Kanchi matha
Encyclopedia
The Kanchi math is a Hindu
monastic institution
located in Kanchipuram
, Tamil Nadu
, one of the five
pancha-bhUta-sthalas (Temples denoting the '5 Elements'). It is known formally as Shri Kanchi
Kamakoti Peetam, and
claims to have been
founded by the Adi Sankara
The head of the mutt is referred to as a "Sankaracharya", a title
that is also applied to the heads
of the four Sankara mutts.
The Kanchi mutt has been gaining prominence since the 18th century, when it was at
Kumbakonam
. Some accounts claim that it was founded there as a branch of the Sringeri matha, and branched out afterwards.
Today it is one of the most important religious institutions of South
India.
Kanchi mutt came under a cloud in November 2004, after a former employee was murdered.
's official history states that it was founded by Adi Sankara of Kaladi, and that His Holiness Jayendra Saraswati Swami is the current pontiff - The 69th head in succession, tracing its history back to the fifth century BCE. A related claim is that Adi Sankara came to Kanchipuram, and that he established the Kanchi mutt named "Dakshina Moolamnaya Sarvagnya Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam" in a position of supremacy (Sarvagnya Peetha) over the other mathas of the subcontinent, before his death there. Other sources give the place of his death as Kedarnath in the Himalayas
.
Other, historical accounts state that the mutt was established more recently (probably in the 18th century) in Kumbakonam
, as a branch of the Sringeri Matha, and that it later declared itself independent. The heads of a matha in Kumbhakonam acquired control of the Kamakshi temple in Kanchipuram and moved their establishment to that city, between the years 1842 and 1863. This marks the origin of the Kanchi mutt.
The Kanchi Mutt claims to have been moved from Kanchipuram to Kumbakonam during the 18th century when Hyder Ali
invaded the region. It is also claimed that archeological evidence in the form of stone architecture depicting the Sankaracharya and the epigraphy by the side situated in various temples in Kanchipuram indicate the 2500 year age of the Mutt.
The Mutt's published materials also claim that the present structure at Sannidhi Koil Street at Kanchipuram has been established there centuries before, which claim is however contradicted.
The Kamakoti Peetam however, traditionally refers to Sri Kamakshi referred popularly as Kamakodi. 'Kamakodi' is of Tamil origin, referring to Goddess Durga. 'Kodi' refers to Durga in the ancient Tamil Sangam literature. Kanchipuram is referred to as Kachi. The Vyakarana Mahabhashya of Patanjali uses the word 'Kanchi' and it can be thus understood that the word Kanchi also has a Sankrit base. However, KamakOti is a latter Sanksrit form taken from the original Tamil form of Kamakodi. Tamil literature also refers to Kamakodi as Kamakanni.
The Original Kamakoti Peetam, in which Sri Adi Shankara established the Sri Chakra Yantra during the latter period of 8th century and the beginning of the 9th century' is at present known as "Adi Peeteshwari Ambal' and this temple is near the present famous shrine of Kamakshi. The form of the deity here is with Ankusa, Pasa, Abhaya and a Kaphalarespectively in each of the 4 hands. This matches precisely with Girvanendra Saraswath's 'Prapancha Sara Sara Sangraha'.
It is noteworty that the Sri Chakra in the present day Kamakshi Amman temple was installed by one Nrusimha Advari during the 16th century, which is evidenced by a stone inscription in the vicinity.
Thiruthondar Puranam of Sekkilar Perumal written during the 12th Century mentions the old & original Kamakoti Peeta as Kamakottam. It also mentions about the new shrine which is the present day kamakoti Peetam. Arunagiri Nadar also refers only to the Original Adi Peeteswari with four hands as described above. He mentions that she is kumaran's mother and that she resides very near to Kumarakottam It should be noted that the Original Kamakoti temple is just adjacent to Kumarakottam.
Sankararaman, had pointed out issues such as the tendency for both acharyas to be "closeted for long hours with certain women"
as well as financial mismanagement. Investigators found that calls to the assailants had been made from the matha phone, and charges have been filed against Jayendra Saraswati as well as the junior acharya Vijayendra Saraswati.
On November 11, 2004, Jayendra Saraswati was arrested from Mehboobnagar, Andhra Pradesh
. The arrest initially caused a tremendous uproar among the Hindu laity across the nation, and Bharatiya Janata Party
and other Hindu groups started canvassing widely for his release. During the bail hearings, Justice R. Balasubramanian of the Madras High Court observed, without prejudicing the final verdict:
However, in a subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court, bail was granted, with the court observing that:
The Supreme Court also agreed to shift the trial to Pondicherry, after the defence argued that the media attention and other factors in Tamil Nadu
made a fair trial impossible there.
In March 2006, both Jayendra as well as Vijayendra Saraswati, as well as a number of others, were charged on
14 counts, including murder and conspiracy.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
monastic institution
located in Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram, or Kanchi, is a temple city and a municipality in Kanchipuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a temple town and the headquarters of Kanchipuram district...
, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, one of the five
pancha-bhUta-sthalas (Temples denoting the '5 Elements'). It is known formally as Shri Kanchi
Kamakoti Peetam, and
claims to have been
founded by the Adi Sankara
The head of the mutt is referred to as a "Sankaracharya", a title
that is also applied to the heads
of the four Sankara mutts.
The Kanchi mutt has been gaining prominence since the 18th century, when it was at
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
. Some accounts claim that it was founded there as a branch of the Sringeri matha, and branched out afterwards.
Today it is one of the most important religious institutions of South
India.
Kanchi mutt came under a cloud in November 2004, after a former employee was murdered.
History
The muttMutt
A mutt is a mixed-breed dog.Mutt may also refer to: -Nickname or codename:* Mutt Carey , New Orleans jazz trumpeter...
's official history states that it was founded by Adi Sankara of Kaladi, and that His Holiness Jayendra Saraswati Swami is the current pontiff - The 69th head in succession, tracing its history back to the fifth century BCE. A related claim is that Adi Sankara came to Kanchipuram, and that he established the Kanchi mutt named "Dakshina Moolamnaya Sarvagnya Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam" in a position of supremacy (Sarvagnya Peetha) over the other mathas of the subcontinent, before his death there. Other sources give the place of his death as Kedarnath in the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
.
Other, historical accounts state that the mutt was established more recently (probably in the 18th century) in Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam , also spelt as Coombaconum in the records of British India , is a town and a special grade municipality in the Thanjavur district in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Located 40 kilometres from Thanjavur and 272 kilometres from Chennai, it is the headquarters of the Kumbakonam...
, as a branch of the Sringeri Matha, and that it later declared itself independent. The heads of a matha in Kumbhakonam acquired control of the Kamakshi temple in Kanchipuram and moved their establishment to that city, between the years 1842 and 1863. This marks the origin of the Kanchi mutt.
The Kanchi Mutt claims to have been moved from Kanchipuram to Kumbakonam during the 18th century when Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali
Hyder Ali was the de facto ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore in southern India. Born Hyder Naik, he distinguished himself militarily, eventually drawing the attention of Mysore's rulers...
invaded the region. It is also claimed that archeological evidence in the form of stone architecture depicting the Sankaracharya and the epigraphy by the side situated in various temples in Kanchipuram indicate the 2500 year age of the Mutt.
The Mutt's published materials also claim that the present structure at Sannidhi Koil Street at Kanchipuram has been established there centuries before, which claim is however contradicted.
The Kamakoti Peetam however, traditionally refers to Sri Kamakshi referred popularly as Kamakodi. 'Kamakodi' is of Tamil origin, referring to Goddess Durga. 'Kodi' refers to Durga in the ancient Tamil Sangam literature. Kanchipuram is referred to as Kachi. The Vyakarana Mahabhashya of Patanjali uses the word 'Kanchi' and it can be thus understood that the word Kanchi also has a Sankrit base. However, KamakOti is a latter Sanksrit form taken from the original Tamil form of Kamakodi. Tamil literature also refers to Kamakodi as Kamakanni.
The Original Kamakoti Peetam, in which Sri Adi Shankara established the Sri Chakra Yantra during the latter period of 8th century and the beginning of the 9th century' is at present known as "Adi Peeteshwari Ambal' and this temple is near the present famous shrine of Kamakshi. The form of the deity here is with Ankusa, Pasa, Abhaya and a Kaphalarespectively in each of the 4 hands. This matches precisely with Girvanendra Saraswath's 'Prapancha Sara Sara Sangraha'.
It is noteworty that the Sri Chakra in the present day Kamakshi Amman temple was installed by one Nrusimha Advari during the 16th century, which is evidenced by a stone inscription in the vicinity.
Thiruthondar Puranam of Sekkilar Perumal written during the 12th Century mentions the old & original Kamakoti Peeta as Kamakottam. It also mentions about the new shrine which is the present day kamakoti Peetam. Arunagiri Nadar also refers only to the Original Adi Peeteswari with four hands as described above. He mentions that she is kumaran's mother and that she resides very near to Kumarakottam It should be noted that the Original Kamakoti temple is just adjacent to Kumarakottam.
Murder and turmoil
In 2004, an ex-employee of the Kanchi matha was murdered. During the murder investigation, the police charged Jayendra Saraswati and several of his close associates with the murder. The murdered ex-employee,Sankararaman, had pointed out issues such as the tendency for both acharyas to be "closeted for long hours with certain women"
as well as financial mismanagement. Investigators found that calls to the assailants had been made from the matha phone, and charges have been filed against Jayendra Saraswati as well as the junior acharya Vijayendra Saraswati.
On November 11, 2004, Jayendra Saraswati was arrested from Mehboobnagar, Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. The arrest initially caused a tremendous uproar among the Hindu laity across the nation, and Bharatiya Janata Party
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
and other Hindu groups started canvassing widely for his release. During the bail hearings, Justice R. Balasubramanian of the Madras High Court observed, without prejudicing the final verdict:
- "materials relied upon by the prosecution... would prima facie constitute reasonable grounds to believe' that the petitioner is shown to be guilty of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life."
However, in a subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court, bail was granted, with the court observing that:
- No worthwhile prima facie evidence apart from the alleged confessions have been brought to our notice to show that the petitioner along with other accused was party to a conspiracy
The Supreme Court also agreed to shift the trial to Pondicherry, after the defence argued that the media attention and other factors in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
made a fair trial impossible there.
In March 2006, both Jayendra as well as Vijayendra Saraswati, as well as a number of others, were charged on
14 counts, including murder and conspiracy.
List of Kamakoti Mutt heads
Chronological list of heads of the matha, according to the official account.- Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada
- Sri Suresvaracharya
- Sri Sarvajnatman
- Sri Sathyabodhendra Saraswati
- Sri Jnanandendra Saraswati
- Sri Suddhanandendra Saraswati
- Sri Aanandaghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Kaivalyanandayogendra Saraswati
- Sri Krpa Sankarendra Saraswati
- Sri Sureswara
- Sri Sivananda Chidghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati
- Sri Satchidghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Vidyaghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati
- Sri Ujjvala Sankarendra Saraswati
- Sri Sadasivendra Saraswati
- Sri Shankarananda Saraswati
- Sri Martanda Vidyaghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Muka Sankarendra Saraswati
- Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati II
- Sri Bodhendra Saraswati
- Sri Satchisukhendra Saraswati
- Sri Chitsukhendra Saraswati
- Sri Satchidanandaghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Prajnaghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Chidvilasendra Saraswati
- Sri Mahadeve11dra Saraswati I
- Sri Purnabhodhendra Saraswati
- Sri Bhodhendra Saraswati II
- Sri Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Chidanandaghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Satchidananda Saraswati
- Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati III
- Sri Chitsukhendra Saraswati
- Sri Chitsukhanandendra Saraswati
- Sri Vidyaghanendra Saraswati III
- Sri Abhinava Sankarendra Saraswati
- Sri Satchidvilaasendra Saraswati
- Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati II
- Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati II
- Sri Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Anandaghanendra Saraswati
- Sri Purnabhodhendra Saraswati II
- Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati I
- Sri Sandranandabhodhendra Saraswati
- Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati IV
- Sri Advaitanandabodhendra Saraswati
- Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati III
- Sri Chandrachudendra Saraswati I
- Sri Kamachandrendra Saraswati
- Sri Vidyateerthendra Saraswati (1297–1370)
- Sri Sankaranandendra Saraswati (1370–1417)
- Sri Purnananda Sadasivendra Saraswati (1417–1498)
- Sri Vyasachala Mahadevendra Saraswati (1498–1507)
- Sri Chandrachudhendra Saraswati II (1507–1524)
- Sri Sarvajna Sadasiva Bhodhendra Saraswati (1524–1539)
- Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati II (1539–1586)
- Sri Atma Bodhendra Saraswati (1586–1638)
- Sri Bodhendra SaraswathiSri Bodhendra SaraswathiBodhendra Saraswathi was a 17th-century Hindu pontiff and the 59th Jagathguru of the Kanchi matha, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India. He spent his later life in Govindapuram.-Early Life:...
(1638–1692) - Sri Advaitatma Prakasendra Saraswati (1692–1704)
- Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati IV (1704–1746)
- Sri ChandrasekharendraSaraswati V (1746–1783)
- Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati V (1783–1813)
- Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VI (1813–1851)
- Sri Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati (1851–1891)
- Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VII (1891 - February 7, 1907)
- Sri Sri Mahadevendra Saraswathi VSri Mahadevendra Saraswathi VSri Mahadevendra Saraswathi V was the 67th Shankaracharya of the Kanchi matha. He was born Lakshmi Narasimha to Narasimha Sastri and Lakshmi. He was given the title Mahadevendra Saraswathi and made the Shankaracharya in 1907...
(February 7, 1907 - February 13, 1907) - Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal(February 13, 1907 - January 3, 1994)
- Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal
- Sri Vijayendra SaraswatiVijayendra Saraswati SwamigalSri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Sankaracharya Swamiji is the 70th Pontiff of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Kanchipuram. He is one of the leading religious figures in Hinduism today.-Biography:...
Swamigal