Matha

For other uses, see Matha (disambiguation).

A matha (also written math or mutt) Sanskrit: मठ maṭha) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism^[1] and Jainism. A matha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.

Hindu

Advaita Mathas

Vidyashankara temple (विद्याशंकर मंदिर) at Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri, Karnataka.

The oldest matha follow the Advaita Vedanta tradition and they are headed by Shankaracharyas, a title derived from the name of Ādi Śankara, a prominent religious teacher of the eighth century.^[2] Ādi Śankara established the following mathas, with each of his four main disciples in charge: Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalakacharya, Padmapadacharya, and Totakacharya respectively. The four Āmnāya mathas founded by Ādi Śankara, all of which are Smartist, are:

• Śringeri Śāradā Pīṭham, at Shringeri, Karnataka
• Dvaraka Pitha, at Dwarka, Gujarat
• Govardhana matha, at Puri, Orissa
• Jyotirmath, in Uttarakhand

In addition, these Advaita mathas also claim they were founded by Ādi Śankara:

• Svarnavalli Matha at Swarnavalli near Sodhe, Sirsi, Karnataka
• Ramachandrapura Math at Haniya, Hosanagara, Karnataka
• Kanchi matha, at Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Sri Vaishnava Mathas

In the Sri Sampradaya tradition of Ramanuja:

• Ahobila Mutt
• Parakala Mutt
• Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam

Dvaita Mathas (Vaishnava)

See also: Ashta Mathas of Udupi

Krishnapura Matha at Udupi

Dvaita philosophy was founded by Madhvacharya. He established 8 mathas directly and several others were also established by him and also by his disciples.

• Pejavara
• Adamaru
• Puthige
• Palimar
• Kaniyooru
• Shiroor
• Sodhe
• Krishnapura matha

Only the pontiffs of these mathas have the right to perform puja to Lord Udupi Shri Krishna. They assume the right to perform puja to Krishna at Udupi one after the other. Each pontiff's right to perform puja to Krishna expires every 2 years; this is called Paryaya.

There are many other mathas. These mathas were all formed by the disciples of Śrī Madhvācārya. Śrī Padmanābha Tīrtha was the first disciple of Madhvacharya who formed most of the mathas except the matha which have the right to perform Puja to Krishna in Udupi.

Ramakrishna Belur Math, Howrah, West Bengal.

Examples of other Dvaita mathas are:

• Uttarādi Maṭha
• Rāghavendra Svāmī Maṭha
• Vyasaraja Matha (Sosale)

Other Vaishnava & Hindu Mathas

• Gauḍīya Maṭha
• Ramakrishna Math
• Sree Rama Dasa Matha,Chenkottukonam,Thiruvananthapuram

Saraswat Brahmin Mathas (Vaishnava and Smartha)

Kashi Math, Walkeshwar branch, Mumbai.

The Konkani-speaking Goud Saraswat Brahmin follow these mathas:

• Kashi Math, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (Vaishnava (Dvaita))
• Gokarna Math, Poinguinim, Canacona, Goa (Vaishnava (Dvaita))
• Chitrapur Math, Shirali, Karnataka (Smartha (Advaita))
• Shri Gaudapadacharya Math, Kavale, Ponda, Goa (Smartha (Advaita))
• Sri Samsthan Dabholi Math, Dabholi, Goa (Smartha (Advaita))

Kongu Nadu mathas

In Kongu Nadu, there are mathas run by the kulagurus or caste-clan gurus. There are around sixty such mathas, both Smartist and Shaiva, who guide people from the various native castes of this region.^[3] Their acharya is Sringeri Sharada Peetham.

Jainism

The term matha is also used for Jain monasteries:

• In Shravanabelagola, Karnataka
• In Moodabidri, Mangalore. Karnataka
• In Kanagiri, Karnataka

References

1. ^ Britannica Online Encyclopedia, matha. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 22 Jan. 2009.
2. ^ Britannica Online Encyclopedia, Śankara. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 22 Jan. 2009 .
3. ^ http://kongukulagurus.blogspot.com/