Uttaradi Math


Shri Uttaradi Math , is one of the premier Dvaita Vedanta monasteries descended from Jagadguru Śrī Madhvācārya through Padmanabha Tirtha, Jayatirtha and their disciples. The Uttarādi Math is an important institution among the Mādhvas and also deeply respected among the Vaishnavas. The Uttarādi Math is one of the major Hindu monastic institutions that has historically coordinated Madhva tradition and monastic activities through satellite institutions in South India, preserved Sanskrit literature and pursued Dvaita studies. The Uttarādi Math has been a library and a source of historic Sanskrit manuscripts. Along with other Hindu monasteries Sri matha has been active in preserving the Vedas, sponsoring students and recitals, Sanskrit scholarship, and celebrating annual Madhva Jayanthi. The current pīṭādhipati or the acharya holding the pontifical seat is Satyatma Tirtha Śrīpād. The Uttaradi Math has huge following in South India compared to other Madhva mathas. Most of Deshastha Madhvas of Maharashtra and the whole community of Gayawal Pandas in Bihar are followers of this matha.
According to Surendranath Dasgupta, Uttaradi Math was divided twice, and so we end up with three mathas, the other two being Vyasaraja Math and Raghavendra Math. Uttaradi Math, along with Vyasaraja Math and Raghavendra Math, are considered to be the three premier apostolic institutions of Dvaita Vedanta and are jointly referred as Mathatraya. It is the pontiffs and pandits of the Mathatraya that have been the principle architects of post-Madhva Dvaita Vedanta through the centuries.

Etymology

According to tradition, "Uttarādi" refers to "Lord Vishnu who lifts us from the ocean of samsara" and "Matha" refers to "cloister, institute" or temple for spiritual studies. It is the 494th name of Lord Vishnu in Vishnu Sahasranama. Sharma opines that, "The Uttaradi Mutt has a territorial designation as its Pontificate has been occupied by Uttara-Karnatakas or Uttaradi-Karnatakas".

History

During the time's of Satyaprajna Tirtha there was a continuous conflict between the followers of Dvaita and Advaita Vedantas. According to Manimanjari and Madhva Vijaya, Ananda Tirtha was born as an incarnation of Vayu to give correct interpretation of Vedanta and challenge the doctrain of Shankara, who taught Advaita Vedanta in which the individual souls or jivas were considered same as Brahman. Shankara's followers destroyed the monasteries of their opponents, and indulged in a sinful acts. The teacher Satyaprajna Tirtha was also killed, his disciple and successor Prajna Tirtha was converted to faith of Advaita by force.
However the disciples of Satya-prajna Tirtha and Prajna Tirtha remained secretly attached to true Vedanta and continued to practice their doctrine secretly. Achyuta Preksha Tirtha, the teacher of Madhvacharya was of this line.
According to a tradition, it was said that at the time of Sri Achyuta Preksha who was the pontiff of Adi matha, on the ordain of Veda Vyasa, Lord Vayu incarnated in this world as Sri Madhvacharya on the day of Vijaya dasami in 1238 AD for the purpose of consolidating Hindu dharma. Uttaradi Matha is one of mathas, which was descended from Madhva through Padmanabha Tirtha, Jayatirtha and his disciples. Most of the Deshastha Madhvas consider Uttaradi Matha as their supreme religious authority and are its followers. An overwhelming majority of Madhwas, widely scattered all over India owes it's allegiance to the Uttaradi Matha. The Uttaradi Matha does not have any headquarters as such, though sometimes some places have received special attention. It is mainly an itinerant institution moving and camping from place to place, busy carrying the torch of spiritual learning where ever it goes.

Spread of Dvaita

In the first quarter of the 17th century, Vidyadhisha Tirtha was able to gain some converts to the Madhva fold, in Bihar, from among the Brahmins of Gaya, who still profess allegiance to Madhva school. Sri Satyanatha Tirtha during his time as the peetadhipathi of Uttarādi mutt visited Gaya and strengthened the hold of the mutt among Gayapalas, who had been converted to Madhvism by his predecessor Vidyadhisha Tirtha.

Pontifical lineage

Origin

As per authoritative Dvaita scripture "The Supreme God also wanted to bless the souls with divine knowledge, by which they can attain salvation. For this purpose, the Supreme God — Śrī Nārāyana Himself incarnated as Śrī Hamsa and adorned the pontifical seat called the Hamsa-Pīṭha."

List of Pontiffs

The complete list of pontiffs who had taken the seat of this math is as below:
This list represents the authorized guru-paramparā of Śrī Uttaradi Math till date.
No.PeetadhipathisReignBrindavana Purvashrama name
1Jagadguru Śrī Madhvācārya 1238-1317-Vāsudeva
2Śrī Padmanābha Tīrtha1317-1324Nava Brindavana, HampiShobhana Bhatta
3Śrī Nṛhari Tīrtha1324-1333Venkatapura, HampiShyama Shastri
4Śrī Mādhava Tīrtha1333-1350MannuruVishnu Shastri
5Śrī Akṣhobhya Tīrtha1350-1365MalkhedaGovinda Shastri
6Śrī Jaya Tīrtha1365-1388MalkhedaDhondupant Raghunatha
7Śrī Vidyādhirāja Tīrtha1388-1392YeragolaKrishna Bhatt
8Śrī Kavīndra Tīrtha1392-1398Nava Brindavana, HampiVasudeva Shastri
9Śrī Vāgīśa Tīrtha1398-1406Nava Brindavana, HampiRaghunathacharya
10Śrī Rāmacandra Tīrtha1406-1435YaragolaMadhava Shastri
11Śrī Vidyā-nidhi Tīrtha1435-1442YaragolaKrishtacharya
12Śrī Raghunātha Tīrtha1442-1502MalakhedaVishnu Shastri
13Śrī Raghuvarya Tīrtha1502-1557Anegundi, KarnatakaRamachandra Shastri
14Śrī Raghūttama Tīrtha1557-1595TirukoilurRamachandra Bhatt
15Śrī Veda-vyāsa Tīrtha1595-1619PenugondaAnantha Vyasacharya
16Śrī Vidyā-dhīśa Tīrtha1619-1631RanebennurPandurangi Narasimhacharya
17Śrī Veda-nidhi Tīrtha1631-1635PandarpuraKoratagi Pradyumnacharya
18Śrī Satya-vrata Tīrtha1635-1638SangliRaghunathacharya
19Śrī Satya-nidhi Tīrtha1638-1660KurnoolKauligi Raghupathyacharya
20Śrī Satya-nātha Tīrtha1660-1673VeeracholapuramNarashimacharya
21Śrī Satyābhinava Tīrtha1673-1706Nachiarkoil, KumbhakonamKesavacharya
22Śrī Satya-pūrṇa Tīrtha1706-1726Kolpur Kolhapur Krishnacharya
23Śrī Satya-vijaya Tīrtha1726-1737Satya Vijaya NagaramPandurangi Balacharya
24Śrī Satya-priya Tīrtha1737-1744ManamaduraiGarlapad Ramacharya
25Śrī Satya-bodha Tīrtha1744-1783SavanurRamacharya
26Śrī Satya-sandha Tīrtha1783-1794MahishiHaveri Ramacharya
27Śrī Satya-vara Tīrtha1794-1797SantebidanurHaveri Krishnacharya
28Śrī Satya-dharma Tīrtha1797-1830HolehonnurNavaratna Purushottamacharya
29Śrī Satya-saṅkalpa Tīrtha1830-1841MysoreNavaratna Shrinivasacharya.
30Śrī Satya-santuṣṭa Tīrtha3 July 1841 - 12 March 1842MysoreGhuli Balacharya
31Śrī Satya-parāyaṇa Tīrtha1842-1863SantebidanurHaveri Gururayacharya
32Śrī Satya-kāma Tīrtha1863-1871AthakuruPachapura Srinivasacharya
33Śrī Satyeṣṭa Tīrtha1871-1872AthakuruHattimuttur Narasimhacharya
34Śrī Satya-parākrama Tīrtha1872-1879ChittapuraVykar Srinivasacharya
35Śrī Satya-vīra Tīrtha1879-1886KorlahalliKorlahalli Bhodaramacharya
36Śrī Satya-dhīra Tīrtha1886-1906KorlahalliKorlahalli Jayacharya
37Śrī Satya-jñāna Tīrtha1906-1911RajahmundryKinhal Jayacharya
38Śrī Satya-dhyāna Tīrtha1911- 24 March 1942PandarpuraKorlahalli Sethuramacharya
39Śrī Satya-prajña Tīrtha24 March 1942 – 14 April 1945AthakuruPandurangi Jayacharya
40Śrī Satyābhijña Tīrtha14 April 1945 – 2 February 1948RanebennurKatti Venkannacharya
41Śrī Satya-pramoda Tīrtha2 February 1948 – 3 November 1997TirukoilurGuttal Guru-rājāchārya
42Śrī Satyātma Tīrtha 3 November 1997 - till date -Guttal Sarvajnāchārya

Hagiology

The "Gurucarya" is a hagiological work on the Pontiffs of the Uttaradi Mutt. These floating traditions of the Mutt came to be defined and recorded during the days of Sripadaraja. "Guruvamsakathakalpataru" is another hagiological work on the lives of all Madhva Pontiffs of Uttarādi Matha order up to Satyasandha Tirtha, authored by Bhimadaivajna of Bijapur.

Mission

The chief mission of the Sri matha is to practice, protect, preach and propagate the ancient Vedic dharma. Since the time of its origin, till date, Uttaradi Math has been and continuing to be the strong advocate of the true Vedic dharma. The Sri Math has extended its services to mankind in all spheres of life like medical care, education, disaster, calamities, wars, etc.

Vidyapeethas

The Sri Matha has established three to four Vidyapeethas most prominent among them being Sri Jayateertha Vidyapeetha in Bangalore and Sri Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha in Mumbai with boarding facilities where in students stay and continue their study in Vedas and Madhwa Shastras. Students are rigorously trained here in various branches of knowledge like Grammar, Linguistics, Logic, Mimamsa, Sankhya, Yoga, Veda, Jyotisha, Advaita, Vishistadvaita and Dvaita systems and Modern Philosophies.

Sri Jayateertha Vidyapeetha

Sri Jayateertha Vidyapeetha was established by Sri Satyapramoda Tīrtha Swamiji in the year 1989, which presently holds more than 200 students and 15 teaching faculty members. The uniqueness of this institution is that its students are specially trained under the guidance of Shri 1008 Shri Satyatma Teertha Swamiji for 12 years with initial 9 years of training at the Jayateertha Vidyapeetha Residential Campus where they attain mastery over Kāvya, Vyākaraṇa, Sahitya, Vedas, Sankhya, Yoga, Jaina, Bauddha, Shakta, Advaita, Vishistadvaita and Dvaita Philosophies under the guidance of Kulapati Guttala Rangacharya, Principal Vidwan Satyadhyanacharya and several other experienced Adhyapakas. During the last 3 years of the course, the students are given extensive classes in Shriman Nyaya Sudha, Tatparya Chandrika, Tarkatandava etc., on tour directly by the learned Swamiji, thus giving the student an opportunity to expand his knowledge base by way of getting exposed, at an early age, to the scholarly world, with opportunity to meet several esteemed scholars and conducting debates and discussions with them in esteemed centers of learning across the entire country like Kashi, Prayag, Delhi, Pune, Rajahmundry etc. After successfully completing the 12-year course, the students are awarded the title "Sudha Vidwan" in a grand convocation function called the "Sudha Mangala", held at various prime centers of learning. To make themselves eligible for the title the students have to present a paper orally before distinguished scholars and also take an oral exam in Shriman Nyaya Sudha, the magnum opus of Dvaita Philosophy. The candidate is tested for all round skills and then declared to be eligible for the title by a jury of scholars headed by Satyatma Tirtha.

Sri Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha

Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha is an institution of advanced learning. It caters for the needs of scholars interested in higher studies and research. By 1972, It has brought out 26 authoritative volumes on philosophy. Mahuli Vidyasimhacharya is the present Kulapathi of Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha.