imported>Venkat TL at 09:32, 7 August 2021

2021-08-07T09:32:30Z

New page

{{Short description|Spiritual organisation of Goud Saraswat Brahmins}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Kashi Math
| image = Kashi Mutt VR.gif
| alt =
| caption = Deities of Samsthan Kashi Math
| map_type =
| map_caption =
| native_name =Sri Kashi Math Samsthan
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| district =
| location = [[Varanasi]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Vyasa Raghupathi Narasimha

| facade_direction =
| temple_tank =
| tower =
| festivals=
| architecture =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity=
| inscriptions =
| year_completed =
| creator =
| website = https://kashimath.org/
|Matadhipathi=[[Samyamindra Tirtha]]|founded_by=[[Vijayendra Tirtha]] by initiating Sanyasa Deeksha to Sri Yadavendra Tirtha|tradition=[[Dvaita Vedanta]]|religious_affiliation=[[Madhvacharya]]'s [[Dvaita]] Siddhantha}}

'''Kashi Math''' is a spiritual organisation followed by the Madhva section of [[Goud Saraswat Brahmin]]s,who are also referred as Madhwa Saraswat Brahmins or Vaishnava Saraswat Brahmins.<ref>{{cite book|title=Karnataka State Gazetteer: South Kanara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jooBAAAAMAAJ&q=madhva+saraswat+brahmins&dq=madhva+saraswat+brahmins&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjClK6EpebTAhVIRo8KHdx4BjIQ6AEILDAD|publisher=Director of Print., Stationery and Publications at the Government Press|author=B.N.Sri Sathyan|pages=109–110}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Karnataka State Gazetteer: Belgaum|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SiQLAQAAIAAJ&dq=madhva+saraswat+brahmins&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=madhwa+saraswat+|publisher=Director of Print, Stationery and Publications at the Government Press|page=200}}</ref> It dates back to the 16th century. With its headquarters in Brahma Ghat, [[Varanasi]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Religions in coastal Karnataka, 1500-1763|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gy0eAAAAMAAJ&q=kashi+uttaradi&dq=kashi+uttaradi&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiMkrqzje7XAhWIKY8KHXulBIQQ6AEILTAB|author=Kodancha Gujjadi Vasantha Madhava|publisher=Inter India Publications|page=118}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Vaiṣṇava Contribution to Varanasi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8lEvAAAAYAAJ&q=kasi+matha&dq=kasi+matha&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwji2MPqju7XAhUENY8KHTaGAJUQ6AEIQjAF|publisher=Jñāna-Pravāha, Centre for Cultural Studies and Research|author=Ramesh Chandra Sharma, Pranati Ghosal|page=134|year=2006}}</ref> Kashi Math has followers all over the Konkan belt, prominently in Mumbai, [[Goa]], [[Udupi]], [[Mangalore]], [[Kochi]], [[Alappuzha]] and other parts of [[Kerala]] and [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Saraswats in Goa and beyond|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B0NuAAAAMAAJ&q=kashi+math+has+followers&dq=kashi+math+has+followers&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiora6To-bTAhVKRo8KHYmVAVwQ6AEIMzAF|publisher=Murgaon Mutt Sankul Samiti|year=1998|page=147}}</ref>

== Deities ==
The principal deities of Kashi Math are ''charaprathishta'' (“moving installation") idols of [[Vyasa]], [[Rama]] and [[Narasimha]], who are also collectively known as the ''Vyasa Raghupathi Narasimha''.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://kashimath.org/the-math/ | title = The Kashimath }}</ref>

== Gurus ==

The Kashi Math follows the [[Guru-shishya tradition]] where the Guru of the Math initiates a ''shishya'' to succeed him upon his Samadhi.<ref>{{cite news|title = Guru System of Kashi Math|url = http://kumblenayakaru.in/swamijis.html|access-date = 25 June 2013|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054622/http://kumblenayakaru.in/swamijis.html|archive-date = 21 September 2013|url-status = dead}}</ref> [[Samyamindra Thirtha]] is the 21st and current head (Mathadipathi) of the Math. Prior heads have been:<ref>http://www.kashimath.org/guru-parampara/</ref>

#Yadavendra Thirtha -I
#Keshavendra Thirtha
#Upendra Thirtha -I
#Yadavendra Thirtha -II
#Raghavendra Thirtha
#Devendra Thirtha
#Madhavendra Thirtha
#Jnaneendra Thirtha
#Yadavendra Thirtha -III
#Upendra Thirtha -II
#Rajendra Thirtha
#Vishnu Thirtha
#Sureendra Thirtha
#Vibhudendra Thirtha
#Sumatheendra Thirtha
#Vasudendra Thirtha
#Bhuvanendra Thirtha
#Varadendra Thirtha
#[[Sukrathindra Thirtha]]
#[[Sudhindra Tirtha (Kashi Math)|Sudhindra Thirtha]]
#[[Samyamindra Thirtha]]

== Internal strife ==
On 7 July 1989, in accordance with the guru-shishya tradition, the then guru, Sudhindra Thirtha, initiated a follower into [[sanyasa]] so that in due course they would succeed him as the 21st guru.<ref name="gsbkerala.com">{{cite web|title = Internal strife (2000) of Kashi Math|url = http://www.gsbkerala.com/gsbmutt.htm#kashi|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121028052817/http://www.gsbkerala.com/gsbmutt.htm#kashi|archive-date = 28 October 2012|df = dmy-all}}</ref> For reasons not fully known, serious differences between Sudhindra Tirtha and his appointed successor, Raghavendra Tirtha, became apparent around 2000–2001 amidst concerns about insubordination and integrity. On 19 July 2000, the mathadipathi removed Raghavendra Tirtha from his position of successor by making use of an earlier communication from November 1999 which had requested relief from the tutelage.<ref name="Inte2">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/sep/14jose.htm |title=Gowda Saraswat Brahmin high priests battle it out |publisher=Rediff }}</ref> This removal necessitated the initiation of a new shishya to succeed Sudindra Thirtha and this was done on 20 June 2002 when Samyamindra Thirtha were initiated.<ref name="gsbkerala.com"/>

Thereafter the tussle among the pontiffs turned into a dispute over the control of the Kashi Math and the ownership of its many valuables and ornaments used during various religious observances. Those included about 234 pieces of jewelry and silver articles, as well as 27 idols including the main idol of Vyasa Raghupathi. Raghavendra Tirtha had possession of these items but was ordered by Court in [[Tirupati (city)|Tirupathi]] to give them to Sudhindra Tirtha. The Court upheld the status of the senior pontiff and the ''mathadhipathi'', accepted the junior's abdication and directed him to return all belongings of the math and refrain from interfering in its affairs.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

A petition seeking a stay on the order was dismissed by the [[Andhra Pradesh High Court]]. The [[Supreme Court of India]] also confirmed the same on 2 December 2009 and upheld the High Court order recognizing Sudhendra Tirtha as ''mathadipadi''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kashi Mutt Row: Supreme Court victory for Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji|url=http://mangaloretoday.com/mt/index.php?action=exclusive&type=8|access-date=13 January 2013|newspaper=Mangalore Today|date=2 December 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Saraswat Mutt samsthans|url=http://www.gsbkerala.com/gsbmutt.htm|publisher=GSB Kerala|access-date=13 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028052817/http://www.gsbkerala.com/gsbmutt.htm|archive-date=28 October 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-seer of Kashi mutt decamps with relics, jewellery|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_ex-seer-of-kashi-mutt-decamps-with-relics-jewellery_1523131|access-date=13 January 2013|newspaper=Daily News & Analysis (DNA)|date=23 March 2011}}</ref>

After months of defying various court orders, Raghavendra Tirtha absconded with the valuables and ornaments and was arrested at [[Kadapa]] in October 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Swami, disciple held, ancient idols seized|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/article2583678.ece|access-date=13 January 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=31 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Fugitive 'swami' caught in Andhra Pradesh|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_fugitive-swami-caught-in-andhra-pradesh_1605368|access-date=13 January 2013|newspaper=Daily News & Analysis (DNA)|date=31 October 2011}}</ref>

Thereafter in November 2011, the 'parikaras' were handed over to Sudhindra Tirtha.<ref>{{cite news|title=All Sacred Idols restored to Sudhindra Thirtha Swami|url=http://www.mangaloretoday.com/mt/index.php?action=mn&type=4495|access-date=13 January 2013|newspaper=Mangalore Today|date=28 November 2011}}</ref> Samyamindra Thirtha became main disciple (patta shishya) and successor (uttaradhikari) of Kashi Math.<ref>{{cite news|title = Samyamindra Thirtha Swamiji to Lead|url = http://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/samyamindra-tirtha-to-lead.html}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Sudhindra Thirtha attained Vrindavan on 17 January 2016 at Vyasashram, [[Haridwar]].<ref>{{cite news|title = Samaddhi of Kashi Math Head Manorma|url = http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/just-in/kashi-seer-sudhindra-thirtha-passes-away.html|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160120104342/http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/just-in/kashi-seer-sudhindra-thirtha-passes-away.html|archive-date = 20 January 2016|df = dmy-all}}</ref> As per the tradition, Samyamindra Thirtha became the new head of Kashi Math and they officially took charge on 28 January 2016 at Vyasashram, Haridwar.<ref>{{cite news|title = Sri Samyamindra Tirtha Kashi Math Head TOI|url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/Now-Sri-Samyamindra-Tirtha-new-religious-head-of-GSB-community/articleshow/50772345.cms}}</ref> They are currently holding the 'parikaras' and offering the daily pujas.

== See also ==
* [[Gokarna Math]] ([[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] math)
* [[Kavale Math|Shri Gaudapadacharya Math]] ([[Smarta Tradition]] math)

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Kashi Math}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.kashimath.org/ www.kashimath.org]

[[Category:Hindu monasteries in India]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Varanasi]]
[[Category:Madhva mathas]]

Kashi Math - Revision history

imported>Venkat TL at 09:32, 7 August 2021