Matha

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A maţha (also written math, matha or mutt) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of the Hindu and Jain traditions. A maţha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.

Advaita maţhas: The oldest such institutions follow the Advaita tradition, where the head of a maţha is called a Shankaracharya, a title derived from Ādi Śankara. Hindu tradition states that he put in charge of the following mathas his four main disciples: Sureshwaracharya, Hastamalakacharya, Padmapadacharya, and Totakacharya respectively. The four Āmnāya maţhas founded by Adi Shankara, all of the Smarta tradition, are:

1. Śringeri Śāradā Pīţham, at Sringeri, Karnataka
2. Dwaraka Pītham, at Dwaraka, Gujarat
3. Govardhana matha, at Puri, Orissa
4. Jyotirmath, in Uttarakhand

In addition, these Advaita mathas also state they were founded by Adi Shankara:

1. Ramachandrapura Math at Ramachandrapura, Hosanagara, Shimoga Dist., Karnataka (http://ramachandrapuramath.org/).
2. Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, at Tamil Nadu Sarvajina Peetam

Other important maţhas of the Advaita tradition include the Kavale maţha and the Chitrapur Matha (both associated with Saraswat Brahmins), the Hariharapura maţha, the Jyotirmath, in Uttarakhandand etc.

VishishtAdvaita Mathas:

• Vanamamalai Mutt - Sri Vaishnava tradition of Ramanuja
• Andavan Ashramam - Sri Vaishnava tradition of Ramanuja
• Ahobila Matha - Sri Vaishnava tradition of Ramanuja
• Parakala matha - Sri Vaishnava tradition of Ramanuja
• Chinna jeeyar math - Sri Vaishnava tradition of Ramanuja

Dvaita Mathas:

• Sri Krishna Matha (Ashta Matha-s), in Udupi - Madhva tradition of Vaishnava.
• Sri Uttarādi Matha - Madhva tradition of Vaishnava.
• Kashi Mutt - Vaishnava tradition of Goud Saraswat Brahmins.
• Krishnapura Matha established by Madhwaacharya.
• Sri Raghavendra Swami Matha
• Sri Sripadaraja Matha
• Sri Sosale Vysaraja Matha
• Sri Kundapura Vysaraja Matha
• Sri Kaniyooru Matha
• Sri Adamaru Matha
• Sri Putthige Matha
• Sri Palimaru Matha
• Sri Subrahmanya Matha
• Sri Pejawara Matha
• Sri Sodhe-Vadiraja Matha
• Sri Balagaru Matha
• Sri Kanva Matha
• Sri Shirooru Matha

Jain Mathas:

• Sravanabelagola, Mula Sangh, Desiya Gana, Pustaka Gachchha order, established in 1105 during the rule of Hoysal King Ballal I (1101-1106 AD).
• Moodabidri, Mula Sangh, Desiya Gana Pustaka Gachchha order
• Humbaj: Mula Sangh, Balatkara Gana, Sarasvati Gachchha order, Gana Established in 8th century
• Karanja (Maharashtra): Mula Sangh, Balatkara Gana, Sarasvati Gachchha order
• Nagaur (Rajasthan)
• Kolhapur (Maharashtra)
• Hissar (Haryana): Kashtha Sangha

Shakti Vishistadvaita(Veerashaiva) maţhas:

1. Rambhapuri Peetha, at Balehonnur, Karnataka
2. Ujjaini Peetha, at Ujjaini, Karnataka
3. Shree Shaila Peetha, at Shree Shailam, Andhrapadesh
4. Kedar Peetha, at Kedar, Uttarakhand
5. Kashi Peetha at Varanasi,UttarPradesh
6. Sri Siddaganga Matha at Tumkur,Karnataka

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Last updated on Thursday March 06, 2008 at 03:21:51 PST (GMT -0800)
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