Pascimāmnāya Śrī Śāradā Pītham or Dwarka Sharada Math, is one amongst the four cardinal peethams believed by its followers to be established by Adi Shankara, preserving and propagating Sanatana Dharma and Advaita Vedanta, the doctrine of nonduality. Located in the city of Dwaraka, Gujarat, India it is the pascimāmnāya matha, or Western Āmnāya PīthamPasricha, Prem C. (1977) The Whole Thing the Real Thing, Delhi Photo Company, p. 59-63 amongst the four Chaturāmnāya Pīthams. It is also known as the Kālikā Matha. Their Vedantic mantra or Mahavakya is Tattvamasi ("That('s how) you are"). According to tradition, believed to be initiated by Adi Shankara, it holds authority over Sama Veda. The head of the matha is called Shankarayacharya, the title derives from Adi Shankara.

Structure

Dvaraka Pitha is one of the four (religious centers) believed by tradition to be established by Adi Shankaracharya (8th cent. CE,) who is portrayed as pioneering the unification of Hindu religious beliefs in the country. It is a four storied structure representing four believed by a tradition, developed in the 14th-17th century, to be established by Shankaracharya in different parts of the country. There are paintings on the walls here depicting the life story of Shankaracharya while the dome has carvings of Shiva in different postures.

Recent Shankaracharyas Shri Trivikrama Tirtha was the head of the monastery until 1921 when he was succeeded by Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha. Shri Bharati Krishna Tirtha was invited to lead the Puri matha in 1925 after the position had become vacant. Shri Bharati Krishna Tirtha was succeeded by Shri Swarupananda Saraswati. Shri Swaroopananda Saraswati was succeeded by Shri Sadananda Saraswati in 2022.

In 1945, Shri Abhinava Sachchidananda Tirtha was nominated to the position. Before assuming his position at Dwarka, Abhinava was the head of the Mulabagal Math in Karnataka, which was the 17th century branch of the Dvaraka Math. As a result, the cumulative lineage of Mulabagal Math was merged with Dwarka when Abhinava took office there. Years later Shri Sachchidananda helped to mediate the Shankarcharya successions at Puri and Jyotir Math. Since Abhinava died in 1982, this peeth has been led by Swarupananda SaraswatiUnknown author (5 May 1999) archived here. Accessed: 2012-08-30. or here%5D The Monastic Tradition Advaita Vedanta web page, retrieved 28 August 2012Author unknown (2008) Swami Swarupananda Saraswati bio Web site of Swami Swarupananda Saraswati, retrieved 4 August 2012 who is one of the claimants to the position of Shankaracharya of the northern matha called Jyotish Pitha or Jyotir Math.Unknown author (2005) Indology The Jyotirmaṭha Śaṅkarācārya Lineage in the 20th Century, retrieved 4 August 2012

After the death of Swami Swarupananda Saraswati, who was the Shankracharya of Dwarka Sharada Math, Sadananda Saraswati was made the Shankaracharya of Dwarka Sharada Math.

See also Adi Shankara Shankaracharya Kalady, Kerala, the alleged birthplace of Adi Shankara Govardhan Math Peetham (East), Puri, Orissa Jyotir Badrikashram Peetham (North), Joshimath, Uttarakhand Shri Sringeri Sharada Peetham (South), Sringeri, Karnataka

Notes

References

Sources

Further reading

External links Official website