Shri Uttaradi Math (IAST:Śrī Uttarādi Maṭh) (also spelled Uttaradi Mutt or Uttaradi Matha), is one of the premier Dvaita Vedanta (Tattvavada) monasteries (matha) descended from Madhvacharya through Padmanabha Tirtha, Jayatirtha and their disciples. The Uttaradi Math is an important institution among the Mādhvas and also deeply respected among the Vaishnavas. The Uttaradi Math is one of the major Hindu monastic institutions that has historically coordinated Madhva tradition and monastic activities through satellite institutions in South India, preserved Sanskrit literature and pursued Dvaita studies. The Uttaradi Math has been a library and a source of historic Sanskrit manuscripts. Along with other Hindu monasteries Sri matha has been active in preserving the Vedas, sponsoring students and recitals, Sanskrit scholarship, and celebrating annual Madhva Jayanthi. The current pīṭādhipati or the acharya holding the pontifical seat is Satyatma Tirtha Śrīpād. The Uttaradi Math has huge following in South India compared to other Madhva mathas. Most of Deshastha Madhvas of Maharashtra and the whole community of Gayawal Pandas in Bihar are followers of this matha.
According to Surendranath Dasgupta, Uttaradi Math was divided twice, and so we end up with three mathas, the other two being Vyasaraja Math and Raghavendra Math. Uttaradi Math, along with Vyasaraja Math and Raghavendra Math , are considered to be the three premier apostolic institutions of Dvaita Vedanta and are jointly referred as Mathatraya . It is the pontiffs and pandits of the Mathatraya that have been the principle architects of post-Madhva Dvaita Vedanta through the centuries.
Etymology
According to tradition, “Uttarādi” (Sanskrit: उत्तरादि) refers to “Lord Vishnu who lifts us from the cycle of Saṃsāra” and “Matha” (Sanskrit: मठ) refers to “cloister, institute” or temple for spiritual studies. It is the 494th name of Lord Vishnu in Vishnu Sahasranama. Sharma opines that, “The Uttaradi Mutt has a territorial designation as its Pontificate has been occupied by Uttara-Karnatakas or Uttaradi-Karnatakas”.
History
During the time’s of Satyaprajna Tirtha there was a continuous conflict between the followers of Dvaita and Advaita Vedantas. According to Manimanjari and Madhva Vijaya, Ananda Tirtha was born as an incarnation of Vayu (the wind God) to give correct interpretation of Vedanta and challenge the doctrain of Shankara, who taught Advaita Vedanta in which the individual souls or jivas were considered same as Brahman. Shankara’s followers destroyed the monasteries of their opponents, and indulged in a sinful acts. The teacher Satyaprajna Tirtha was also killed, his disciple and successor Prajna Tirtha was converted to faith of Advaita by force. However the disciples of Satya-prajna Tirtha and Prajna Tirtha remained secretly attached to true Vedanta and continued to practice their doctrine secretly. Achyuta Preksha Tirtha, the teacher of Madhvacharya was of this line.
According to a tradition, it was said that at the time of Sri Achyuta Preksha who was the pontiff of Adi matha, on the ordain of Veda Vyasa, Lord Vayu incarnated in this world as Sri Madhvacharya on the day of Vijaya dasami in 1238 AD for the purpose of consolidating Hindu dharma. Uttaradi Matha is one of mathas, which was descended from Madhva through Padmanabha Tirtha, Jayatirtha and his disciples. Most of the Deshastha Madhvas consider Uttaradi Matha as their supreme religious authority and are its followers. An overwhelming majority of Madhwas, widely scattered all over India owes it’s allegiance to the Uttaradi Matha. The Uttaradi Matha does not have any headquarters as such, though sometimes some places have received special attention. It is mainly an itinerant institution moving and camping from place to place, busy carrying the torch of spiritual learning where ever it goes.
Spread of Dvaita
In the first quarter of the 17th century, Vidyadhisha Tirtha (16th pontiff of Uttaradi Matha) was able to gain some converts to the Madhva fold, in Bihar, from among the Brahmins of Gaya, who still profess allegiance to Madhva school. Sri Satyanatha Tirtha during his time as the peetadhipathi of Uttarādi mutt visited Gaya and strengthened the hold of the mutt among Gayapalas, who had been converted to Madhvism by his predecessor Vidyadhisha Tirtha.
Pontifical lineage
Origin
Śrī Haṃsa Bhagavān, the originator of the Śrī Uttarādi Maṭh
As per authoritative Hindu scriptures, “The Supreme God also wanted to bless the souls with divine knowledge, by which they can attain salvation. For this purpose, the Supreme God — Śrī Nārāyana Himself incarnated as Śrī Hamsa and adorned the pontifical seat called the Hamsa-Pīṭha.”
Indian anthropologists Surajit Sinha and Baidyanath Saraswati says that:
The Uttaradi Math is age-old. Tradition claims it to have originated from the Hamsa of Bhagwata otherwise called Uttara and to have continued its existence all through the dim pre-historic past right up to the middle of the 13th century when Madhvacharya, the Supreme pre-eminent Exponent of Dvaita philosophy, brought it to the limelight and gave it the present organizational shape.
List of Pontiffs
The complete list of pontiffs (Peethādhipathis / ācāryas) who had taken the seat of this math is as below: This list represents the authorized guru-paramparā (disciplic succession) of Śrī Uttaradi Math till date.
- Śrī Haṁsa (A name of The Supreme Person/Supreme Godhead, Śrī Nārāyaṇa or Śrī Hari; Paramātmā)
- Śrī Catur-mukha Brahmā
- Śrī Sanakādi
- Śrī Dūrvāsā
- Śrī Jñāna-nidhi Tīrtha
- Śrī Garuḍa-vāhana Tīrtha
- Śrī Kaivalya Tīrtha
- Śrī Jñāneśa Tīrtha
- Śrī Para Tīrtha
- Śrī Satya-prajña Tīrtha
- Śrī Prājña Tīrtha
- Śrī Acyuta-prekṣa Tīrtha or Acyuta-Prājña Tīrtha
| No. | Peetadhipathis | Reign | Brindavana | Purvashrama name |
| 1 | Jagadguru Śrī Madhvācārya (Śrī Pūrnaprajña Tīrtha or Śrīmad-Ānanda Tīrtha Bhagavat-pādācārya) | 1238-1317 | – | Vāsudeva |
| 2 | Śrī Padmanābha Tīrtha | 1317-1324 | Nava Brindavana, Hampi | Shobhana Bhatta |
| 3 | Śrī Nṛhari Tīrtha | 1324-1333 | Venkatapura, Hampi | Shyama Shastri |
| 4 | Śrī Mādhava Tīrtha | 1333-1350 | Mannuru | Vishnu Shastri |
| 5 | Śrī Akṣhobhya Tīrtha | 1350-1365 | Malkheda | Govinda Shastri |
| 6 | Śrī Jaya Tīrtha | 1365-1388 | Malkheda | Dhondupant Raghunatha |
| 7 | Śrī Vidyādhirāja Tīrtha | 1388-1392 | Yeragola | Krishna Bhat |
| 8 | Śrī Kavīndra Tīrtha | 1392-1398 | Nava Brindavana, Hampi | Vishnudasacharya |
| 9 | Śrī Vāgīśa Tīrtha | 1398-1406 | Nava Brindavana, Hampi | Raghunathacharya |
| 10 | Śrī Rāmacandra Tīrtha | 1406-1435 | Yaragola | Madhava Shastri |
| 11 | Śrī Vidyā-nidhi Tīrtha | 1435-1442 | Yaragola | Krishtacharya |
| 12 | Śrī Raghunātha Tīrtha | 1442-1502 | Malakheda | Vishnu Shastri |
| 13 | Śrī Raghuvarya Tīrtha | 1502-1557 | Anegundi, Karnataka | Ramachandra Shastri |
| 14 | Śrī Raghūttama Tīrtha | 1557-1595 | Tirukoilur | Ramachandra Bhatt |
| 15 | Śrī Veda-vyāsa Tīrtha | 1595-1619 | Penugonda | Anantha Vyasacharya |
| 16 | Śrī Vidyā-dhīśa Tīrtha | 1619-1631 | Ranebennur | Pandurangi Narasimhacharya |
| 17 | Śrī Veda-nidhi Tīrtha | 1631-1635 | Pandarpura | Koratagi Pradyumnacharya |
| 18 | Śrī Satya-vrata Tīrtha | 1635-1638 | Sangli | Raghunathacharya |
| 19 | Śrī Satya-nidhi Tīrtha | 1638-1660 | Kurnool | Kauligi Raghupathyacharya |
| 20 | Śrī Satya-nātha Tīrtha | 1660-1673 | Veeracholapuram | Narashimacharya |
| 21 | Śrī Satyābhinava Tīrtha | 1673-1706 | Nachiarkoil, Kumbhakonam | Kesavacharya |
| 22 | Śrī Satya-pūrṇa Tīrtha | 1706-1726 | Kolpur (near Raichur) | Kolhapur Krishnacharya |
| 23 | Śrī Satya-vijaya Tīrtha | 1726-1737 | Satya Vijaya Nagaram | Pandurangi Balacharya |
| 24 | Śrī Satya-priya Tīrtha | 1737-1744 | Manamadurai | Garlapad Ramacharya |
| 25 | Śrī Satya-bodha Tīrtha | 1744-1783 | Savanur | Ramacharya |
| 26 | Śrī Satya-sandha Tīrtha | 1783-1794 | Mahishi | Haveri Ramacharya |
| 27 | Śrī Satya-vara Tīrtha | 1794-1797 | Santebidanur | Haveri Krishnacharya |
| 28 | Śrī Satya-dharma Tīrtha | 1797-1830 | Holehonnur | Navaratna Purushottamacharya |
| 29 | Śrī Satya-saṅkalpa Tīrtha | 1830-1841 | Mysore | Navaratna Shrinivasacharya. |
| 30 | Śrī Satya-santuṣṭa Tīrtha | 3 July 1841 – 12 March 1842 | Mysore | Ghuli Balacharya |
| 31 | Śrī Satya-parāyaṇa Tīrtha | 1842-1863 | Santebidanur | Haveri Gururayacharya |
| 32 | Śrī Satya-kāma Tīrtha | 1863-1871 | Athakuru | Pachapura Srinivasacharya |
| 33 | Śrī Satyeṣṭa Tīrtha | 1871-1872 | Athakuru | Hattimuttur Narasimhacharya |
| 34 | Śrī Satya-parākrama Tīrtha | 1872-1879 | Chittapura | Vykar Srinivasacharya |
| 35 | Śrī Satya-vīra Tīrtha | 1879-1886 | Korlahalli | Korlahalli Bhodaramacharya |
| 36 | Śrī Satya-dhīra Tīrtha | 1886-1906 | Korlahalli | Korlahalli Jayacharya |
| 37 | Śrī Satya-jñāna Tīrtha | 1906-1911 | Rajahmundry | Kinhal Jayacharya |
| 38 | Śrī Satya-dhyāna Tīrtha | 1911- 24 March 1942 | Pandarpura | Korlahalli Sethuramacharya |
| 39 | Śrī Satya-prajña Tīrtha | 24 March 1942 – 14 April 1945 | Athakuru | Pandurangi Jayacharya |
| 40 | Śrī Satyābhijña Tīrtha | 14 April 1945 – 2 February 1948 | Ranebennur | Katti Venkannacharya |
| 41 | Śrī Satya-pramoda Tīrtha | 2 February 1948 – 3 November 1997 | Tirukoilur | Guttal Guru-rājāchārya |
| 42 | Śrī Satyātma Tīrtha (the current presiding pontiff) | 3 November 1997 – till date (Sannyasa accepted on: 24 April 1996) | – | Guttal Sarvajnāchārya |
Hagiology
The “Gurucarya” is a hagiological work on the Pontiffs of the Uttaradi Mutt (from Madhvacharya down to Satyanidhi Tirtha). These floating traditions of the Mutt came to be defined and recorded during the days of Sripadaraja. “Guruvamsakathakalpataru” is another hagiological work on the lives of all Madhva Pontiffs of Uttarādi Matha order up to Satyasandha Tirtha, authored by Bhimadaivajna of Bijapur.
Mission
The chief mission of the Sri matha is to practice, protect, preach and propagate the ancient Vedic dharma (sanātana dharma). Since the time of its origin, till date, Uttaradi Math has been and continuing to be the strong advocate of the true Vedic dharma. The Sri Math has extended its services to mankind in all spheres of life like medical care, education, disaster, calamities, wars, etc.
Vidyapeethas
The Sri Matha has established three to four Vidyapeethas most prominent among them being Sri Jayateertha Vidyapeetha in Bangalore and Sri Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha in Mumbai (Old Hindu Style Gurukuls) with boarding facilities where in students stay and continue their study in Vedas and Madhwa Shastras. Students are rigorously trained here in various branches of knowledge like Grammar, Linguistics, Logic, Mimamsa, Sankhya, Yoga, Veda, Jyotisha, Advaita, Vishistadvaita and Dvaita systems and Modern Philosophies.
Sri Jayateertha Vidyapeetha
Sri Jayateertha Vidyapeetha was established by Sri Satyapramoda Tīrtha Swamiji in the year 1989, which presently holds more than 200 students and 15 teaching faculty members. The uniqueness of this institution is that its students are specially trained under the guidance of Shri 1008 Shri Satyatma Teertha Swamiji for 12 years with initial 9 years of training at the Jayateertha Vidyapeetha Residential Campus where they attain mastery over Kāvya, Vyākaraṇa, Sahitya, Vedas, Sankhya, Yoga, Jaina, Bauddha, Shakta, Advaita, Vishistadvaita and Dvaita Philosophies under the guidance of Kulapati Guttala Rangacharya, Principal Vidwan Satyadhyanacharya and several other experienced Adhyapakas. During the last 3 years of the course, the students are given extensive classes in Shriman Nyaya Sudha, Tatparya Chandrika, Tarkatandava etc., on tour directly by the learned Swamiji, thus giving the student an opportunity to expand his knowledge base by way of getting exposed, at an early age, to the scholarly world, with opportunity to meet several esteemed scholars and conducting debates and discussions with them in esteemed centers of learning across the entire country like Kashi, Prayag, Delhi, Pune, Rajahmundry etc. After successfully completing the 12-year course, the students are awarded the title “Sudha Vidwan” in a grand convocation function called the “Sudha Mangala”, held at various prime centers of learning. To make themselves eligible for the title the students have to present a paper orally before distinguished scholars and also take an oral exam in Shriman Nyaya Sudha, the magnum opus of Dvaita Philosophy. The candidate is tested for all round skills and then declared to be eligible for the title by a jury of scholars headed by Satyatma Tirtha.
Sri Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha
Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha is an institution of advanced learning. It caters for the needs of scholars interested in higher studies and research. By 1972, It has brought out 26 authoritative volumes on philosophy. Mahuli Vidyasimhacharya is the present Kulapathi of Satyadhyana Vidyapeetha.