaAdhokshaja TirthaTirtha

Each Each mathamatha is named after the village where the is named after the village where the mathamatha was originally located. was originally located. The The mathasmathas have now relocated to have now relocated to UdupiUdupi (near Sri Krishna (near Sri Krishna MathaMatha), but each ), but each

mathamatha also maintains its original location. Many of these also maintains its original location. Many of these mathasmathas have branches have branches outside outside UdupiUdupi. Some even have branches outside India.. Some even have branches outside India.

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunityEach of the Each of the ashtaashta mathasmathas manages Sri Krishna manages Sri Krishna MathaMatha on a rotation scheme called on a rotation scheme called paryayaparyaya. . In this scheme, the pontiff of one of the In this scheme, the pontiff of one of the ashtaashta mathasmathas heads the services and management heads the services and management of Sri Krishna of Sri Krishna MathaMatha for two years before the responsibility is handed over to the pfor two years before the responsibility is handed over to the pontiff ontiff of another of another mathamatha. The order of rotation is fixed (as in the list above), and the. The order of rotation is fixed (as in the list above), and the transfer transfer takes place in the month of January in every even numbered year.takes place in the month of January in every even numbered year. For example, For example, KrishnapuraKrishnapura MathaMatha assumed responsibility in January 2006, and the responsibility assumed responsibility in January 2006, and the responsibility transferred to transferred to PuthigePuthige MathaMatha in January 2008. in January 2008. KaniyooruKaniyooru MathaMatha assumes responsibility in assumes responsibility in 2014.2014.

In addition to organizing the In addition to organizing the ashtaashta mathasmathas, Sri , Sri MadhvacharyaMadhvacharya also appointed four also appointed four disciples disciples PadmanabhaPadmanabha TirthaTirtha, , NarahariNarahari TirthaTirtha, , MadhavaMadhava TirthaTirtha, and , and AkshobhyaAkshobhya TirthaTirtha to to spread his philosophy outside the general spread his philosophy outside the general UdupiUdupi region. Various region. Various mathasmathas headed by the headed by the descendants of these disciples continue the descendants of these disciples continue the MadhvaMadhva tradition today. Some of these tradition today. Some of these mathasmathas are listed below. (None of these are listed below. (None of these mathasmathas participates in the participates in the paryayaparyaya scheme to scheme to manage Sri Krishna manage Sri Krishna MathaMatha. Managing Sri Krishna . Managing Sri Krishna MathaMatha is the sole responsibility of the is the sole responsibility of the UdupiUdupi ashtaashta mathasmathas.).)

UttaradiUttaradi MathaMatha SripadarajaSripadaraja MathaMatha MajjigehalliMajjigehalli MathaMatha KudliKudli AkshobhyaAkshobhya TirthaTirthaMathaMatha KundapuraKundapura VyasarajaVyasaraja MathaMatha MantralayaMantralaya Raghavendra Raghavendra SwamySwamy MathaMatha SosaleSosaleVyasarajaVyasaraja MathaMatha

Ref: WWW.Pajakshetra.org

Ref: Sri Madhvacharya Life & Philosophy – Published by VMS, 1999

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri UttaradiUttaradi MathaMatha & Sri & Sri VyasarajaVyasaraja MathaMatha

Both these Both these MathasMathas seem to belong to the lineage of Sri seem to belong to the lineage of Sri AkshobyaAkshobyaTheertharuTheertharu. Sri . Sri AkshobyaAkshobya TheertharuTheertharu was a direct disciple of was a direct disciple of SrimadSrimad

AcharyaAcharya. Sri . Sri TeekacharyaruTeekacharyaru was a famous disciple of Sri was a famous disciple of Sri AkshobyaAkshobyaTheertharuTheertharu. Sri . Sri VidyathiVidyathi Raja Raja TheertharuTheertharu was the disciple of Sri was the disciple of Sri

TeekacharyaruTeekacharyaru. .

Sri Sri VidyathiVidyathi Raja Raja TheertharuTheertharu seems to have given seems to have given sanyasasanyasa ashramaashrama to two to two yathisyathis, due to compelling circumstances. One of them, Sri , due to compelling circumstances. One of them, Sri GaveendraGaveendra

TheertharuTheertharu’’ss peetapeeta came to be known as came to be known as UttaradiUttaradi MathaMatha. .

The other The other yathiyathi, Sri , Sri RajendraRajendra TheertharuTheertharu’’ss peetapeeta became known as became known as DhakshinadiDhakshinadi MathaMatha or Sri or Sri RajendraRajendra MathaMatha. Sri . Sri VyasarajaVyasaraja TheertharuTheertharu was the was the

most prominent most prominent yathiyathi of this of this mathamatha’’ss paramparaparampara, and since his time this , and since his time this mathamatha has been referred to as Sri has been referred to as Sri VyasarajaVyasaraja MathaMatha..

Ref: “Sri Haridasa Vijayam” – original in kannada by Sri Belur Kesava Dasar & translation into Tamil by Smt. Padma Srinivasan

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri PalimaruPalimaru MathaMatha

Palimaru is a small village very close to Udupi. This village is the headquarters of the Palimaru Matha, one of

the 8 mathas founded by Sri Madhvacharya. The first pontiff of this matha was Sri Hrishikesha Theertha, who

was a direct disciple of Srimadacharya. The current pontiff is Sri Sri Vidyadheesha Theertha Swamiji.

Main deities: Sri Rama, Mukhya Prana

How to get there: On the Udupi Mangalore highway, turn towards Nitte/Karkala at Padubidri junction.

Travel 4-5 kms to reach a junction called Adve. Turn right here and travel about 3-4 kms to reach Palimaru

matha.

Other specialities: There is also a very ancient Shiva temple located at Palimaru village. In the Anjaneya

temple, the priests perform Vayu Stuti Purascharane to the main idol based on our request. A lot of people

come here and get the Purascharane done. It is considered very auspicious.

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri PalimaruPalimaru MathaMatha

Sri Pattabhi Ramachandra, Palimaru Matha

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri PalimaruPalimaru MathaMatha

The The MukhyaMukhya PranaPrana or or AnjaneyaAnjaneya temple is temple is situated right behind the main temple. situated right behind the main temple.

This temple was constructed a few years This temple was constructed a few years back and is very well known in back and is very well known in DakshinaDakshina

Kannada already. People call it the Kannada already. People call it the temple of the temple of the ““MathanaduvaMathanaduva AnjaneyaAnjaneya””

or or ““Talking HanumanTalking Hanuman””. It is said . It is said countless devotees have had their wishes countless devotees have had their wishes fullfilledfullfilled here after sincere prayers. The here after sincere prayers. The small temple is very beautiful to look at small temple is very beautiful to look at

and the idol itself is very attractive. and the idol itself is very attractive.

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri PalimaruPalimaru MathaMatha

Right behind the Right behind the AnjaneyaAnjaneya GarbhaGarbha GudiGudi is located the is located the BrundavanasBrundavanas of several past pontiffs of the of several past pontiffs of the PalimaruPalimaru MathaMatha. . Some other Some other brundavanasbrundavanas are located to the southern side of are located to the southern side of the temple. There is a board put up there which gives details the temple. There is a board put up there which gives details of the of the SwamijisSwamijis whose whose brundavanasbrundavanas are located at this are located at this mathamatha. .

The earliest The earliest brundavanabrundavana was from the 1300s!was from the 1300s!

The The mathamatha also has a beautiful also has a beautiful PushkaraniPushkarani with crystal clear with crystal clear water. Right behind the water. Right behind the mathamatha flows the flows the ShambhaviShambhavi river. river. There is a miniThere is a mini--bridgebridge--cumcum--dam built over the river there. dam built over the river there.

The sceneries around the river are breathThe sceneries around the river are breath--taking.taking.

Ref: www.anandatirtha.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/palimaru-temples-of-tulu-nadu/

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri AdamaruAdamaru MathaMatha

AdamaruAdamaru or or AdamarAdamar or or AdmarAdmar is a is a village in the village in the UdupiUdupi districtdistrict of the of the

statestate of of KarnatakaKarnataka, , IndiaIndia. The village . The village houses one of the houses one of the AshtaAshta MathasMathas

founded by founded by ShriShri MadhvacharyaMadhvacharya. The . The village can be reached by taking a left village can be reached by taking a left turn at turn at YermalYermal on on UdupiUdupi--Mangalore Mangalore route on route on National Highway 17National Highway 17 while while travellingtravelling from from MangaloreMangalore to to UdupiUdupi..

This This mathamatha owes its origins to Sri owes its origins to Sri NarasimhaNarasimha TheerthaTheertha, a direct disciple , a direct disciple

of Sri of Sri MadhvacharyaMadhvacharya..

Kalinga mardana Adamaru Matha

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri KrishnapuraKrishnapura MathaMatha

The The KrishnapuraKrishnapura math one of the math one of the AshtaAshtaMathasMathas of of UdupiUdupi. The first . The first SwamiSwami of this of this

mathamatha was Sri was Sri JanardhanaJanardhana ThirtaThirta, who was , who was one of the direct disciples of Sri one of the direct disciples of Sri

Madhvacharya.TheMadhvacharya.The presiding deity of the presiding deity of the mathamatha is Sri is Sri KalingamardhanaKalingamardhana KrishnaKrishna

(Krishna on hood of serpent) The (Krishna on hood of serpent) The mathamathahas many branches all over has many branches all over IndiaIndia..

The The mathamatha houses a houses a MukyapranaMukyaprana ((MarutiMaruti) ) temple inside, where temple inside, where pujapuja is performed is performed

everyday. everyday. The The mathamatha ( monastery ) at ( monastery ) at KrishnapuraKrishnapura, ,

which is 3 which is 3 kilometreskilometres from from SurathkalSurathkal town town is the main is the main mathamatha from which the name from which the name has been derived. The structure of the has been derived. The structure of the building is mostly made of wood. This building is mostly made of wood. This type of structure is rare in the age of type of structure is rare in the age of

concrete buildings nowadays.concrete buildings nowadays.

Kalinga mardana Krishnapura MathaRef: www.Wikipedia.org

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri PuthigePuthige MathaMatha

One of the original disciples of One of the original disciples of AcharyaAcharya MadhvaMadhva was was Shree Shree UpendraUpendra TeerthaTeertha. He was very dear to . He was very dear to AcharyaAcharyaMadhvaMadhva and served him with a lot of devotion. When and served him with a lot of devotion. When

the the AcharyaAcharya and his disciples were on their second and his disciples were on their second pilgrimage to pilgrimage to BadriBadri, they were attacked by a band of , they were attacked by a band of

robbers. Under the robbers. Under the Acharya'sAcharya's inspiration and with his inspiration and with his blessings, Shree blessings, Shree UpendraUpendra TeerthaTeertha fought with the fought with the

robbers and singlerobbers and single--handedly drove them away! Such was handedly drove them away! Such was the power of the grace of the power of the grace of AcharyaAcharya on Shree on Shree UpendraUpendra

TeerthaTeertha. . AcharyaAcharya gave Shree gave Shree UpendraUpendra TeerthaTeertha an icon of Lord an icon of Lord

PandurangaPanduranga VittalaVittala. The lineage following Shree . The lineage following Shree UpendraUpendra TeerthaTeertha is the one that we today know as Shree is the one that we today know as Shree

PuthigePuthige MathaMatha and the main icon illuminating Shree and the main icon illuminating Shree PuthigePuthige MathaMatha is the Lord is the Lord PandurangaPanduranga VittalaVittala given by given by

AcharyaAcharya MadhvaMadhva. Since . Since VittalaVittala murthymurthy is worshipped by is worshipped by a couple of other a couple of other mathasmathas too, this particular too, this particular murthymurthy is is

referred to as referred to as ““UpendraUpendra VittalaVittala””

Ref: Sri Krishna Brundavana website

Vittala of Puttige Matha

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri ShirooruShirooru MathaMatha

Could not find much info Could not find much info about this about this MathaMatha except that except that

it originated with Sri it originated with Sri VamanaVamana TheerthaTheertha, a direct , a direct

disciple of Sri disciple of Sri MadhvacharyaMadhvacharya. .

Vittala of Shirooru Matha

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri SodheSodhe MathaMatha (Sri (Sri KhumbasiKhumbasi MathaMatha))SodheSodhe or or SodhaSodha is a village near is a village near SirsiSirsi in the in the UttaraUttaraKannadaKannada district of district of KarnatakaKarnataka in India. The place is in India. The place is also the headquarters of the also the headquarters of the SodheSodhe MathaMatha, one of , one of

the the AshtaAshta (eight) (eight) mathasmathas established by Sri established by Sri MadhvacharyaMadhvacharya. Sri Vishnu . Sri Vishnu TheerthaTheertha, brother of Sri , brother of Sri MadhvacharyaMadhvacharya, was the first , was the first swamijiswamiji of this of this mathamatha. . Sri Sri VadhirajaVadhiraja was a very well known was a very well known yathiyathi of this of this

mathamatha’’ss paramparaparampara. Before Sri . Before Sri VadhirajaVadhiraja TheerthaTheertha, , this this mathamatha was known as was known as KhumbasiKhumbasi MathaMatha..

The The mathamatha at at SodheSodhe village was set up by village was set up by SwamiSwami Sri Sri VadirajatirthaVadirajatirtha..

The The BrindavanaBrindavana of Swami of Swami VadirajaVadiraja ThirthaThirtha can be can be found at found at SodheSodhe. The main deities worshipped at the . The main deities worshipped at the

SodheSodhe mathamatha are Lord are Lord BhuvarahaBhuvaraha and Lord and Lord HayagrivaHayagriva. Sri . Sri BhutaBhuta Raja is also worshipped there.Raja is also worshipped there.

Other interesting sites one can find at Other interesting sites one can find at SodheSodheinclude the Sri include the Sri TrivikramaTrivikrama Temple, Temple, TapovanaTapovanawhere Sri where Sri VadirajaVadiraja SwamySwamy used to meditate, used to meditate,

SwarnavalliSwarnavalli MathaMatha and and SahasralingaSahasralinga where one can where one can find hundreds of find hundreds of ShivaShiva LingasLingas..

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri SodheSodhe MathaMatha

Sri Buvaraha of Sode Matha

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri KaniyuruKaniyuru MathaMatha

Sri Sri KaniyuruKaniyuru MathaMatha descends from Sri descends from Sri Rama Rama TheerthaTheertha, a direct disciple of Sri , a direct disciple of Sri

MadhvacharyaMadhvacharya. The . The mathamatha was originally was originally located in located in KaniyooruKaniyooru (sometimes spelled (sometimes spelled

KaneyuruKaneyuru or or KaneyurKaneyur), a village in present ), a village in present day day PutturuPutturu taluktaluk (in (in UdupiUdupi district). A district). A

branch of the branch of the mathamatha still exists in still exists in KaniyooruKaniyooru, but the headquarters is now , but the headquarters is now located on Car Street near located on Car Street near Sri Krishna Sri Krishna

MathaMatha in in UdupiUdupi..In addition to propagating the In addition to propagating the DvaitaDvaitaphilosophy, Sri philosophy, Sri KaniyooruKaniyooru MathaMatha also also

manages the historic manages the historic Sri Sri PajakaPajaka KshetraKshetra, , the birth place of Sri the birth place of Sri MadhvacharyaMadhvacharya. The . The

current pontiff of the current pontiff of the mathamatha, Sri , Sri SriSriVidyavallabhaVidyavallabha TirthaTirtha, ordinarily resides in , ordinarily resides in

Sri Sri PajakaPajaka KshetraKshetra..

Ref: www.kaniyoorumatha.org

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri PejavaraPejavara AdhokshajaAdhokshaja MathaMatha

The original pontiff of this Math, The original pontiff of this Math, Sri Sri AdhokshajaAdhokshaja TeerthaTeertha, was one of , was one of

the direct disciples of the direct disciples of MadhwacharyaMadhwacharya. The deity is `Sri . The deity is `Sri

VittalaVittala'. The eighth pontiff in this '. The eighth pontiff in this lineage, Sri lineage, Sri VijayadhwajaVijayadhwaja TeerthaTeertha

wrote a commentary on wrote a commentary on BhagavathaBhagavatha PuranaPurana which is well which is well known under the caption, `known under the caption, `VijayaVijayaDwajaDwaja TeertheeyaTeertheeya'. The twentieth '. The twentieth pontiff Sri pontiff Sri ViswapathiViswapathi TeerthaTeertha had had

written criticisms on written criticisms on MadhwaMadhwaVijayaVijaya and and NrisimhaNrisimha stutistuti. This . This mathamatha is located right in the Car is located right in the Car

Street of Street of UdipiUdipi town.town.

Ref: Sri Pejavara Matha’s website

Vittala of Pejavara Matha

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri UttaradiUttaradi MathaMatha

Here is the legend about the origin of the matha, according to the Matha’s website:

The belief is that Sri Madhvacharya has inherited this seat from Sri Achyuta Preksha, who belonged to the Ekadandi

Order of Brahma Sampradaya. There is a legend on how this Brahma Sampradaya was initiated. At the time of Creation, Shri Narayana, the supreme God, moved primordial matter

into numerous forms in an evolutionary process and gave the infinite souls, who were under his care from unoriginated

times, physical bodies suited to their nature, karma and effort.He created the entire universe including the earth, with its

Sadhana Bhoomi – the land where merits turn out to be fruitful. The Supreme God also wanted to bless the souls with divine knowledge, by which they can attain salvation. For this purpose Shri Narayana himself incarnated as Shri Hamsa and

adorned the pontifical seat called the Hamsa-Pitha. As He is also known as Uttara, the Math initiated by Him came to be

known as Uttara-Adi Math (The Math initiated by Sri Uttara).

Sri Hamsa initiated Shri Brahma as his first disciple-pontiff and revealed the divine knowledge to him.

It is believed that Sri Madhvacharya revived and rejuvenated the tradition and poured new life into it.

Digvijaya Moola Rama & Sita idols

Ref: www.uttaradimath.org

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri SripadarajaSripadaraja MathaMatha

Ref: www.sripadarajamutt.org

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri SripadarajaSripadaraja MathaMatha

This matha is based at Mulbagal (near Bangalore). The matha seems to have originated with Sri PadmanabhaTheertha, a direct disciple of Sri Madhvacharya. Sri

Sripadaraja Theertha (1412-1504) has been a prominent Yathi of this matha’s Guru Parampara. Sri SripadarajaTheertharu is also well known for having given a great

impetus to Haridasa movement. He himself has composed hundreds of dasa padas.

He was the Vidya Guru of Sri Vyasaraja Theertharu. Sri Vyasaraja Theertharu wrote the following sloka on Sri

Sripadaraja Theertharu:

Tham vande narasimha theertha nilayam Sri vyasarajapoojitham

Dhayantham manasa nrusimha charaaam SrIpadarajaramgurum.

Pada Vakya Pramatabhyam Vikreedana VisharadamLakshmiNarayana Muneem Vande Vidya Gurunmama.

Sri Sripadaraja Theertharu

Brindavana

Ref: www.sripadarajamutt.org

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri VyasarajaVyasaraja MathaMatha

Sri Vyasarajara Brindavana at Navabrindavan

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri VyasarajaVyasaraja MathaMatha

Sosale, is a large village, on the left bank of the Cauvery River near its confluence with the Kabini River, about 3 Km away from the Agastheswara Temple at Tirumakudlu. It is under the jurisdiction of T.Narsipur Taluk in Mysore district, Karnataka State . . Sosale’s fame is for the reason that it is the head quarters of Sri Vyasaraja Mutt. Sri Vyasaraya Theertharu chose this place for his Mutt under the shade of a Banyan tree and close to the Cauvery river.

The famous Vyasaraja Mutt, established by Sri RajendraTheertharu ( Purvadhi Mutt)) during his time, got split during Rama Thirthar’s (14th Pontiff) time into - KundapurVyasaraja Mutt & Sosale Vyasarja Mutt, headed by Sri Lakshmi Dhara Theertharu and Sri Lakshmi KanthaTheertharu (affectionately called Sesha Chandrikacharaya) respectively. After Sri After Sri BrahmanyaBrahmanya TirthaTirtha, Sri , Sri VyasaVyasa TirthaTirthabecame the head of the became the head of the PurvadimuttPurvadimutt in the year 1476. in the year 1476. PurvadhimuttPurvadhimutt started being referred to as started being referred to as VyasarayaraVyasarayara mutt. mutt.

Ref: Sosale - Wikipedia

Sri Vyasaraja Mutt at Sosale

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri RayaruRayaru MathaMatha

The peeta of Yathi Sri Vibhudhendra Theertharu was referred to as Sri Vibhudhendra Matha. Starting from Sri Madhvacharya, the lineage of this matha includes Sri Jayatheertharu (Teekacharyaru), Sri Vidhyadiraja

Theertharu, Sri Kavindra Theertharu before Sri Vibhudhendra Theertharu. Very close lineage to Sri UttaradiMatha.

And following on in the lineage of this peeta appeared great Mahans like Sri Surendra Theertharu, Sri Vijayendra Theertharu & Sri Sudheendra Theertharu. And all of us know that the Yathi Sreshta who followed

Sri Sudheendra Theertharu in this peeta was none other than Guru Sarvabhouma Sri Raghavendra Theertharu. He became so prominent a yathi that the peeta was referred to as Sri Rayaru Matha.

The Moola Rama icon was reverently worshipped by Sita, Sri Hanumanta, and others. During the DwaparaYuga the icon ended up in the Moon Dynasty (Chandra Vamsha) and was worshipped by Bhimasena. With the

course of time, it kept changing hands until it reached the Orissa kingdom. From there, it finally reached the hands of Sri Madhvacharya.

Ref: “Sri Haridasa Vijayam” – original in kannada by Sri Belur Kesava Dasar & translation into Tamil by Smt. Padma Srinivasan

Ref: www.srsmutt.org Ref: www.geocities.com/harshala_rajesh/guruparampara1

Moola Rama idol worshipped in Sri Rayaru Matha

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Sri MajjigehalliMajjigehalli MathaMatha

Sri Majjigehalli Matha has descended from Sri Madhava Theertharu, a disciple of Srimad Acharya. Shri Madhava Theertha was one of the four direct disciples of Srimad

Madhvacharya who had established mathas outside the Tuluva province. The headquarters of this matha is at Tambihalli , Mulubagal, Kolar District in Karnataka. Madhava Thirtha was the third in succession to the spiritual throne of his master.He is

believed to be an avatar of Garuda. Shri Madhava Thirtha, entered brindavan at Hampiand his mortal remains were later shifted to Mannur near Gulbarga. The seat of the

pontificate was then moved from Mannur to Thambihalli.

The Shri Veera Rama idol being worshipped in this matha is said to have been handed over by Shri Madhvacharya himself.

Ref: www.aarshavani.org

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunitySri Subramanya Sri Subramanya MathaMatha

This matha is in the Kukke Subramanya Temple which is in the Subramanya village of the Sullia

Taluk of Dhakshina Kannada Dist.

Sri Vishnu Theertha, the brother of Sri Madhvacharya, was the first yathi of this matha, in addition to establishing Sodhe Matha. In the Matha,

there is a Samputa, or a box similar to a jewellerycase, which is worshipped by Swamiji. It is said that

this glowing Samputa, cannot be opened or destroyed. The composition of the metal from which

the Samputa is made, is not determined. The Samputa which can be held with both palms, is oily

copper in colour and has a lid that can never be opened. According to the disciples of Shri

Madhwacharya, he had placed 5 Vyasa Mushtis, 12 Lakshminarayana Saligramas from different places

and sealed the Samputa.

Ref: www.subrahmanyamatha.org

Lord Sri Veda Vyasa Samputa Narasimha

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunityMy studies have shown many of the mathas, outside of the Udipi Ashta Mathas, as having descended from Sri Padmanabha Theertharu, Sri AkshobyaTheertharu & Sri Madhava Theertharu. I have not come across any reference to any matha descending from Sri Narahari Theertharu. It is quite possible I might have missed searching adequately. If anyone can throw more light on this, I would be grateful.

The charithra of Sri Narahari Theertharu is an amazing one. Hailing from Orissa, a very learned scholar, after becoming a disciple of Sri Madhvacharyaand anointed by him as Sri Narahari Theertha, he was instrumental in bringing the sacred Moola Rama vigraha from the treasury of the Gajapathi kingdom and reaching it to Sri Madhvacharya at Udipi. Sri Madhvacharya is said to have performed puje to this vigraha for about eighty days before vanishing to the Upper Badari. And Sri Narahari Theertha also has the distinction of praying Lord through Devarunamas and is highly revered as the first yathi of MadhvaParampara to have carried common people in the bhakthi movement through Devarunamas.

Sri Madhvesharpanamasthu

This presentation is the result of my enthusiasm to know more about this subject and to share with others whatever I have picked up on this topic. Kindly overlook errors, if any, created by me unwittingly. “Santho Gunatya Karunam Kriyasuhu”.

MathasMathas of of MadhwaMadhwa CommunityCommunityAcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Ref: WWW.Pajakshetra.org

Ref: Sri Madhvacharya Life & Philosophy – Published by VMS, 1999

Ref: “Sri Haridasa Vijayam” – original in kannada by Sri Belur Kesava Dasar & translation into Tamil by Smt. Padma SrinivasanRef: www.anandatirtha.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/palimaru-temples-of-tulu-nadu/

Ref: www.Wikipedia.org

Ref: Sri Krishna Brundavana websiteRef: www.kaniyoorumatha.org

Ref: Sri Pejavara Matha’s websiteRef: www.uttaradimath.org

Ref: www.sripadarajamutt.orgRef: www.srsmutt.org

Ref: www.geocities.com/harshala_rajesh/guruparampara1

Ref: www.aarshavani.orgRef: www.subrahmanyamatha.org

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