| Udupi Sri Krishna Matha | |
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Udupi Sri Krishna Matha
Location in Karnataka
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| Name | |
| Proper name: | Udupi Sri Krishna Matha |
| Location | |
| Country: | India |
| State: | Karnataka |
| Location: | Udupi |
| Architecture and culture | |
| Primary deity: | Krishna |
| Architectural styles: | Dravidian architecture |
| History | |
| Date built: (Current structure) |
13th Century |
Udupi Sri Krishna Matha (Tulu:ಉಡುಪಿ ಶ್ರೀ ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಮಠ) is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to god Krishna located in the town of Udupi in Karnataka, India.
The matha area resembles a living ashram, a holy place for daily devotion and living. Surrounding the Sri Krishna Matha are several temples, the most ancient being made of basic wood and stone of 1,500 years origin. (See Udupi for more)
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The Krishna Matha was founded by the Vaishnavite saint Shri Madhwacharya in the 13th century. He was the founder of the Dvaita school of Vedanta. It is believed that Madhwacharya found the idol of SriKrishna in a large ball of gopichanda.
Legend has it that once Kanakadasa, a pious worshiper and devotee of Lord Krishna, was not allowed entry into the temple. It didn't upset him; instead it made him pray with intense devotion. Lord Krishna was so pleased that the statue turned back to where Kanakadasa was praying, and the wall before Kanakadasa broke up to allow the disciple to gaze upon his heavenly from at the back of the mutt (monastery). Till today, devotees still worship Lord Krishna by praying through the same window that Kanakadasa was blessed with a view: It is known as Kanakanakhindi.
Direct students of Madhvacharya were many. His first disciple was Shri Sathya Theertha. All other mathas except the Ashta mathas were established by Sri Padmanabha Thirtha. His disciples do not have the right to perform pooja to Lord Udupi Shri Krishna as it is headed and governed by the Ashta mathas.
The daily sevas (offerings to god) and administration of the Krishna Mutt are managed by the Ashta Mathas (eight temples). Each of the Ashta Mathas performs temple management activities for two years in a cyclical order. They are collectively known as the Krishna Matha.
The Krishna Matha is known throughout the world for its religious customs, traditions, and learning in Dvaita or Tatvavaada philosophy. It is also the centre of Daasa Sahitya, a form of literature that originated in Udupi.
These eight Mathas are Pejavara, Puttige, Palimaru, Adamaru, Sodhe, Kaniyooru, Shirur and Krishnapura
The swamijis of the Ashta Mathas and their successors are given as below:
| Matha | Swamiji | Successor |
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| Pejavara | Sri Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji | Sri Vishvaprasanna Tirtha Swamiji |
| Palimaru | Sri Vidhyadeesha Tirtha Swamiji | |
| Adamaru | Sri Vishvapriya Tirtha Swamiji | |
| Puttige | Sri Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji | Sri Sujnanendra Tirtha Swamiji |
| Sodhe | Sri Vishvavallabha Tirtha Swamiji | |
| Kaniyooru | Sri Vidyavallabha Tirtha Swamiji | |
| Shirur | Sri Lakshmivara Tirtha Swamiji | |
| Krishnapura | Sri Vidyasagara Tirtha Swamiji |
During the Paryaya festival, held every two years, the temple management is handed over to the next Matha. Each of the Mathas is headed by a Swami, who will be in charge of the temple during his Paryaya. The Paryaya is held on even years like 2008, 2010 and 2012. Festivals like Makara Sankranthi, Ratha Sapthami, Madhva Navami, Hanuma Jayanthi, Sri Krishna Janmashtami, Navarathi Mahotsava, Madhva Jajanti (Vijaya Dashami), Naraka Chathurdashi, Deepavali, Geetha Jayanthi etc. are celebrated very grandly by Paryaya Mutt every year.
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