Kashi Math es un matha (monasterio) y una organización espiritual seguida por la sección Madhva de Gaud Saraswat Brahmins , a quienes también se les conoce como Madhwa Saraswat Brahmins o Vaishnava Saraswat Brahmins. [1] [2] Data del siglo XVI. Tiene su sede en Brahma Ghat, Varanasi . [3] [4] Kashi Math tiene seguidores en todo el cinturón de Konkan, principalmente en Mumbai, Goa , Udupi , Mangalore , Kochi y otras partes de Karnataka y Kerala . [5]
Las principales deidades de Kashi Math son los ídolos charaprathishta ("instalación móvil") de Vyasa , Rama y Narasimha , quienes también son conocidos colectivamente como Vyasa Raghupathi Narasimha . [6]
El Kashi Math sigue la tradición Guru-shishya , en la que el Gurú del Math inicia a un shishya para que lo suceda en su Samadhi. [7] Samyamindra Thirtha es el vigésimo primer y actual líder (Mathadipathi) del Math. Los líderes han sido: [8]
On 7 July 1989, in accordance with the guru-shishya tradition, the then guru, Sudhindra Thirtha, initiated a follower into sanyasa so that in due course they would succeed him as the 21st guru.[9] For reasons not fully known, serious differences between Sudhindra Tirtha and his appointed successor, Raghavendra Tirtha, became apparent around 2000–2001 amidst concerns about insubordination and integrity. On 19 July 2000, the mathadipathi removed Raghavendra Tirtha from his position of successor by making use of an earlier communication from November 1999 which had requested relief from the tutelage.[10] This removal necessitated the initiation of a new shishya to succeed Sudindra Thirtha and this was done on 20 June 2002 when Samyamindra Thirtha were initiated.[9]
Thereafter the tussle among the pontiffs turned into a dispute over the control of the Kashi Math and the ownership of its many valuables and ornaments used during various religious observances. Those included about 234 pieces of jewelry and silver articles, as well as 27 idols including the main idol of Vyasa Raghupathi. Raghavendra Tirtha had possession of these items but was ordered by Court in Tirupathi to give them to Sudhindra Tirtha. The Court upheld the status of the senior pontiff and the mathadhipathi, accepted the junior's abdication and directed him to return all belongings of the math and refrain from interfering in its affairs.[citation needed]
A petition seeking a stay on the order was dismissed by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The Supreme Court of India also confirmed the same on 2 December 2009 and upheld the High Court order recognizing Sudhendra Tirtha as mathadipadi.[11][12][13]
After months of defying various court orders, Raghavendra Tirtha absconded with the valuables and ornaments and was arrested at Kadapa in October 2011.[14][15]
Thereafter in November 2011, the 'parikaras' were handed over to Sudhindra Tirtha.[16] Samyamindra Thirtha became main disciple (patta shishya) and successor (uttaradhikari) of Kashi Math.[17]
Sudhindra Thirtha attained Vrindavan on 17 January 2016 at Vyasashram, Haridwar.[18] As per the tradition, Samyamindra Thirtha became the new head of Kashi Math and they officially took charge on 28 January 2016 at Vyasashram, Haridwar.[19] They are currently holding the 'parikaras' and offering the daily pujas.
Punah Prathishta de Sree Vyasa Raghupathi Narasimha de Shri Kashi Math Samsthan se realizó en el templo Shri Venkataramana en Car Street, Mangalore, el miércoles 13 de junio de 2012. [20]
La ceremonia Punah Prathishta comenzó el 9 de junio de 2012 bajo la dirección de Shrimad Sudhindra Thirtha Swamiji, Mathadhipati de Shree Kashi Math Samsthan y su Patta Shishya Shrimad Samyamindra Thirtha Swamiji, quienes dirigieron conjuntamente los rituales de reinstalación del ídolo de Shri Vyasa. Raghupati, las deidades rectoras de Shree Kashi Math Samsthan, en las instalaciones de matemáticas (Sri Sudhindra Sabha Sadan) en el templo SV en Karkataka Lagnam a las 8:45 am
Estos rituales incluían el Panchamrutha Abhisheka para Shri Vyasa, Raghupathi y Lord Narasimha. 108 aavarthane pavamana kalashabhisheka, gangadhi sapthaha teerthabhisheka, sanidhya Havana, mahapurnahuthi y muhurtha nireekshane. Alrededor de 50.000 devotos, junto con miles de voluntarios, participaron en rituales como prasanna puja, astamangala nireekshana, patta Kanika y otros rituales similares. Como parte de estos rituales, los devotos hacían ofrendas a Hari Gurus y recibían prasadam y bendiciones. [21]