MADHVA MATHAS

The earliest text on Madhvacharya and his thought, is perhaps Madhva vijaya of Narayana Panditacharya. It is historical and traditional record of Sri Acharya’s lineage of disciples, at least during immediate post-Madhva time. Udupi the original place of Madhvacharya was supposed to have 8 Sanyasins, all of them in their boyhood, except Sri Padmanabha Tirtha, Vishnuti tirtha and later by Narahari Tirtha. Apart from 8 Mathas, we have institutions developed by Padmanabha Tirtha, to propagate Madhva thought. He is followed by Madhava, Akshobhya tirthas from North of Karnataka. They are denoted by their prominent Gurus such as Sripadaraja, Vyasaraja and Vijayindra – Raghavendra Swamins. The direct line of plane land shishyas of Madhva later branched out. In coastal belt, we have Achuyaprajna & Satyatirtha Mathas ( Bhandarakere & Bhimana Katte)

Uttaradi & Raghavendra Mathas have a common root of Sri Jayatirtha lineage. Akshobhya Tirtha has 2 Mathas, one at Balagaru, and Kudli. Kanva Matha is a later development from Shirooru line of Udupi. Thus we have 25 Madhva Mathas, including 2 Gowda Saraswat Mathas of Paragali and Kashi. The simple logic of formation of these 25 Mathas, is just a geographical proximity of Gurus and followers.