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{{Short description|Hindu monastery in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Short description|Hindu monastery in Tamil Nadu, India}}{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox organization|name=Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham|formation=482 BCE (disputed)|image=Kanchi matam.jpg|caption=Entrance tower of the Moolamnaya Sarvajna Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam|founder=[[Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada]]|type=Religious|location=[[Kanchipuram]], Tamil Nadu, India|leader_title=First Shankaracharya|leader_name=[[Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada]]|leader_title2=Current Shankaracharya|leader_name2=[[Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal]]|affiliations=[[Hinduism]]|website={{URL|http://www.kamakoti.org/}}}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
'''The Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham''', also called the '''Sri Kanchi Matham''',<ref group="web">{{Cite web|title=About the Peetham|url=https://www.kamakoti.org/peeth/aboutpeetham.html|access-date=2022-09-24|website=www.kamakoti.org}}</ref> is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] institution, located in [[Kanchipuram]], Tamil Nadu. It is located near the [[Kamakshi Amman Temple|Kamakshi Ambal Temple]] of the [[Shaktism]] tradition, along with a shrine for the [[Advaita Vedanta]] teacher [[Adi Shankara|Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada]].{{sfn|Krishna|2006|p=100}}
{{Infobox organization
| name               = Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham
| image               = Entrance gopuram of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Advaita Hindu monastery.jpg
| caption             = Entrance tower of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam monastery
| founder             = [[Adi Shankara]]<ref name="Dalal2010p376">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA376|year=2010|publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|page=376}}</ref>
| type               = Religious
| location           = [[Kanchipuram]], Tamil Nadu, India
| leader_title       = First Jagadguru
| leader_name         = [[Adi Shankara]]
| leader_title2       = Present Jagadguru
| leader_name2       = [[Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal]]
| affiliations       = [[Hinduism]]
| website             = http://www.kamakoti.org/
}}


'''Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham''', also called the '''Kanchi matha''' or the '''Kanchi monastery''', is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] institution, located in [[Kanchipuram]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is located near a temple dedicated to goddess Kamakshi (Durga, Kamakoti) of the [[Shaktism]] tradition, along with a shrine for the Advaita Vedanta teacher [[Adi Shankara]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Nanditha Krishna|title=Kanchipuram: a heritage of art and religion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d18MAQAAMAAJ|year=2006|publisher=Aiyar Foundation|isbn=978-81-901484-1-2|page=100}}</ref> Its founding is traditionally attributed to Adi Shankara who it is said lived some of his final years here.<ref name="Dalal2010p376">{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA376|year=2010|publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|page=376}}</ref>
The matham-tradition attributes its founding to [[Adi Shankara|Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada]], but this and the reliability of the matham's succession list has been questioned.{{sfn|Suthren Hirst|2005|p=25}}{{sfn|Clark|2006|p=224}} The Kanchi Matham was originally established as the Moolamnaya Sarvagna Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in Kanchipuram, and later shifted south to the temple city of [[Kumbakonam]] in the mid-18th century during the rain of Chandrashekharendra Saraswathi V due to the on-going wars and persecution by the [[Arcot Nawabs]]. The matham returned to Kanchipuram in the 19th century after the sociopolitical situation calmed down in Kanchipuram.


The Kanchi matha shifted south to the temple city of [[Kumbakonam]] in mid-18th-century to escape Islamic persecution and atrocities. It returned to Kanchi in the 19th-century when theo-political stability returned during the British colonial rule.<ref name=dalal192>{{cite book|author=Roshen Dalal|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC|year=2010|publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|page=192}}</ref> The matha is a living tradition, that continues to pursue spiritual scholarship in contemporary times.<ref>{{cite book|author=William Cenkner|title=A Tradition of Teachers: Śaṅkara and the Jagadgurus Today|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LsD9oPZA2OMC|year=1995|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0932-1|pages=117–121}}</ref> The Kanchi monastery, along with its sister monasteries across India, has also been an important preserver and source of historic palm leaf manuscripts.<ref>{{cite book|author=National Mission for Manuscripts (India)|title=National Mission for Manuscripts: Report of the Third Year, 7 February 2005 - 7 February 2006|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ADk_IFkV4WIC|year= 2006|publisher= National Mission for Manuscripts|pages= 42–43}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author= Saṃskr̥ta Āyoga|title=Report of the Sanskrit Commission, 1956-1957| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=R7CvAAAAIAAJ|year= 1958|publisher= Manager of Publications, Government of India|page=63}}</ref> The head of the ''[[matha]]'' is also referred to as a "Sankaracharya". Since February 2018, the institution has been led by [[Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal|Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Swamigal]].<ref>[https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/jayendra-saraswathi-latest-news-kanchipuram-shankaracharya-kanchi-kamakoti-peetham-narendra-modi-vijayendra-saraswati-swamigal-chandrashekarendra/203334 Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi passes away at 82; Vijayendra Saraswathi will succeed him], Times Now (February 28, 2018)</ref>
The acharyas of the matham are known by the title of <nowiki>''Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharyavarya Jagadguru Shankaracharya''</nowiki>.


==History==
The matham is a living tradition, that continues to pursue spiritual scholarship in contemporary times.{{sfn|Cenkner|1995|p=117–121}} Since February 2018, the institution has been led by [[Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal|Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Mahaswamigal]].<ref group="web">[https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/jayendra-saraswathi-latest-news-kanchipuram-shankaracharya-kanchi-kamakoti-peetham-narendra-modi-vijayendra-saraswati-swamigal-chandrashekarendra/203334 Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi passes away at 82; Vijayendra Saraswathi will succeed him], Times Now (28 February 2018)</ref>
[[File:Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Kanchipuram. 2010.jpg|400px|thumb|Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. [[Kanchipuram]]. 2010]]
Adi Shankara is traditionally believed in the Kanchi matha tradition to have founded it. According to the Kanchi matha's tradition, their monastery was founded in Kali 2593 (509 BCE) by an ascetic named [[Adi Shankara]].<ref name="Dalal2010p376"/>  


The successive heads of the Kanchi and all other major Hindu Advaita tradition monasteries have been called Shankaracharya leading to some confusion, discrepancies and scholarly disputes. The chronology stated in Kanchi matha texts recognizes five major Shankaras: Adi, Kripa, Ujjvala, Muka and Abhinava. It is "Abhinava Shankara" that western scholarship recognizes as the Advaita scholar Adi Shankara, states the Kanchi matha tradition.<ref name="Dalal2010p376"/>
== History ==
[[File:Sri_Kanchi_Kamakoti_Peetam._Kanchipuram._2010.jpg|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sri_Kanchi_Kamakoti_Peetam._Kanchipuram._2010.jpg|thumb|Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. [[Kanchipuram]]. 2010]]
The founding of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is traditionally attributed by its adherents to Adi Shankara, but this and the reliability of the matham's succession list has been questioned.{{sfn|Suthren Hirst|2005|p=25}} [[Sringeri matha|Sringeri Sarada Peetham]] rejects the claims of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, and does not count it among the mathas established by Shankara.{{sfn|Dalal|2014|p=Kanchipuram}} According to Clark, the story of the four cardinal mathas founded by mShankara dates from the 16th century, questioning the founding stories of all those mathas.{{sfn|Clark|2006|p=224}}


Scholars such as William Cenkner, Christopher Fuller and David Smith dispute this traditional belief, though they accept that the Kanchi Shankaracharyas are his direct "spiritual descendants".<ref>{{cite book |author=Heinz Scheifinger |chapter=Online Connections, Online Yatras |editor1=Ajaya Kumar Sahoo |editor2=Johannes G. de Kruijf |title=Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5i83DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA106 |date=23 May 2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-11740-7 |page=106 }}</ref>
According to the Kanchi matham's tradition and various eminent scholars, their monastery was founded in Kali 2620 (482 BCE) by [[Adi Shankara]].{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=376}} According to the Sri Kanchi matham documents, the ''matham'' relocated completely to Kumbakonam in the mid-18th century to escape wars and persecution.{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=192}} According to Jonathan Bader and other scholars, the monastic tradition gives "fear of Muslim atrocities" from Nawab of Arcot, Mysore's Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan as the reason, but the details remain unclear.{{sfn|Bader|2000|p=289–290}}{{sfn|Kasturi|Madhavan|2007|pp=173–174}}{{sfn|Sarasvati|Mahadevan|2003|pp=436–437}} According to [[T. A. Gopinatha Rao]], copperplate inscriptions show that the matham was located at Kanchipuram until 1686 CE,{{sfn|Rao|1916|p=2}} and relocated to Kumbhakonam, Tajore, in the 18th century.{{sfn|Rao|1916|p=3}} According to Rao, based on the oldest record found in the respective mathas (1291 and 1346 respectively), Kanchipuram matham ''may'' be older than Sringeri Pitham.{{sfn|Rao|1916|p=6}} The matham returned to Kanchi in the 19th century.{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=192}}


The ''matha'' relocated completely to Kumbakonam in mid-18th century to escape wars and persecution.<ref name=dalal192/> According to Jonathan Bader and other scholars, the monastic tradition gives "fear of Muslim atrocities" from Nawab of Arcot, Mysore's Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan as the reason, but the details remain unclear.<ref>{{cite book|author=Jonathan Bader|title=Conquest of the Four Quarters: Traditional Accounts of the Life of Śaṅkara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q6XWAAAAMAAJ|year=2000|publisher=Aditya Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7742-002-9|pages=289–290}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Prema Kasturi|author2=Chithra Madhavan|title=South India heritage: an introduction|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=_HwMAQAAMAAJ|year=2007|publisher=East West|isbn=978-81-88661-64-0|pages=173–174}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author1=Jayēdra Sarasvati|author2=T. M. P. Mahadevan|title=Preceptors of Advaita|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OMLWAAAAMAAJ |year=2003|publisher=Samata Books |pages=436–437}}</ref> The matha returned to Kanchi in the 19th-century.<ref name=dalal192/>
The successive heads of the Kanchi and all other major Hindu Advaita tradition monasteries have been called Shankaracharya leading to confusion, discrepancies and scholarly disputes. The chronology stated in Kanchi matham texts recognizes five major Shankaras: Adi, Kripa, Ujjvala, Muka and Abhinava. According to the Kanchi matham tradition, it is "Abhinava Shankara" that western scholarship recognizes as the Advaita scholar Adi Shankara.{{sfn|Dalal|2010|p=376}} Scholars such as William Cenkner, Christopher Fuller and David Smith dispute this traditional belief, though they accept that the Kanchi Shankaracharyas are his direct "spiritual descendants".{{sfn|Scheifinger|2016|p=106}}


The 70th Shankaracharya, Vijayendra Saraswati is the current Shankaracharya, before which, the matha was headed by [[Jayendra Saraswathi]], the 69th Shankaracharya.<ref name=Meena>{{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location= Kanniyakumari| year=1974| edition=1st|page=46}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Leaders mourn Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi's death |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kanchi-seer-jayendra-saraswathi-passes-away/article22875781.ece |website=www.thehindu.com |publisher=The Hindu |access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref>
The 70th Shankaracharya, Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal is the current Shankaracharya, before which, the matham was headed by [[Jayendra Saraswathi|Sri Jayendra Saraswathi]], the 69th Shankaracharya.{{sfn|Meena|1974|p=46}}<ref group="web">{{cite news|title=Leaders mourn Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi's death|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/kanchi-seer-jayendra-saraswathi-passes-away/article22875781.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=28 February 2018|access-date=12 July 2019}}</ref>


The Kamakoti Peetam is named after Kamakshi, referred locally as Kamakoti, or Goddess [[Durga]]. Kancheepuram is referred to as Kanchi. The Vyakarana Mahabhashya of [[Patanjali]] uses the word 'Kanchi' and it can be thus understood that the word Kanchi also has a [[Sanskrit]] base. Under the guidance of Sureshvarachaya, Adi Shankara appointed Sarvajnatman as the third Peetadhipathi.
The Kanchi monastery, along with its sister monasteries across India, has also been an important preserver and source of historic palm leaf manuscripts.<ref>{{cite book|author=National Mission for Manuscripts (India)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ADk_IFkV4WIC|title=National Mission for Manuscripts: Report of the Third Year, 7 February 2005 - 7 February 2006|publisher=National Mission for Manuscripts|year=2006|pages=42–43}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Saṃskr̥ta Āyoga|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R7CvAAAAIAAJ|title=Report of the Sanskrit Commission, 1956-1957|publisher=Manager of Publications, Government of India|year=1958|page=63}}</ref>


==Chronological list of Shankaracharyas==
== Sankararaman murder case ==
{{main|Sankararaman murder case}}
In 2004, Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Mahaswamigal and his junior Vijayendra Saraswati were arrested in connection with the [[Sankararaman murder case]] on [[Diwali]] day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/kanchi-seer-jayendra-saraswathi-a-spiritual-colossus-till-his-arrest-in-2004/articleshow/63106383.cms|title=Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi, a spiritual colossus till his arrest in 2004, dies - Times of India ►|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=28 February 2018|access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref> The court said that the complainant failed to support the prosecution and he was given bail. The trial went on till 2013 when he was acquitted by the court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kanchi-seer-Sri-Jayendra-Saraswathi-others-acquitted-in-auditor-assault-case/articleshow/52039635.cms|title=Kanchi seer Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, others acquitted in auditor assault case - Times of India ►|website=[[The Times of India]]|date=May 2016|access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref>


The chronological list of Guru Paramapara of the matham follows:<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Kanchi Sankaracharya Math and Acharaparampara|url=http://www.kamakoti.org/peeth/origin.html|website=www.kamakoti.org|publisher=www.kamakoti.org|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref>{{better source|date=September 2018}}
== Chronological list of Shankaracharyas ==
According to the Peetham, the chronological list of Guru Paramapara of the matham is follows:<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Kanchi Sankaracharya Math and Acharaparampara|url=http://www.kamakoti.org/peeth/origin.html|website=www.kamakoti.org|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref>{{better source|date=September 2018}}
{{Div col|small=yes}}
{{Div col|small=yes}}
#  [[Adi Sankara]] Bhagavatpada (482 BC–477 BC)
#  [[Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada]] (482 BCE–477 BCE)
#  [[Suresvaracharya]] (477 BC–407 BC)
#  [[Suresvaracharya]] (477 BCE–407 BCE)
#  [[Sarvajnatman]] (407 BC–367 BC)<ref>{{cite book|author=Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies|title=Advaita Vedānta from 800 to 1200|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishe, 2006|isbn=978-81-208-3061-5 |page=435}}</ref>
#  Sarvajnatmanendra Saraswati (407 BCE–367 BCE)<ref>{{cite book|author=Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies|title=Advaita Vedānta from 800 to 1200|year=2006|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|isbn=978-81-208-3061-5 |page=435}}</ref>
#  Sathyabodhendra Saraswati (367 BC–268 BC)<ref>{{cite web|title=Schools of Philosophy|url=http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Schools_of_Philosophy|website=hindupedia.com|publisher=hindupedia.com|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref>
#  Sri Sathyabodhendra Saraswati (367 BCE–268 BCE)<ref>{{cite web|title=Schools of Philosophy|url=http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Schools_of_Philosophy|website=hindupedia.com|access-date=1 November 2016}}</ref>
# Jnanandendra Saraswati (268 BC–205 BC)
# Sri Jnanandendra Saraswati (268 BCE–205 BCE)
# Suddhanandendra Saraswati (205 BC–124 BC)
# Sri Suddhanandendra Saraswati (205 BCE–124 BCE)
# Aanandaghanendra Saraswati (124 BC–55 BC)
# Sri Aanandaghanendra Saraswati (124 BCE–55 BCE)
# Kaivalyanandayogendra Saraswati (55 BC–28 AD)
# Sri Kaivalyanandayogendra Saraswati (55 BCE–28 CE)
# Krpa Sankarendra Saraswati (28 AD–69 AD)
# Sri Krpa Sankarendra Saraswati (28 CE–69 CE)
# Sureswara Saraswati (69 AD–127 AD)
# Sri Sureswara Saraswati (69 CE–127 CE)
# Sivananda Chidghanendra Saraswati (127 AD–172 AD)
# Sri Sivananda Chidghanendra Saraswati (127 CE–172 CE)
# Chandrasekharendra Saraswati (172–235)
# Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati (172–235)
# Satchidghanendra Saraswati (235–272)
# Sri Satchidghanendra Saraswati (235–272)
# Vidyaghanendra Saraswati (272–317)
# Sri Vidyaghanendra Saraswati (272–317)
# Gangadharendra Saraswati (317–329)
# Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati (317–329)
# Ujjvala Sankarendra Saraswati (329–367)
# Sri Ujjvala Sankarendra Saraswati (329–367)
# Sadasivendra Saraswati (367–375)
# Sri Sadasivendra Saraswati (367–375)
# Shankarananda Saraswati (375–385)
# Sri Shankarananda Saraswati (375–385)
# Martanda Vidyaghanendra Saraswati (385–398)
# Sri Martanda Vidyaghanendra Saraswati (385–398)
# Muka Sankarendra Saraswati (398–437)
# Sri Muka Sankarendra Saraswati (398–437)
# Chandrasekharendra Saraswati II (437–447)
# Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati II (437–447)
# Bodhendra Saraswati (447–481)
# Sri Bodhendra Saraswati (447–481)
# Satchisukhendra Saraswati (481–512)
# Sri Satchisukhendra Saraswati (481–512)
# Chitsukhendra Saraswati (512–527)
# Sri Chitsukhendra Saraswati (512–527)
# Satchidanandaghanendra Saraswati (527–548)
# Sri Satchidanandaghanendra Saraswati (527–548)
# Prajnaghanendra Saraswati (548–565)
# Sri Prajnaghanendra Saraswati (548–565)
# Chidvilasendra Saraswati (565–577)
# Sri Chidvilasendra Saraswati (565–577)
# Mahadevendra Saraswati I (577–601)
# Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati I (577–601)
# Purnabhodhendra Saraswati (601–618)
# Sri Purnabhodhendra Saraswati (601–618)
# Bhodhendra Saraswati II (618–655)
# Sri Bhodhendra Saraswati II (618–655)
# Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati (655–668)
# Sri Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati (655–668)
# Chidanandaghanendra Saraswati (668–672)
# Sri Chidanandaghanendra Saraswati (668–672)
# Satchidananda Saraswati (672–692)
# Sri Satchidananda Saraswati (672–692)
# Chandrasekharendra Saraswati III (692–710)
# Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati III (692–710)
# Chitsukhendra Saraswati (710–737)
# Sri Chitsukhendra Saraswati (710–737)
# Chitsukhanandendra Saraswati (737–758)
# Sri Chitsukhanandendra Saraswati (737–758)
# Vidyaghanendra Saraswati III (758–788)
# Sri Vidyaghanendra Saraswati III (758–788)
# Abhinava Sankarendra Saraswati (788–840)
# Sri Abhinava Sankarendra Saraswati (788–840)
# Satchidvilaasendra Saraswati (840–873)
# Sri Satchidvilaasendra Saraswati (840–873)
# Mahadevendra Saraswati II (873–915)
# Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati II (873–915)
# Gangadharendra Saraswati II (915–950)
# Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati II (915–950)
# Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati (950–978)
# Sri Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati (950–978)
# Anandaghanendra Saraswati (978–1014)
# Sri Anandaghanendra Saraswati (978–1014)
# Purnabhodhendra Saraswati II (1014–1040)
# Sri Purnabhodhendra Saraswati II (1014–1040)
# Paramasivendra Saraswati I (1040–1061)
# Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati I (1040–1061)
# Sandranandabhodhendra Saraswati (1061–1098)
# Sri Sandranandabhodhendra Saraswati (1061–1098)
# Chandrasekharendra Saraswati IV (1098–1166)
# Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati IV (1098–1166)
# Advaitanandabodhendra Saraswati (1166–1200)
# Sri Advaitanandabodhendra Saraswati (1166–1200)
# Mahadevendra Saraswati III (1200–1247)
# Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati III (1200–1247)
# Chandrachudendra Saraswati I (1247–1297)
# Sri Chandrachudendra Saraswati I (1247–1297)
# Vidyateerthendra Saraswati (1297–1385)
# Sri Vidyateerthendra Saraswati (1297–1385)
# Sankaranandendra Saraswati (1385–1417)
# Sri Sankaranandendra Saraswati (1385–1417)
# [[Purnananda Sadasivendra Saraswati ]](1417–1498)
# Purnananda Sadasivendra Saraswati (1417–1498)
# [[Vyasachala Mahadevendra Saraswati]] (1498–1507)
# [[Vyasachala Mahadevendra Saraswati]] (1498–1507)
# [[Chandrachudhendra Saraswati II]] (1507–1524)
# [[Chandrachudhendra Saraswati II]] (1507–1524)
# Sarvajna Sadasiva Bhodhendra Saraswati (1524–1539)
# Sri Sarvajna Sadasiva Bhodhendra Saraswati (1524–1539)
# Paramasivendra Saraswati II (1539–1586)
# Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati II (1539–1586)
# [[Atma Bodhendra Saraswati]] (1586–1638)
# [[Atma Bodhendra Saraswati]] (1586–1638)
# [[Bodhendra Saraswathi]] (1638–1692)
# [[Bodhendra Saraswathi]] (1638–1692)
# Advaitatma Prakasendra Saraswati (1692–1704)
# Sri Advaitatma Prakasendra Saraswati (1692–1704)
# Mahadevendra Saraswati IV (1704–1746)
# Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati IV (1704–1746)
# ChandrasekharendraSaraswati V (1746–1783)
# Sri ChandrasekharendraSaraswati V (1746–1783)
# Mahadevendra Saraswati V (1783–1813)
# Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati V (1783–1813)
# Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VI (1813–1851)
# Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VI (1813–1851)
# [[Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati]] (1851–1891)
# Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati (1851–1891)
# Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VII  (1891 – 7 February 1907)
# Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VII  (1891 – 7 February 1907)
# [[Mahadevendra Saraswathi V]] (7 February 1907 – 13 February 1907)
# [[Mahadevendra Saraswathi V]] (7 February 1907 – 13 February 1907)
# [[Chandrashekarendra Saraswati]] (13 February 1907 – 8 January 1994)
# [[Chandrashekarendra Saraswati]] (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994)
# [[Jayendra Saraswathi]] (3 January 1994 – 28 February 2018)
# [[Jayendra Saraswathi]] (3 January 1994 – 28 February 2018)
# [[Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal|Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati]] (28 February 2018 – Present)
# [[Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal|Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati]] (28 February 2018 – Present)
{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}


==References==
== Recent Shankaracharyas ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
<gallery>
File:Maha periyava.jpg|68th Shankaracharya Sri [[Chandrashekarendra Saraswati|Chandrashekharendra Saraswati]] Mahaswamigal
File:Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal.jpg|69th Shankaracharya Sri [[Jayendra Saraswathi]] Mahaswamigal
File:Sri sankara vijayendra saraswathi swamingal.jpg|70th Shankaracharya Sri [[Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal|Vijayendra Saraswathi]] Mahaswamigal
</gallery>


==External links==
== See also ==
*http://www.kamakoti.org/


{{coord|12.843214|79.700834|display=title}}
* [[Adi Shankara]]
{{Hinduism footer small}}
* [[Shankaracharya]]
* [[Kalady|Kalady, Kerala - the holy birthplace of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya]]
* [[Govardhan Math|Govardhan Math Peetham (East), Puri, Orissa]]
* [[Dvaraka Pitha|Dwarka Sharada Peetham (West), Dwarka, Gujarat]]
* [[Jyotir Math|Jyotir Math Badrikashram (North), Joshimath, Uttrakhand]]
* [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham|Shri Sringeri Sharada Peetham (South), Sringeri, Karnataka]]


== References ==
<references responsive="0"></references>
== Sources ==
; Printed sources
{{refbegin}}
<!-- B -->
* {{cite book|last=Bader|first=Jonathan Bader|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q6XWAAAAMAAJ|title=Conquest of the Four Quarters: Traditional Accounts of the Life of Śaṅkara|publisher=Aditya Prakashan|year=2000|isbn=978-81-7742-002-9}}
<!-- C -->
* {{cite book|last=Cenkner|first=William|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LsD9oPZA2OMC|title=A Tradition of Teachers: Śaṅkara and the Jagadgurus Today|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|year=1995|isbn=978-81-208-0932-1}}
* {{Citation|last=Clark|first=Matthew|year=2006|title=The Daśanāmī-saṃnyāsīs. The Integration Of Ascetic Lineages Into An Order|publisher=BRILL}}
<!-- D -->
* {{Citation|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|year=2010|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA376}}
* {{Citation|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|year=2014|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|publisher=Penguin UK}}
<!-- K -->
* {{cite book|last1=Kasturi|first1=Prema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_HwMAQAAMAAJ|title=South India heritage: an introduction|last2=Madhavan|first2=Chithra|publisher=East West|year=2007|isbn=978-81-88661-64-0|pages=173–174}}
* {{cite book|last=Krishna|first=Nanditha|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d18MAQAAMAAJ|title=Kanchipuram: a heritage of art and religion|publisher=Aiyar Foundation|year=2006|isbn=978-81-901484-1-2}}
<!-- M -->
* {{cite book|last=Meena|first=V.|title=Temples in South India|publisher=Harikumar Arts|year=1974|edition=1st|location=Kanniyakumari}}
<!-- R -->
* {{Citation|last=Rao|first=T. A. Gopinatha|year=1916|title=Copperplate Inscriptions of the Kamakothi Pita|publisher=The Law Printing House|url=https://kamakotikosh.org/books/copper-plate-inscriptions-of-the-kamakoti-pitha/}}
<!-- S -->
* {{cite book|last1=Sarasvati|first1=Jayēdra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OMLWAAAAMAAJ|title=Preceptors of Advaita|last2=Mahadevan|first2=T. M. P.|publisher=Samata Books|year=2003|isbn=9788185208510}}
* {{cite book|last=Scheifinger|first=Heinz|title=Indian Transnationalism Online: New Perspectives on Diaspora|date=23 May 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-11740-7|editor1=Ajaya Kumar Sahoo|chapter=Online Connections, Online Yatras|editor2=Johannes G. de Kruijf|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5i83DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA106}}
* {{Citation|last=Sharma|first=Varanasi Rajgopal|year=1987|title=Kanchi Kamakoti Math - A Myth|publisher=Ganga-Tunga Prakashan}}
* {{cite book|last=Suthren Hirst|first=Jacqueline G.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YsN-AgAAQBAJ|title=Samkara's Advaita Vedanta: A Way of Teaching|publisher=Routledge|year=2005|isbn=978-1-134-25441-5}}
<!-- V -->
* {{Citation|last=Veeramani|first=K.|year=1988|title=Kanchi Sankarachariar, Saint Or Sectarian?|publisher=Dravidar Kazhagam}}
{{refend}}
; Web-sources
<references group="web" responsive="1"></references>
== External links ==
* http://www.kamakoti.org/
{{coord|12.843214|79.700834|display=title}}{{Hinduism footer small}}
[[Category:Hindu monasteries in India]]
[[Category:Hindu monasteries in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Hinduism in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Advaita Vedanta]]
[[Category:Advaita Vedanta]]

Revision as of 18:35, 9 May 2024



Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham
Entrance tower of the Moolamnaya Sarvajna Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
Formation482 BCE (disputed)
FounderAdi Shankara Bhagavatpada
TypeReligious
Location
First Shankaracharya
Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada
Current Shankaracharya
Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal
AffiliationsHinduism
Websitewww.kamakoti.org


The Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, also called the Sri Kanchi Matham,[web 1] is a Hindu institution, located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. It is located near the Kamakshi Ambal Temple of the Shaktism tradition, along with a shrine for the Advaita Vedanta teacher Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada.[1]

The matham-tradition attributes its founding to Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada, but this and the reliability of the matham's succession list has been questioned.[2][3] The Kanchi Matham was originally established as the Moolamnaya Sarvagna Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in Kanchipuram, and later shifted south to the temple city of Kumbakonam in the mid-18th century during the rain of Chandrashekharendra Saraswathi V due to the on-going wars and persecution by the Arcot Nawabs. The matham returned to Kanchipuram in the 19th century after the sociopolitical situation calmed down in Kanchipuram.

The acharyas of the matham are known by the title of ''Paramahamsa Parivrajakacharyavarya Jagadguru Shankaracharya''.

The matham is a living tradition, that continues to pursue spiritual scholarship in contemporary times.[4] Since February 2018, the institution has been led by Shankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya Mahaswamigal.[web 2]





History


Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Kanchipuram. 2010


The founding of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is traditionally attributed by its adherents to Adi Shankara, but this and the reliability of the matham's succession list has been questioned.[2] Sringeri Sarada Peetham rejects the claims of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, and does not count it among the mathas established by Shankara.[5] According to Clark, the story of the four cardinal mathas founded by mShankara dates from the 16th century, questioning the founding stories of all those mathas.[3]

According to the Kanchi matham's tradition and various eminent scholars, their monastery was founded in Kali 2620 (482 BCE) by Adi Shankara.[6] According to the Sri Kanchi matham documents, the matham relocated completely to Kumbakonam in the mid-18th century to escape wars and persecution.[7] According to Jonathan Bader and other scholars, the monastic tradition gives "fear of Muslim atrocities" from Nawab of Arcot, Mysore's Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan as the reason, but the details remain unclear.[8][9][10] According to T. A. Gopinatha Rao, copperplate inscriptions show that the matham was located at Kanchipuram until 1686 CE,[11] and relocated to Kumbhakonam, Tajore, in the 18th century.[12] According to Rao, based on the oldest record found in the respective mathas (1291 and 1346 respectively), Kanchipuram matham may be older than Sringeri Pitham.[13] The matham returned to Kanchi in the 19th century.[7]

The successive heads of the Kanchi and all other major Hindu Advaita tradition monasteries have been called Shankaracharya leading to confusion, discrepancies and scholarly disputes. The chronology stated in Kanchi matham texts recognizes five major Shankaras: Adi, Kripa, Ujjvala, Muka and Abhinava. According to the Kanchi matham tradition, it is "Abhinava Shankara" that western scholarship recognizes as the Advaita scholar Adi Shankara.[6] Scholars such as William Cenkner, Christopher Fuller and David Smith dispute this traditional belief, though they accept that the Kanchi Shankaracharyas are his direct "spiritual descendants".[14]

The 70th Shankaracharya, Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Mahaswamigal is the current Shankaracharya, before which, the matham was headed by Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69th Shankaracharya.[15][web 3]

The Kanchi monastery, along with its sister monasteries across India, has also been an important preserver and source of historic palm leaf manuscripts.[16][17]



Sankararaman murder case


Main article: Sankararaman murder case


In 2004, Jagadguru Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Mahaswamigal and his junior Vijayendra Saraswati were arrested in connection with the Sankararaman murder case on Diwali day.[18] The court said that the complainant failed to support the prosecution and he was given bail. The trial went on till 2013 when he was acquitted by the court.[19]



Chronological list of Shankaracharyas


According to the Peetham, the chronological list of Guru Paramapara of the matham is follows:[20][better source needed]





  1. Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada (482 BCE–477 BCE)
    2. 

  2. Suresvaracharya (477 BCE–407 BCE)
    3. 

  3. Sarvajnatmanendra Saraswati (407 BCE–367 BCE)[21]
    4. 

  4. Sri Sathyabodhendra Saraswati (367 BCE–268 BCE)[22]
    5. 

  5. Sri Jnanandendra Saraswati (268 BCE–205 BCE)
    6. 

  6. Sri Suddhanandendra Saraswati (205 BCE–124 BCE)
    7. 

  7. Sri Aanandaghanendra Saraswati (124 BCE–55 BCE)
    8. 

  8. Sri Kaivalyanandayogendra Saraswati (55 BCE–28 CE)
    9. 

  9. Sri Krpa Sankarendra Saraswati (28 CE–69 CE)
    10. 

  10. Sri Sureswara Saraswati (69 CE–127 CE)
    11. 

  11. Sri Sivananda Chidghanendra Saraswati (127 CE–172 CE)
    12. 

  12. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati (172–235)
    13. 

  13. Sri Satchidghanendra Saraswati (235–272)
    14. 

  14. Sri Vidyaghanendra Saraswati (272–317)
    15. 

  15. Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati (317–329)
    16. 

  16. Sri Ujjvala Sankarendra Saraswati (329–367)
    17. 

  17. Sri Sadasivendra Saraswati (367–375)
    18. 

  18. Sri Shankarananda Saraswati (375–385)
    19. 

  19. Sri Martanda Vidyaghanendra Saraswati (385–398)
    20. 

  20. Sri Muka Sankarendra Saraswati (398–437)
    21. 

  21. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati II (437–447)
    22. 

  22. Sri Bodhendra Saraswati (447–481)
    23. 

  23. Sri Satchisukhendra Saraswati (481–512)
    24. 

  24. Sri Chitsukhendra Saraswati (512–527)
    25. 

  25. Sri Satchidanandaghanendra Saraswati (527–548)
    26. 

  26. Sri Prajnaghanendra Saraswati (548–565)
    27. 

  27. Sri Chidvilasendra Saraswati (565–577)
    28. 

  28. Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati I (577–601)
    29. 

  29. Sri Purnabhodhendra Saraswati (601–618)
    30. 

  30. Sri Bhodhendra Saraswati II (618–655)
    31. 

  31. Sri Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati (655–668)
    32. 

  32. Sri Chidanandaghanendra Saraswati (668–672)
    33. 

  33. Sri Satchidananda Saraswati (672–692)
    34. 

  34. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati III (692–710)
    35. 

  35. Sri Chitsukhendra Saraswati (710–737)
    36. 

  36. Sri Chitsukhanandendra Saraswati (737–758)
    37. 

  37. Sri Vidyaghanendra Saraswati III (758–788)
    38. 

  38. Sri Abhinava Sankarendra Saraswati (788–840)
    39. 

  39. Sri Satchidvilaasendra Saraswati (840–873)
    40. 

  40. Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati II (873–915)
    41. 

  41. Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati II (915–950)
    42. 

  42. Sri Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati (950–978)
    43. 

  43. Sri Anandaghanendra Saraswati (978–1014)
    44. 

  44. Sri Purnabhodhendra Saraswati II (1014–1040)
    45. 

  45. Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati I (1040–1061)
    46. 

  46. Sri Sandranandabhodhendra Saraswati (1061–1098)
    47. 

  47. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati IV (1098–1166)
    48. 

  48. Sri Advaitanandabodhendra Saraswati (1166–1200)
    49. 

  49. Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati III (1200–1247)
    50. 

  50. Sri Chandrachudendra Saraswati I (1247–1297)
    51. 

  51. Sri Vidyateerthendra Saraswati (1297–1385)
    52. 

  52. Sri Sankaranandendra Saraswati (1385–1417)
    53. 

  53. Purnananda Sadasivendra Saraswati (1417–1498)
    54. 

  54. Vyasachala Mahadevendra Saraswati (1498–1507)
    55. 

  55. Chandrachudhendra Saraswati II (1507–1524)
    56. 

  56. Sri Sarvajna Sadasiva Bhodhendra Saraswati (1524–1539)
    57. 

  57. Sri Paramasivendra Saraswati II (1539–1586)
    58. 

  58. Atma Bodhendra Saraswati (1586–1638)
    59. 

  59. Bodhendra Saraswathi (1638–1692)
    60. 

  60. Sri Advaitatma Prakasendra Saraswati (1692–1704)
    61. 

  61. Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati IV (1704–1746)
    62. 

  62. Sri ChandrasekharendraSaraswati V (1746–1783)
    63. 

  63. Sri Mahadevendra Saraswati V (1783–1813)
    64. 

  64. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VI (1813–1851)
    65. 

  65. Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati (1851–1891)
    66. 

  66. Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VII  (1891 – 7 February 1907)
    67. 

  67. Mahadevendra Saraswathi V (7 February 1907 – 13 February 1907)
    68. 

  68. Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (20 May 1894 – 8 January 1994)
    69. 

  69. Jayendra Saraswathi (3 January 1994 – 28 February 2018)
    70. 

  70. Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati (28 February 2018 – Present)




Recent Shankaracharyas



See also



References


    

  1. ↑ Krishna 2006, p. 100.

    2. 

  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Suthren Hirst 2005, p. 25.

    3. 

  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Clark 2006, p. 224.

    4. 

  4. ↑ Cenkner 1995, p. 117–121.

    5. 

  5. ↑ Dalal 2014, p. Kanchipuram.

    6. 

  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Dalal 2010, p. 376.

    7. 

  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Dalal 2010, p. 192.

    8. 

  8. ↑ Bader 2000, p. 289–290.

    9. 

  9. ↑ Kasturi & Madhavan 2007, pp. 173–174.

    10. 

  10. ↑ Sarasvati & Mahadevan 2003, pp. 436–437.

    11. 

  11. ↑ Rao 1916, p. 2.

    12. 

  12. ↑ Rao 1916, p. 3.

    13. 

  13. ↑ Rao 1916, p. 6.

    14. 

  14. ↑ Scheifinger 2016, p. 106.

    15. 

  15. ↑ Meena 1974, p. 46.

    16. 

  16. ↑ National Mission for Manuscripts (India) (2006). National Mission for Manuscripts: Report of the Third Year, 7 February 2005 - 7 February 2006. National Mission for Manuscripts. pp. 42–43.

    17. 

  17. ↑ Saṃskr̥ta Āyoga (1958). Report of the Sanskrit Commission, 1956-1957. Manager of Publications, Government of India. p. 63.

    18. 

  18. ↑ "Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi, a spiritual colossus till his arrest in 2004, dies - Times of India ►". The Times of India. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.

    19. 

  19. ↑ "Kanchi seer Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, others acquitted in auditor assault case - Times of India ►". The Times of India. May 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2018.

    20. 

  20. ↑ "History of the Kanchi Sankaracharya Math and Acharaparampara". www.kamakoti.org. Retrieved 1 November 2016.

    21. 

  21. ↑ Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies (2006). Advaita Vedānta from 800 to 1200. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 435. ISBN 978-81-208-3061-5.

    22. 

  22. ↑ "Schools of Philosophy". hindupedia.com. Retrieved 1 November 2016.

    23. 



Sources


Printed sources







Web-sources


    

  1. ↑ "About the Peetham". www.kamakoti.org. Retrieved 24 September 2022.

    2. 

  2. ↑ Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi passes away at 82; Vijayendra Saraswathi will succeed him, Times Now (28 February 2018)

    3. 

  3. ↑ "Leaders mourn Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi's death". The Hindu. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2019.

    4. 



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