Parakala Mutt

His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Abhinava Vageesha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swami, the (current) 36th Pontiff of Sri Parakala Mutt
The presiding deity of Sri Parakala Mutt: Lord Sri Lakshmi Hayagreeva Swami (at the centre)

The Bramhatantra Parakala Mutt is an ancient Hindu Monastic order established in South India. It was the first monastery of the Sri Vaishnava sect of Hindu society. Sri Sri Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Mutt was first established by Sri Sri Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Jeeyar, a disciple of Sri Vedanta Desika Swamin.

The Mutt got the name "Parakala" after Sri Tirumangai Alwar who is also known as Sri Parakalan. The Mutt has its headquarters in Mysore. The Mutt has had a close relationship with the monarchs of Mysore Kingdom since 1399, which is why the Mysore Palace is housed just next to the Mutt. The kings of Mysore hold the Mutt as their official gurukul. Even now, the royal lineage has a close relationship with the Mutt. All royal ceremonies are even today monitored by the Mutt.

Parakala Mutt is among the organizations that follow Sri Vedanta Desika as the torch bearer of Sri Ramanuja's teachings. The others are Ahobila Mutt, Sri Srirangam Andavan Ashramam and Sri Poundarikapuram Andavan Ashramam.

There have been 36 jeers (heads) so far. The head of this Matha is the hereditary Acharya of the Mysore Royal Family. The Hayagriva idol worshiped here is said to be handed down from Vedanta Desika.[1]

The Acharya Parampara of Sri Parakala Mutt is as follows:

0. Founder Acharya: Sri Nigamantha Maha Desikan (1268 - 1369 CE)

  1. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1286 - 1386 CE)
  2. Dvitiya Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Deshikan (1386 - 1394 CE)
  3. Tritiya Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1394 CE - 1406 CE)
  4. Sri Parakala Maha Desikan (1406 CE - 1424 CE)
  5. Sri Vedanta Ramanuja Parakala Maha Desikan (1425 CE - 1440 CE)
  6. Sri Srinivasa Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1440 CE - 1460 CE)
  7. Sri Narayana Yogindra Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1460 CE - 1482 CE)
  8. Sri Rangaraja Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1482 CE - 1498 CE)
  9. Sri Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1498 CE - 1517 CE)
  10. Sri Yatiraja Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1517 - 1535 CE)
  11. Sri Varada Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1535 - 1552 CE)
  12. Sri Paraankusha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1552 - 1567 CE)
  13. Sri Kavitarkika Simha Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1567 - 1583 CE)
  14. Sri Vedantha Yatisekhara (Yathivarya) Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1583 - 1607 CE)
  15. Sri Gnyanadbhi Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1607 - 1618 CE)
  16. Sri Veera Raghava Yogindra Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1619 - 1640 CE)
  17. Sri Varada Vedantha Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1640 - 1652 CE)
  18. Sri Varaha Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1652 - 1663 CE)
  19. Sri Vedantha Lakshmana Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1663 - 1673 CE)
  20. Sri Varada Vedantha Yogeendra Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1673 - 1676 CE)
  21. Sri Periya Parakala Brahmatantra Swatantra Maha Desikan (1676 - 1737 CE)
  22. Sri Srinivasa Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1737 - 1750 CE)
  23. Sri Vedantha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1750 - 1770 CE)
  24. Sri Abhinava Srinivasa Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1770 - 1771 CE)
  25. Sri Ramanuja Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1771 - 1810 CE)
  26. Sri Ghantaavataara Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1810 - 1828 CE)
  27. Sri Vedantha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1828 - 1835 CE)
  28. Sri Srinivasa Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1835 - 1860 CE)
  29. Sri Srinivasa Desikendra Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1860 - 1873 CE)
  30. Sri Ranganatha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1873 - 1885 CE)
  31. Sri Krishna Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1885 - 1915 CE)
  32. Sri Vagheesha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1915 - 1925 CE)
  33. Srimad Abhinava Ranganatha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1925 - 1967 CE)
  34. Srimad Abhinava Srinivasa Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1967 - 1972 CE)
  35. Srimad Abhinava Ramanuja Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (1972 - 1992 CE)
  36. Srimad Abhinava Vageesha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Maha Desikan (The Presiding Acharya) (1992–present)
His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Parakala Yogi Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swami, the 21st Pontiff of Sri Parakala Mutt
His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Abhinava Ranganatha Brahmatantra Swatantra Parakala Swami, 33rd Pontiff of Sri Parakala Mutt

See also

References

  1. ↑ Swami Swahananda: "Monasteries in South Asia", page 50. Vedanta Press, 1989.