Matha

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For the town in France, see Matha, Charente-Maritime.

A maţha (also written math, matha or mutt) is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of the Hindu and Jain traditions. A maţha is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an ashram.

Advaita maţhas: The oldest such institutions follow the Advaita tradition, where the head of a maţha is called a Shankaracharya, a title derived from Ādi Śankara. Important establishments include the four Āmnāya maţhas:

1. Śringeri Śāradā Pīţham, at Sringeri, Karnataka
2. Dwaraka Pītham, at Dwaraka, Gujarat
3. Govardhana matha, at Puri, Orissa
4. Jyotirmath, in Uttaranchal

Other important maţhas of the Advaita tradition include the Kavale maţha and the Chitrapur Matha (both associated with Goud Saraswat Brahmins), the Kanchi matha, in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, the Hariharapura maţha, etc.

Vaishnava Mathas:

• Sri Krishna Matha (Ashta Matha-s), in Udupi - Madhva tradition
• Uttarādi Matha - Madhva tradition
• Andavan Ashramam - Sri Vaishnava tradition
• Ahobila Matha - Sri Vaishnava tradition
• Kashi Mutt - Vaishnava tradition of Goud Saraswat Brahmins
• krishnapura matha established by Madhwaacharya.

Jain Mathas:

• Sravanabelagola, Mula Sangha, Desiya Gana, Pustaka Gachchha order, established in 1105 during the rule of Hoysal King Ballal I (1101-1106 AD).
• Moodabidri, Mula Sangha, Desiya Gana Pustaka Gachchha order
• Humbaj: Mula Sangha, Balatkara Gana, Sarasvati Gachchha order, Gana Established in 8th century