Kashi Matha

The Kashi Matha is one of the four mathas (monasteries) which Gauda Sarasvata Brahmins follow, the others being Gokarna Matha (Vaishnava), Kavle Matha (Smarta) and Chitrapur Matha (Smarta). Headquartered in Brahma Ghat, Varanasi, it has followers all over the Konkan belt, prominently in Udupi, Mangalore and parts of Kerala. The Kashi Matha was founded in the year 1542 AD.

Before the Kashi Matha came up, most of the Vaishnava Gauda Sarasvata Brahmins were followers of Uttaradi Matha. During the 15th century, Sri Ramachandra Tirtha of Uttaradi Matha initiated two young men into sannyasa - Vibhudendra Tirtha and Sri Vidhyanidhi Tirtha. The latter became head of Uttaradi Matha and Sri Vibhudendra Tirtha founded a new Matha at Kumbhakonam which came to be known as Purvadi Matha (later became Raghavendra Swami Matha since the great saint Raghavendra of Mantralaya fame belonged to this Matha). Because of its proximity to South Kanara and Kerala, the Gauda Sarasvatas were transferred to this Matha.

Later when Surendra Tirtha became the head of the Matha at Kumbhakonam, one of his disciples, Vijayindra Tirtha undertook a Chaturmasya (a religious vow lasting four months) at Cochin in 1539–1540. Here, he selected Sri Hanumanta Bhakta and was given sannyasa initiation as Yadavendra Tirtha. Yadavendra Tirtha went on to become become head of the new Kashi Matha at Varanasi established in 1542 AD. Shri Kumbhakonam Matha gave two deities of Sri Vyasa and Sri Raghupati to Yadavendra Tirtha along with the rights to guide the Gauda Sarasvatas.

The Matha has branches and establishments at Prayag, Haridwar, Bhatkal, Basrur, Hemmady, Bantwal, Panambur ( Suratkal ), Manjeshwar, Rameshwaram, Karkala, Nayampalli near Udupi, Bhagamandala (Kodagu), Bandora (Goa), Cochin, Pallipuram (Kerala), Manchakal, Naravi (near Belthangady), Alleppey, Konchady, Hangarakatte, Tirupathi, Bangalore ,Calicut and Nagpur.

The headquarters is located in Varanasi (Shri Kashi Math, 22/86 Brahma Ghat, Varanasi-221001).

The Kashi Matha follows a "Guru" system, where in the head of the Matha appoints a successor, who succeeds the Guru after his death. The Matha has been following the Guru system since it came into being and has been running smoothly to this date.

Shrimat Sudhindra Tirtha Swamiji took Raghavendra Tirtha as his successor, who, after a dispute, was removed and a new successor Shri Samyameendra Tirtha Swamiji was chosen in 2002. However a small section of the community still continues to follow Raghavendra Tirtha. The case is with the Courts.

Shri Kashi Matha are followers of Madhva Siddantha but subtle differences exists which makes a section of the Kashi Matha followers different in sampradaya to the main-line Madhva followers and Mathas.

Shri Yadavendra Tirtha

Shri Keshavendra Tirtha

Shri Upendra Tirtha

Shri Yadavendra Tirtha (2)

Shri Raghavendra Tirtha

Shri Devendra Tirtha

Shri Maadhavendra Tirtha

Shri Gnanindra Tirtha

Shri Yadavendra Tirtha

Shri Upendra Tirtha

Shri Rajendra Tirtha

Shri Sureendra Tirtha

Shri Vishnu Tirtha

Shri Vibhudendra Tirtha

Shri Sumateendra Tirtha

Shri Sudhendra Tirtha

Shri Bhuvanendra Tirtha

Shri Varadendra Tirtha

Shri Sukrateendra Tirtha

Shri Sudhindra Tirtha (current Guru)

Shri Samyameendra Tirtha - chosen as the next Guru