Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham

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Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is a Hindu monastic institution located in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, one of the five pancha-bhUta-sthalas (Temples denoting the '5 Elements'). The five pancha-bhUta-sthalas or material sites represent earth (Kanchipuram), sky (Chidambaram), air (Kalahasti), fire (Thiruvannamalai), and water (Thiruvanaikoil). It is known formally as Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, and is claimed to be founded by the Adi Sankara The head of the matha is referred to as a "Sankaracharya", a title that is also applied to the heads of the four Adi Sankara mathas.

The Kanchi matha has been gaining prominence since the 18th century, when it was at Kumbakonam. Today it is one of the most important religious institutions of SouthIndia.

History

The matha is claimed to be founded by Adi Sankara of Kaladi, and that Jayendra Saraswati Swami is the current pontiff - The 69th head in succession, tracing its history back to the fifth century BCE. Sri Adi Sankara came to Kanchipuram, and that he established the Kanchi matha named "Dakshina Moolamnaya Sarvagnya Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam" in a position of supremacy (Sarvagnya Peetha) over the other mathas of the subcontinent, before his attaining samadhi there. The Kamakoti Peetam however, traditionally refers to Kamakshi referred popularly as Kamakodi. 'Kamakodi' is of Tamil origin, referring to Goddess Durga. 'Kodi' refers to Durga in the ancient Tamil Sangam literature. Kanchipuram is referred to as Kachi. The Vyakarana Mahabhashya of Patanjali uses the word 'Kanchi' and it can be thus understood that the word Kanchi also has a Sanskrit base.

Controversy on its origins

Kanchi Mutt claims that it was established by Adi Sankara in 482 BC. But according to scholars and historians, Adi Shankara existed in 8th century AD, and not in 482 BC. According to scholars, Adi Sankara must have come in when Buddhism was well entrenched in India. But according to Kanchi Mutt, Adi Shankara existed at approximately same time as Gautama Buddha, who is said to be born in 5th century BC. According to most Historians, Shankaracharya established only 4 mutts with headquarters at Dvārakā in the West, Jagannatha Puri in the East, Sringeri in the South and Badrikashrama in the North.

The chronological list of Guru Paramapara of the matham follows:

  1. Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada(482 BC-477 BC)
  2. Suresvaracharya(477 BC-407 BC)
  3. Sarvajnatman(407 BC-367 BC)
  4. Sathyabodhendra Saraswati(367 BC-268 BC)
  5. Jnanandendra Saraswati(268 BC-205 BC)
  6. Suddhanandendra Saraswati(205 BC-124 BC)
  7. Aanandaghanendra Saraswati(124 BC-55 BC)
  8. Kaivalyanandayogendra Saraswati(55 BC-28 AD)
  9. Krpa Sankarendra Saraswati(28 AD-69 AD)
  10. Sureswara Saraswati (69 AD-127 AD)
  11. Sivananda Chidghanendra Saraswati(127 AD-172 AD)
  12. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati(172-235)
  13. Satchidghanendra Saraswati(235-272)
  14. Vidyaghanendra Saraswati(272-317)
  15. Gangadharendra Saraswati(317-329)
  16. Ujjvala Sankarendra Saraswati(329-367)
  17. Sadasivendra Saraswati(367-375)
  18. Shankarananda Saraswati(375-385)
  19. Martanda Vidyaghanendra Saraswati(385-398)
  20. Muka Sankarendra Saraswati(398-437)
  21. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati II(437-447)
  22. Bodhendra Saraswati(447-481)
  23. Satchisukhendra Saraswati(481-512)
  24. Chitsukhendra Saraswati(512-527)
  25. Satchidanandaghanendra Saraswati(527-548)
  26. Prajnaghanendra Saraswati(548-565)
  27. Chidvilasendra Saraswati(565-577)
  28. Mahadeve11dra Saraswati I(577-601)
  29. Purnabhodhendra Saraswati(601-618)
  30. Bhodhendra Saraswati II(618-655)
  31. Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati(655-668)
  32. Chidanandaghanendra Saraswati(668-672)
  33. Satchidananda Saraswati(672-692)
  34. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati III(692-710)
  35. Chitsukhendra Saraswati(710-737)
  36. Chitsukhanandendra Saraswati(737-758)
  37. Vidyaghanendra Saraswati III(758-788)
  38. Abhinava Sankarendra Saraswati(788-840)
  39. Satchidvilaasendra Saraswati(840-873)
  40. Mahadevendra Saraswati II(873-915)
  41. Gangadharendra Saraswati II(915-950)
  42. Brahmanandaghanendra Saraswati(950-978)
  43. Anandaghanendra Saraswati(978-1014)
  44. Purnabhodhendra Saraswati II(1014-1040)
  45. Paramasivendra Saraswati I(1040-1061)
  46. Sandranandabhodhendra Saraswati(1061-1098)
  47. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati IV(1098-1166)
  48. Advaitanandabodhendra Saraswati(1166-1200)
  49. Mahadevendra Saraswati III(1200-1247)
  50. Chandrachudendra Saraswati I(1247-1297)
  51. Kamachandrendra Saraswati(1297-1385)
  52. Vidyateerthendra Saraswati (1297–1370)
  53. Sankaranandendra Saraswati (1370–1417)
  54. Purnananda Sadasivendra Saraswati (1417–1498)
  55. Vyasachala Mahadevendra Saraswati (1498–1507)
  56. Chandrachudhendra Saraswati II (1507–1524)
  57. Sarvajna Sadasiva Bhodhendra Saraswati (1524–1539)
  58. Paramasivendra Saraswati II (1539–1586)
  59. Atma Bodhendra Saraswati (1586–1638)
  60. Bodhendra Saraswathi (1638–1692)
  61. Advaitatma Prakasendra Saraswati (1692–1704)
  62. Mahadevendra Saraswati IV (1704–1746)
  63. ChandrasekharendraSaraswati V (1746–1783)
  64. Mahadevendra Saraswati V (1783–1813)
  65. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VI (1813–1851)
  66. Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati (1851–1891)
  67. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VII (1891 - February 7, 1907)
  68. Mahadevendra Saraswathi V (February 7, 1907 - February 13, 1907)
  69. Chandrashekarendra Saraswati Swamigal (February 13, 1907 - January 3, 1994)
  70. Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal
  71. Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal

References

    http://www.kamakoti.org/

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