Background Jyotir Math is the
uttaramnaya matha or northern monastery, one of four cardinal institutions established by
Adi Shankara , the reviver of Vedic
Sanatana Dharma. Shankara's four principal disciples,
Padma-Pada,
Hasta-Malaka,
Suresvaracharya and
Totakacharya were assigned to these four learning centers in the north, south, east and west of India. As such, they are the leaders of the Dasanami Saṃnyasins, who are considered to have custody of Advaita Vedānta
1941 to 1953 The appointment of Swami Sri Brahmananda Saraswati Ji on 11 May 1941 was made by a group of monks and pandits BDM Bharat Dharma Mahamandal based in the city of
Varanasi with the endorsement of Swami Bharati Krishna Tirtha, the Shankaracharya of Puri and Swami Chandrashekhara Bharati the Shankaracharya of Sringeri. Brahmananda's leadership was instrumental in re-establishing the Jyotir Math as "an important centre of traditional advaita teaching in northern India", The will named his disciple, 1) Sri Ramji Tripathi - Swami
Shantanand Saraswati as his successor and Dwaraka Prasad Sastry - 2) Swami Dwarakeshananda Saraswati, 3) Swami Vishnudevananda Saraswati and 4) Swami Paramatmananda Saraswati as alternate choices. As a result, Swami
Shantanand Saraswati assumed the Shankarcharya-ship, but his authority was disputed by the other 3 Shankaracharyas in Puri, Dwaraka and Sringeri. Several of Swami Sri Brahmananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj's disciples and followers who felt that Shantanand did not meet the requirements described in the 2500 Year old Adi Shankarachaya Mathamnaya Mahanushasana texts. the Law of 4 Amnaya Peeths, Meanwhile, others claimed that Brahmananda's death was due to poisoning, and later it was found that the so-called "Will" (18th Dec 1952) was forged causing civil lawsuits to be filed by the concerned parties. The successor to the office of the Shankaracharya had to be chosen by a body "Maneeshas" according to "Mathamnaya" Mahanushasanam" not through a "Will" in "Mathamnaya Mahanushasan no concept of a Will has been mentioned, there are principals to be followed in accordance with tradition. As there is no concept of a Will in The "Adi Shankarachaya Parampara" Swami Sri Brahmananda Saraswati could not write a Will in favour of any person. Thus the other 3 Shankaracharyas did not recognize the alleged "Will". Relevant organizations involved in reviving Jyotir Math, including a committee of pundits from Varanasi, BDM proposed Swami Krishnabodha Ashrama Ji Maharaj as the Shankaracharya, despite Shantanand's claim and occupation of Jyotir Math on (25 June 1953). Ashrama attained Brahmasiddhi in 10 Sept 1973 and nominated Sri Brahmananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj's deekshita Shishya disciple Swami Sri
Swaroopananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj, who had taken Swami Krishnabodha Ashrama as his guru after Swami Sri Brahmananda Saraswati Swamiji Maharaj's Siddhi death, as his successor. However, because Shantananda still occupied the Jyotir Math ashram built by Swami Sri Brahmananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj, Swami Sri Swaroopananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj took new land and Built a new Ashram. The second Ashram built by
Sri Brahmananda Saraswati ji Maharaj, is said to be located near the cave of Adi Shankara's former disciple, Totakacharya. ==See also==