Gaudapadacharya Math

Śrī Sansthāna Gauḍapadācārya Maṭha was founded in 740 AD at Kushasthali near Keloshi (Quelshim) in Goa by Shri Vivaranananda Saraswati, who along with Adi Shankara was a disciple of Govinda Bhagavatpada, who in turn was Gaudapada's disciple. There is also belief among people that the matha was established by Gaudapada. During the Portuguese rule in Goa in 15th and 16th century, Hindus were forcibly converted to Christianity, and many Hindu temples and mathas were destroyed. In 1564, Since the matha was established, all Dakshinatya or southern Saraswat Brahmins were the disciples of this matha and all Saraswat Brahmins were followers of Smartism. In the 12th century A.D. Madhvacharya propagated the Dvaita philosophy and promoted Bhakti movement centred around god Krishna which gave fillip to Vaishnava sect and a large section of Saraswat Brahmins converted to Vaishnavism. Later in 1476 A.D. Gokarna Math and in 1542 A.D. Kashi Math was founded under Vaishnava sampradaya and those Saraswat Brahmin converts to Vaishnavism started following these new mathas. ==Shree Gaudapadacharya==

of Bhagvan Shri Bhavani Shankar along with Vishnu, Devi, Surya and Ganesha at Shri Saunstan Gauḍapādāchārya matha, Kavale, Goa In Kali Yuga Sri Gaudapadcharya is the first preceptor to imbibe the Vedanta Wisdom and imparted it to his disciples, thus he is the first historical exponent of Advaita Vedanta. He is the guru of Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya (the guru of Adi Shankaracharya), thus he is the Parama Guru (Grand Guru) of Adi Shankaracharya. Gauḍapādāchārya authored which is known by several names such as , Mandookya Vartika, Mandukopanishad Gaudapada Vakyan, Aagama Granth, Upadesha Granth and also by the name a commentary on Mandukya Upanishad. Gauḍapādāchārya describes the subtle meanings locked in the mantras of Mandukya Upanishad, one of the shortest but most profound Upanishads, or mystical Vedas, consisting of just 13 prose sentences. Although it is a small book by its length, its philosophical contents are very profound and far reaching, and it is considered one of the greatest works of fundamental philosophy by all scholars. Gaud.apa-da Ka-rika- is the earliest known systematic exposition of Advaita Vedanta. That is why this book is also known as 'Vedanta Moola' meaning the basis of Vedanta philosophy. He explained the illusionary nature (maya) of the world and the reality of the Parabhrahman. Gaudapadcharya wrote commentary on Sāṁkhya Kārikā of Iśvarakṛṣṇa (3rd century), and his other works included Anurgeeta-bhasya, Uttargeeta-bhasya, Chidananda Kelivilas. Adi Shankaracharya at the end of his famous commentary to the addresses the following salutation to Gauḍapādāchārya as his 'Parama Guru' (grand teacher) and compliments him for recovering Advaita Vedanta from Vedas. That verse in Sanskrit goes like this: Gaudapadacharya was born to Shri Vishnudatta and Gunavathi in a devout Saraswat Brahmin family at Bhupalam near Vitta in the present district of Sangli, and his name was Shukadatt. He renounced his life at a very younger age and went to the nearby hill forest in quest of spiritual wisdom. There he was instructed by God through Nabhovani (inner voice) to march towards North to fulfill his spiritual wisdom. Dattadeva received the wisdom of Vedanta through the grace of Lord Narayana and the blessings of Shri Vedavyasa at Badrikashrama. ==Shri Govinda Bhagavatpadaacharya==

Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya (IAST ) was the Guru of the Advaita philosopher, Adi Shankara, and it is mentioned in all the traditional accounts (Shankara Vijayams. He is also mentioned in the very first verse of Shri Adi Shankaracharya's Prakaraņa grantha (treatise) Viveka Chudamani. Shri Adi Guru Gaudapadacharya was his Guru (Teacher). In around 780 AD, Adi Guru Shri Gauḍapādāchārya was on a pilgrimage to Kashi (Varanasi) with his Sishya Shri Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya, and they stayed at a tapovan where he established an ashram inside a cave on the banks of the Narmada River. At the same time, a boy called Shankara who was in search of a Guru, learnt from people about Shri Gauḍapādāchārya as a great Yogi living in a cave on the river bank in deep meditation. Shankara soon reached the ashram and stood before the entrance of the cave singing some verses. Hearing the verses Shri Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya asks from the cave who was standing near the cave and Shankara replies in the form of 10 slokas ending with the refrain "Sivahkevaloham". These ten slokas constitute the famous Dasasloki of the Acharya. After some conversations Shankara expressed his desire to be initiated into Sanyas and Shri Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya conveyed it to his Guru Shri Gauḍapādāchārya. Shri Gauḍapādāchārya from his power of Tapasya found out that this Shri Shankra was an incarnation of Lord Shiva and born to uplift the Vedas and thus Sanatana Dharma and instructs his Sishya Shri Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya to give deeksha to Shri Shankara and later Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya initiated Shri Shankara into Sanyasa and named him as Shri Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya. After giving deeksha, Shri Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya instructed Shri Shankarachaya to write a commentary on the Brahma Sutras and propagate the Advaita philosophy. Shri Shankarachaya stays with his Guru for some more years and mastered the Vedanta. Shri Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya also gave deeksha to another vatu and named him Shri Vivaranananda, who returned to head Shri Gauḍapādāchārya matha at Keloshi in Goa. ==Deities==

Bhavanishankar, an aspect of Shiva is the aradhya devata (tutelary deity) of the matha. Daily trikal (Morning, Afternoon, and Evening) Puja is offered by the Mathadipati (head monk) to Bhavanishankar along with deities Shree Rukmini, Shree Gopalkrishna and Shree Satyabhama, Shree Vishnu, Shree Ganapathi, Shree Vedavyas, Shree Gadha Padmanabha, Shree Bala Ganapati, Shree Uma Maheshwar, Shree Balakrishna, Shree Devi Bhoodevi and Shree Venkataramana, Shree Sheshanaga, Shree Kodandarama according to Smartha tradition of Panchayatana (five deity) puja system. ==Birudāvali or Title==

Vivaranananda Swami founded the matha's tradition that the name of every Swami of the line should carry the suffix 'Ananda', honorific 'Saraswati', designation 'Swami' and the name of his grand guru Gaudapadacharya as the matha is also named after him. Similar to how a King is addressed when he enters the royal court with his Birudāvali (Title), Mathadhipatis of the matha are also addressed in Sanskrit. The Birudāvali of Shree Swami goes like this. '''' || The name of Shree Swami and his guru and grand guru mentioned in above Birudāvali will change depending on the Swami addressed. ==Guru Parampara==

The following well-known 'Parampara-stotra' among Smarthas in Sanskrit has the list of early Advaita teachers in their order and that is recited at the beginning of the study of Commentaries, A) In Satya or Krata Yuga : 1) Lord Narayana and 2) Lord Brahma. B) In Treta Yuga : 1)Vasishta Maharishi 2)Shakti Maharishi and 3) Parashara Maharishi. C) In Dvapara Yuga : 1) Veda Vyasa and 2) Sri Shuka Acharya D) In Kali Yuga : 1) Acharyas start with Sri Gaudapada Acharya. Divine Group Source: • 1. Shri Gauḍapādāchārya • 2. Shri Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya • 3. Shrimat Vivarananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya & Shri Adi Shankaracharya • 4. Shrimat Adinath Paramashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 5. Shrimat Sadashiva Paramashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 6. Shrimat Ishwara Paramashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 7. Shrimat Rudra Pramashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 8. Shrimat Vishnu Paramashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 9. Shrimat Brahma Paramashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 10. Shrimat Sanaka Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 11. Shrimat Sadananda Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 12. Shrimat Sanatana Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 13. Shrimat SanatKumara Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 14. Shrimat Sarika Sujata Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 15. Shrimat Rhibhushita Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 16. Shrimat Dattatreya Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 17. Shrimat Raivata Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 18. Shrimat Vamadeva Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 19. Shrimat Vyasa Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 20. Shrimat Shuka Mahashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 21. Shrimat Nrisimha sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 22. Shrimat Mahesha Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 23. Shrimat Bhaskara Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 24. Shrimat Mahendra Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 25. Shrimat Vishnu Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 26. Shrimat Madhava Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 27. Shrimat Mahesh Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 28. Shrimat Advaitha Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 29. Shrimat Paramatmananda Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 30. Shrimat Siddayogeshwarananda Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 31. Shrimat KAivalyananda Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 32. Shrimat Amritananda Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 33. Shrimat Hansananda Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 34. Shrimat Brahmananda Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 35. Shrimat Vimalananda Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 36. Shrimat Sachidananda Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 37. Shrimat Vimalananda Sadashivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 38. Shrimat Ramamnda Sadashvananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 57. Shrimat Poornananda Saraswati Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 58. Shrimat Sahajananda Saraswati Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 59. Shrimat Vidyananda Saraswati Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 60. Shrimat Ramananda Saraswati Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 61. Shrimat Sadananda Saraswati Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 62. Shrimat Bhavananda Saraswati Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 63. Shrimat Sachidananda Saraswati Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 64. Shrimat Shivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya & Shrimat Atmananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 65. Shrimat Ramananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 66. Shrimat Jyotirananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya, Shrimat Lilananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya, Shrimat Sadananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya & Shrimat Poornanada Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 67. Shrimat Ramananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 68. Shrimat Shivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 69. Shrimat Atmananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 70. Shrimat Poornananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 71. Shrimat Ramananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 72. Shrimat Shivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 73. Shrimat Atmananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 74. Shrimat Poornananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 75. Shrimat Ramananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya • 76. Shrimat Sachidananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya Purvashram Name- Bhalachandra Ganpatrao Gaitonde • 77. Shrimat Shivananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya [Present Pontiff] Purvashram Name- Govind Somnath Sanzgiri, son of Shri.Somnath Kashinath Sanzgiri.Hailing from Kumbharjuve Goa but were staying in Mumbai.Appointed as successor by predecessor Swamiji in 1994.A Grand Shishya Sweekar Ceremony was organised. Present Pontiff ascended to the Peeth in 2004 and became Mathadhipati after Guru Swami took Mahasamadhi. • ''There are no records available about the swamiji's from serial number 39 to 56. The records were destroyed by the Portuguese government during their rule in Goa.'' ==Branches (Ashrams)==

The Kavale matha has following branches/Ashramas. • 1. Shri Sanstan Gauḍapādāchārya matha, (Headquarters), Kavale, Ponda, Goa, Pin- 403 401. This Moola matha (headquarters) was built and inaugurated by 63rd pontiff Shri Sachidananda Saraswati Swamiji. This matha is in close vicinity of Shri Shantadurga temple and there are six Samadhis within the premise. This matha was built about seventy years after the original matha at Keloshi was destroyed by Portuguese. Land for this matha was donated by King Basavalinga Soundha of Sonde Kingdom who ruled at the time. • 2. Kashi matha: K22/58, Durga ghat, Varanasi ([Kashi]), U.P., Pin - 221 008. This matha situated on Durgaghat in Kashi and the presiding deity of the matha is Lord Yaduraj. • 3. Near Dhruvakila, Brahmavarta, Kanpur, U.P.. Brahmavarta is ancient well known holy place. The matha is in the fort at Dhrub Ghat on the banks of River Ganga. Near to this place stands magnificent palace of King Uttanapada. This matha has a Shri Rama Temple. The matha used to get an annual grant of thousand rupees from the former Indore state. • 4. Nasik, Maharashtra, Pin - 422 011. This matha is located on the banks of the river Godavari in Nasik and close to the Sarkarwada of Shrimant Peshwa, has two Samadhi's in it. The land for this matha was gifted by a Patil during Peshwas rule. In 1657, then ruler Chatrapati Sahu Maharaj made a permanent grant to this matha, later Gaekwad of Baroda also made a cash grant of Rs 1525/- a year. Once during 74th Shrimat Poornananda Saraswati Gauḍapādāchārya's stay in the matha, it caught fire and his disciple Vishnu Vinayak Gaitonde saved the life of Shri swamiji by putting his own life in to great risk. In this tragedy several valuable records including grant deeds were destroyed. • 5. 91, Banaganga Tank Road, Malabar Hill, Walkeshwar, Mumbai, Pin - 400 006. This matha is on Malabar hill, in Mumbai along the shores of Arabian sea. There is famous Banganga lake in front of this matha. The Kashi matha building and the well-known Shree Walkeshawar temple is also in the close vicinity of this matha. There are three samadhis in this matha. Shri Ramshenvi Lotlikar of Vatsa Gotra had donated the land for this matha. This matha was last rebuilt by 76th Shrimat Sachidananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya. For rebuilding the matha, cornerstone was laid by Shri Kashi Mathadish, Shimat Sudhindra Teertha Swamiji on 28 February 1963 in the devine presence of Shrimat Dwarakanath Teertha Swami Wadiyar of Shri Gokarna matha. This was the first and rare occasion where swainji's of three Saraswat matha's came together. Later the rebuilt matha was ceremonially inaugurated by Shimat Sudhindra Teertha Swamiji of Kashi matha on 28 May 1967. • 6. matha Gali, Khanapur, Belgaum, Karnataka, Pin - 591 302. This matha is situated on the banks of Malprabha river in Khanapur village in Belgaon District of Karnataka and it houses three samadhis. This matha was built during Shree Ramananda Saraswati in about 1758 AD. In this matha Panchmuhki idol of Shree Mangesh Shankar (Uma-Maheshwar) is worshiped. The Peshwas donated the township of Marisapur for upkeep of the matha. During the riots of Kittur that swept the area, matha was looted and Gold and Silver were lost worth lakhs of Rupees along with records of grants given to matha. • 7. Vithalapur, Sankhali, Goa, Pin- 403 505. This matha is about 17 miles away from matha at Kavale. This matha houses the Samaadhi of Shree Brahmananda Saraswati and Shree Poornananda Saraswati, the 66th Swamiji in this matha. Shri Satroji Rane had built this matha in Saka 1722. • 8. Sonvade, Kudal, Taluk Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, Pin - 416 520. This matha is situated in Sonavade village of Kudal in Sawantwadi. There are three samadhis in this matha including that of 63rd Guru Shree Satchidananda Saraswati. Prince of Wadi Bhonsale donated the land for this matha along with agricultural land for maintenance of the matha. • 9. Chinder, Malvan Taluk, Sindhudurg Dist, Maharashtra, Pin - 416 602. This matha was established and inaugurated by Shree Poornananda Saraswati, the 66th Swamiji. Shree Ramanand Saraswati, disciple of Shri Vidyananda Saraswati lived here. • 10. Golvan, Golvan Taluk, Sindhudurg Dt., Maharashtra. This matha is in Golvan village, Golvan taluka, Maharashtra. There are three samadhis in this matha, of those Shri Poornananda Saraswati, Shri Sahajananda Saraswati and Shri Vidyananda Saraswati. • 11. Chinchewada, Sadashivgad, Karwar, North Karnataka, Pin - 581 352. This matha was built during then Mathadish Shree Shivanand Swamiji in Saka 1793, about 3 km from Karvar, north Karnataka. The main deity Shree Sharadamba devi is worshipped in this matha along with Shiva Linga of black stone marked with concentric circles. When Rudrabhisheka is done to this Shiva Linga, one can hear the booming sound of 'Aum'. This matha also houses samadhi of Shree Shivanand Saraswati swamiji the 73rd swaimiji. • 12. Halage, Dhol, Karwar District, North Karnataka, Pin - 581 328. In this matha idol of Shree Vithal Vishveshwar is installed and worshipped. Land for this matha was donated by Ramachandra Marthoba Nadkarni Malapurkar and his brothers ob 16 February 1890. This is the birthplace of Shree Atmananda Saraswati Swamiji, the seventy fourth Swamiji. • 13. Main Road, Shree Kshetra Gokarna, North Canara, Karnataka Pin - 581 326. This matha was constructed in between Saka 1830–1841 and the marble idol of Shri Chakravarti Shivalinga was installed in it on Phlalguna Shukla Dashami (29 February 1920). The land for the matha was donated by Annapurnabai Shabaji Kulkarni of Chendiye, Karvar Taluk to Shri Atmananda Saraswati in Saka 1753. • 14. 45, Somavar Pet, Tilakwad, Belgaum, Karnataka, Pin - 590 006. • 15. Lakshmeshwar, Ankola, North Canara, Karnataka, Pin - 581 314. ==Branch mathas having Temples within their Precincts==

The following branches of Shri Gauḍapādāchārya Matha have temple within their precincts. • Shrē Vithal Rakhumai temple at Kavale Matha. • Shrē Uma Maheshwar temple at Khanapur Matha. • Shrē Mahakali and Muralidhar Gopalakrishna temple at Walkeshwar Matha, Mumbai. • Shrē Bhavanishankar temple Sonavade Matha, Sindhudurg. • Shrē Sita Ramachandra temple at Brahmavart Matha, U.P. • Shrē Bhavanishankar temple at Chindar Matha, Kankavali. • Shrē Venu Gopal at Kashi matha, Varanasi, U.P. • Shrē Vithal Vishveshwar temple at Halage Matha, Sadashivgad. • Shrē Sharadamba temple at Sadashivgad matha. • Shrē Chakravarti Shivaling at Gokarna Matha, North Canara, Karnataka. • Shrē Shree Datta Mandir at Ankola Matha. ==Other Saraswath mathas==

• Kashi Math (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh) • Chitrapur Math (Shirali, Karnataka) • Gokarna Math (Partagali, Goa) ==See also==