If you have ever gone to to websites of Kanchi Komakoti Peetam or Wiki or websites related to Kanchi Mutt you will come across the following claims and much more. We will see the following claims.
Claims made
Is Kanchi Mutt 2500 years old?
First we have to fix the date of Adi Shankara to know the date of Kanchi mutt as it is claimed to have been established by him. Date of Shankara , We have already seen in another article about dating Shri Adi Shankara. His date is fixed to 8th century AD not 500BC as claimed by Kanchi Mutt. So the question of Kanchi Mutt being 2500 years old do not arise.
No Tamil or Sanskrit literature before 19th century Speaks of Kanchi Mutt , which shows there was no mutt during that period.
Did Adi Shankara established Kanchi Mutt?
Every other Mutt or religious work mentioning Shankara have told there are only four mutts established by Shankara , independent of the other. Each mutt was allotted Upanishads to focus on
Saraswati, Bharati and Puri -------------Shringeri (South)
Tirtha and Ashrama-----------------------Dwarka (West)
Giri, Parvata and Sagara-----------------Jyotir (North)
Vanam and Aranyam----------------------Govardhan (East)
Except Kanchi Mutt and its associates all the Other mutts say that Shankara died in Himalayas.
His final days are said like this: Setting off from the Jyotir Ashram (Badrinath) in the Himalayan he headed toward the nearby Mountainous region of Kedarnath, the place that was destined to be his final resting place. His four chief disciples accompanied him part of the way, but then Shankara insisted they go no further as the final part of his journey was to be completed alone.
Kanchi Mutt Chronicles , claim that Adi Sankaracharya had spent the last days of his life in Kanchipuram where he attained samadhi, and not in the Himalayas as is generally believed. A mandapam named after the father of the school of advaita philosophy, seen in the Kamakshi temple premises, is cited as his samadhi. It was originally called `Sankaracharya samadhi', but when it was pointed out there could not be a samadhi inside a Devi temple, the mandapam was renamed `Sankaracharya sannidhi' - sanctum, not a tomb.
So we can see that the Shankara cannot have come to kanchi in the final moments of his life and established the Kanchi mutt.
Kumbakonam mutt is branch of Kanchi mutt
According to the Kanchi chronicles, the math in Kanchipuram had to be shifted in the 18th century AD, in the face of opposition from local kings and hence the shift to Kumbhakonam. (One does not know of any Hindu-hating king near Kanchipuram from the 18th century.)
"Historians, however, hold that the Kumbhakonam math is a branch of the Sringeri math established in 1821 AD by the famous Maratha monarch of Tanjore, Pratap Singh Tuljaji. It is the date of the oldest inscription found in the Kumbhakonam math building. The Inscription is in Kannada. The math refers itself as sarada math. The diety of Sringeri mutt. If the mutt has anything to do with kanchi, it should have been diety kamakshi , the goddess of kanchi not sarada. Kumbakonam Mutt Independence Kumbhakonam math proclaimed independence from Sringeri and established itself as the " Kamakoti peetham.".
In addition to denying the historical truth of its origin as a branch of the Sringeri math, the story propagated was that it was originally established by Adi Sankaracharya himself at Kanchipuram, with control over the recognized four maths. Worse, a wholly fictitious story that Adi Sankaracharya ascended a sarvagna-pitha at Kanchi and attained samadhi at Kanchi is propagated as "tradition." The real problem though was that in the course of this campaign, someone with more enthusiasm than scholarship, "fixed" the date of Adi Sankaracharya as 477 B.C. and wrote up a continuous list of gurus of the math from 477 B.C. to the present! This guru parampara is filled with names of sannyasis taken at random, with no thought to chronology.
Kanchi Mutt origin
In 1839 AD, the head of the Kumbhakonam math applied for permission to the English Collector to perform the kumbhabhishekam of the Kamakshi temple in Kanchipuram. In 1842 AD, he was appointed sole trustee of the Kamakshi temple by the English East India Company Government. This is well documented because the original priests of the Kamakshi temple, who were thereby deprived of their rights, complained to whomever they could possibly complain to. Numerous petitions, counter petitions, letters, and other suchdocuments are available from this period.
Thus the Kanchi math as an institution dates from 1842 AD. The headquarters continued to be at Kumbhakonam but the sannyasi head would periodically visit Kanchipuram to assert his rights over the Kamakshi temple.This math originally had a limited following in the Tanjore and Kanchipuram areas, but soon embarked on a massive propaganda campaign that ensured it prominence. The Kumbhakonam math shifted to Kanchipuram in accordance with its new story.
Suresvara was appointed as the successor to Shankara at Kanchi mutt. The Kanchi chronicles explain that before his demise, Shankaracharya established a fifth math at Kanchi which he intended to be a controlling centre of all the other maths. Sri Sureswaracharya, Sankara's prime disciple was placed in charge of it. Interestingly, the Sringeri math also claims Sureswaracharya as their first pontiff. If Sankaracharya did not establish the Kanchi math at all, where was the need to appoint a successor there?!! It is the Kanchi math that "claims" Sureswara. The Sringeri math does not "claim" so. In fact, a very old structure that is reputed to be Sureswara's samadhi is still preserved outside the Sarada temple at Sringeri.
Conclusion
We can see that the Mutt is anything but lies one after another. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, who lifted a math disintegrating in Kumbhakonam and re-established it in Kanchipuram, according it a position of pre-eminence. But the chronicles are just out of this world. So many lies left, right and centre. Not surprising that the math has such scandalous history. The Mutt is known for More political connections then spirtual quests. To conclude Here is an institution
Real History of Kanchi Mutt by Vidyasankar Sundaresan
The Truth about the Kumbhakonam Math, Sri R. Krishnaswamy Aiyar and Sri K. R. Venkatraman, Sri Ramakrishna Press, Madurai,1977.
Kanchi Kamakoti Math - a Myth - Sri Varanasi Raj Gopal Sarma, Ganga Tunga Prakashan, Varanasi, 1987.
The Illustrated Weekly of India, "The Weekly Cover Story" - K. P. Sunil, September 13, 1987.
Related Posts
Date of Shankara
Is Gautama Buddha Avatar of Vishnu
Date of Devaram Trio
Topics
Claims made
- Shankara established the Kanchi mutt
- Kumbakonam mutt is branch of Kanchi mutt
- Kanchi Mutt is 2500 years old
- Adi Shankara spent last days of his life in Kanchi mutt He is buried in the premises of the mutt
- Kanchi mutt was established as the controlling centre of other mutts.
- Suresvara was appointed as the successor to Shankara at Kanchi mutt.
- Kanchi mutt was shifted to Kumbakonam in 18th century AD due to opposition from the Local kings in Kanchi
Is Kanchi Mutt 2500 years old?
First we have to fix the date of Adi Shankara to know the date of Kanchi mutt as it is claimed to have been established by him. Date of Shankara , We have already seen in another article about dating Shri Adi Shankara. His date is fixed to 8th century AD not 500BC as claimed by Kanchi Mutt. So the question of Kanchi Mutt being 2500 years old do not arise.
No Tamil or Sanskrit literature before 19th century Speaks of Kanchi Mutt , which shows there was no mutt during that period.Did Adi Shankara established Kanchi Mutt?
Every other Mutt or religious work mentioning Shankara have told there are only four mutts established by Shankara , independent of the other. Each mutt was allotted Upanishads to focus on
Saraswati, Bharati and Puri -------------Shringeri (South)
Tirtha and Ashrama-----------------------Dwarka (West)
Giri, Parvata and Sagara-----------------Jyotir (North)
Vanam and Aranyam----------------------Govardhan (East)
Except Kanchi Mutt and its associates all the Other mutts say that Shankara died in Himalayas.
His final days are said like this: Setting off from the Jyotir Ashram (Badrinath) in the Himalayan he headed toward the nearby Mountainous region of Kedarnath, the place that was destined to be his final resting place. His four chief disciples accompanied him part of the way, but then Shankara insisted they go no further as the final part of his journey was to be completed alone.Kanchi Mutt Chronicles , claim that Adi Sankaracharya had spent the last days of his life in Kanchipuram where he attained samadhi, and not in the Himalayas as is generally believed. A mandapam named after the father of the school of advaita philosophy, seen in the Kamakshi temple premises, is cited as his samadhi. It was originally called `Sankaracharya samadhi', but when it was pointed out there could not be a samadhi inside a Devi temple, the mandapam was renamed `Sankaracharya sannidhi' - sanctum, not a tomb.
So we can see that the Shankara cannot have come to kanchi in the final moments of his life and established the Kanchi mutt.Kumbakonam mutt is branch of Kanchi mutt
According to the Kanchi chronicles, the math in Kanchipuram had to be shifted in the 18th century AD, in the face of opposition from local kings and hence the shift to Kumbhakonam. (One does not know of any Hindu-hating king near Kanchipuram from the 18th century.)
"Historians, however, hold that the Kumbhakonam math is a branch of the Sringeri math established in 1821 AD by the famous Maratha monarch of Tanjore, Pratap Singh Tuljaji. It is the date of the oldest inscription found in the Kumbhakonam math building. The Inscription is in Kannada. The math refers itself as sarada math. The diety of Sringeri mutt. If the mutt has anything to do with kanchi, it should have been diety kamakshi , the goddess of kanchi not sarada. Kumbakonam Mutt Independence Kumbhakonam math proclaimed independence from Sringeri and established itself as the " Kamakoti peetham.".
In addition to denying the historical truth of its origin as a branch of the Sringeri math, the story propagated was that it was originally established by Adi Sankaracharya himself at Kanchipuram, with control over the recognized four maths. Worse, a wholly fictitious story that Adi Sankaracharya ascended a sarvagna-pitha at Kanchi and attained samadhi at Kanchi is propagated as "tradition." The real problem though was that in the course of this campaign, someone with more enthusiasm than scholarship, "fixed" the date of Adi Sankaracharya as 477 B.C. and wrote up a continuous list of gurus of the math from 477 B.C. to the present! This guru parampara is filled with names of sannyasis taken at random, with no thought to chronology.Kanchi Mutt origin
In 1839 AD, the head of the Kumbhakonam math applied for permission to the English Collector to perform the kumbhabhishekam of the Kamakshi temple in Kanchipuram. In 1842 AD, he was appointed sole trustee of the Kamakshi temple by the English East India Company Government. This is well documented because the original priests of the Kamakshi temple, who were thereby deprived of their rights, complained to whomever they could possibly complain to. Numerous petitions, counter petitions, letters, and other suchdocuments are available from this period.
Thus the Kanchi math as an institution dates from 1842 AD. The headquarters continued to be at Kumbhakonam but the sannyasi head would periodically visit Kanchipuram to assert his rights over the Kamakshi temple.This math originally had a limited following in the Tanjore and Kanchipuram areas, but soon embarked on a massive propaganda campaign that ensured it prominence. The Kumbhakonam math shifted to Kanchipuram in accordance with its new story.
Suresvara was appointed as the successor to Shankara at Kanchi mutt. The Kanchi chronicles explain that before his demise, Shankaracharya established a fifth math at Kanchi which he intended to be a controlling centre of all the other maths. Sri Sureswaracharya, Sankara's prime disciple was placed in charge of it. Interestingly, the Sringeri math also claims Sureswaracharya as their first pontiff. If Sankaracharya did not establish the Kanchi math at all, where was the need to appoint a successor there?!! It is the Kanchi math that "claims" Sureswara. The Sringeri math does not "claim" so. In fact, a very old structure that is reputed to be Sureswara's samadhi is still preserved outside the Sarada temple at Sringeri.
Conclusion
We can see that the Mutt is anything but lies one after another. Chandrasekharendra Saraswati, who lifted a math disintegrating in Kumbhakonam and re-established it in Kanchipuram, according it a position of pre-eminence. But the chronicles are just out of this world. So many lies left, right and centre. Not surprising that the math has such scandalous history. The Mutt is known for More political connections then spirtual quests. To conclude Here is an institution
- A mutt Not even 200 years old claiming as 2500 years old.
- Kanchi Mutt is a branch of kumbakonam mutt, which inturn is the branch of Sringeri Mutt. What kanchi mutt claims is the other way around, brushing aside all the historical facts.
Real History of Kanchi Mutt by Vidyasankar Sundaresan
The Truth about the Kumbhakonam Math, Sri R. Krishnaswamy Aiyar and Sri K. R. Venkatraman, Sri Ramakrishna Press, Madurai,1977.
Kanchi Kamakoti Math - a Myth - Sri Varanasi Raj Gopal Sarma, Ganga Tunga Prakashan, Varanasi, 1987.
The Illustrated Weekly of India, "The Weekly Cover Story" - K. P. Sunil, September 13, 1987.
Related Posts
Date of Shankara
Is Gautama Buddha Avatar of Vishnu
Date of Devaram Trio
Topics
your opinion kanchi as 200 years old is unbelievable because it has given a list with shaka year month date. Do you know there is one mutt which gave shankara THE sanyasa deeksha . There is one guru peet TO ALL THE FOUR +1MUTTS WHICH YOUARE UNAWARE OF.THAT IS GOWDAPADACHARYA MUTT KAVALE GOA HAVING UNBROKEN LINEAGE OF 77 PONTIFFS.THE PRESENT BEING SMD.SHIVANANDA SARASWATHI. THAT IS GOWDAPADACHARYA LINEAGE . NOT SHANKARAS. BUT IT IS GURU BANDHU TO ALL SHANKAR PEETAS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY NO DSHANKER PEETAS HAVE CONNECTIONS NOR REVERENCE AS THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AS SHISTACHAR TO GURU PEETH BY ANY PEET. SHANKARA'S LINEAGE STARTS FROM SHANKARA ONLY AS ADVISED BY GOWDAPADACHARYA & GOVINDAMUNI.
ReplyDeleteMore Lies to cover Previous lies
ReplyDeleteI have a family history which date back to 17th century. That is my own family.Another person who is very enthusiastic to write the family tree. He could not find any history before yr 1750. Now he is not believing the history I have.My family tree is passed from generations.so whom to believe my cousin or generations which are passing our lineage? Any one if they have there history passes by generations will be confident on his version. If I start fom scratch I find only few becoz I have evidence till that. Indian history is badly destroyed and it is difficult to prove with evidence. But we have lineage passed on and if u say it is bluff it is up to you. But you are doing the same harm and with that we will wipe away our heritage.
DeleteGiving shaka year and month is no big deal ,I can also give.
ReplyDeleteNo body knows about this lineage and acknowledges them because it does not exist. It is fictional creation.
What is the proof that they existed?
Adisankara and his contemporary disciple Sureswara refer the Buddhist scholar Dharmakeerti by name. Dharmakeerti's date has been fixed by historians around AD 700. So Sankara could not have flourished earlier much less in BC period. But Kanchi Math says it exists from 509 BC. How this is possible.
ReplyDeleteCould there not have been more than one Buddhist scholar named Dharmakeerthi in the past? Is it not in the Indian traditions to have one named after a great seer or ancestor in the past?
DeleteAnyone who if supposed to be familiar with the teaching of Gita and Vedanta should know that senses must be taken under control to prevent gross mistakes which produce bad karma and improsons us in Samsara. So one should refrain from speaking bad words on Mahaswami Parachatya, since he is recognized as Sankaravatar in Kashi, and every word against him causes the most horrible karma and the wrath of Kamakshi Devi's wrath.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.srikanchimahaswami100.org/136.jpg
Hara Hara Shankar Yaja Yaja Shankar
I believe in karma and my karma is exposing lies. Let my karma judge me. Not self appointed judges like you Peppino sitting in Rome, Lazio, Italy.
ReplyDeleteWho are we to decide the exixtence of kanchi mutt? the sri chadrasekara of sringeri mutt who is the guru of sri abinava vidyateerta once said the kanchi acahrya sri.chandrasekaredra saraswati is doing all his work only with his permission even though both of them did not meet each other.Think about the realtionship of the acharyas and do not discuss about the exixstence of kanchi kamakoti peetam
ReplyDeleteWho are we?
ReplyDeleteThis is our country and our faith. When we can discuss about our gods, we can discuss anything under the sun. By-the-By, I am not discussing about personalities here.
Don't Ask who are we again.
Excellent article.. i had heard this truth from one of my guru, who is 86 years old.. and the kanchi mutt is undergoing the fruits of its own sins, when jayalalitha ordered jeyandrar to be arrested..
ReplyDeleteGuru Dhroha is one of the most severe sins in sanathana Dharma.. severe consequences will happen even for an individual who betrays his guru.. when a institution (mutt) itself does this, then it is the most adharmic act ever committed..
As long as Kanchi mutt continues its false claims, it is doing more and more sin.. To do a wrong knowingly is worst sin.. the tamil brahmins have to think, whether they accumulate this sin by supporting kanchi mutt, or to do prayaschitham by returning to the fold of sringeri mutt..
The kanchi mutt should also surrender to kumbakonam mutt and it should require them years of penance to wash away their sins..
I am concerned only about what is true here.
ReplyDeleteNothing more , nothing less.
The whole article is by one who derides the Kanchi Mutt.Then how can he justify the four so called original mutts of which three claim to be established before Christ and the southern mutt assigns 788 A.D.,all by the same Adi Shankara.Is it not a joke?Looks there is some vested interest to belittle Kanchi Mutt.Also Kudali ,the confluemce of Tunga and Bhadra was the original place where Sharada was consecrated.Then how come present Shringeri is on the banks of Tunga?
ReplyDeleteYou have nothing to substantiate kanchi mutt claims, so you have started personal attacks on me.
ReplyDeleteI have discussed about date of Shankara in another article, please go there for date of Shankara.
Putting down Sringeri mutt in no way establishes Kanchi mutt claims.
The real history of Adhi Shankarachaarya was completely modified according to their whims and fancies and tried to establish the birth year of Adhi Shankarachaarya to 509BC. Before 700AD no tamil litreture prevailed at that time had mentioned the name of Adhi Shankaraacharya.
ReplyDeleteBecause of these kind of sins committed by the duplicate Kanchi Shankara madam, Jayendrar left Kanchi mutt in the year 1983 and he was traced at Thalai Kaveri (Karnataka) by the police after two weeks. Is it fair on the part of so called Sankaraacharya? Jayendrar (Subramanian) was arrested by the police in connection with murder of Sakararaman who is also a devotee and worker of Kanchi mutt and spent in VELLORE JAIL for 40 days and he applied bail and got bail. Vijayendran was also arrested in the same murder case and spent in CHENNAI JAIL for good number of days. The case is still going on in Pondicherry court for a long time. Now the same Jayendrar had involved in another scandal by speaking with the Judge who is enquiring the Jayendrar case and tried to offer huge amount of money to give verdict in favour of him. Jayendrar was also chargesheeted in Auditor Radhakrishnan attack case in Chennai court. Vijayendran's brother Raghu had swallowed huge amounts of mutt money and constructed big bungalows at Valasaravakkam, Chennai. There are some affairs with ladies by the FAKE SHANKARAACHARYARS were also reported to the police and investigations are still going on.
I would like to question the so called followers of Kanchi Mutt if the murders and ladies affairs happened in your family how will you react. Will you accept or protest? I also wish to bring the notice of Kanchi mutt followers these kind of illegal things are not happening in any of the FOUR MATHAS FOUNDED BY ADHI SHANKARAACHARYA. There are so many things to share in this platform but I dont find time to write more now. I will come fack soon if require. I appeal to Kanchi mutt followers to apraise the issue without any whims and fancies and requested to desert the Kanchi mutt because it is not a real Shankara mutt.
What is your comment to do with Origin of Kanchi mutt?
DeleteIf u mean that kanchi mutt is 200 years old, Then who is Jagadguru Bhagavannama Bodendra Saraswathi Swamigal???
DeleteWell Aravind, I also did not know who he was and I googled him and found on another blog site Indiansaints that he lived a hundred years before a Peshwas ruler in Tanjavur(Don't Know who was the peshwa ruler is). It is this time around that Kumbakonam mutt was established under Peshwas.
Deleteif all of you are hindus then you will forget about the controversies and respect hinduism for what it is. do not attack our own hindu organizations. if you have the guts, attack muslim or christian organizations.
Deletedear Arvind, Bgavannama Bothendra Sarswathi and Boothendra Sarswathi are different. both are said to be the madathipathi's of Kanchi. but in the history of Nerur swamigal(Sadasiva Brummendral) he was mentioned as Kumbakonam mutt swamigal only.
Deleteand for Aryan blood - we will first correct our self. then go to others.
another link, on the same lines about truth of kanchi mutt..
ReplyDeletehttp://www.advaita-vedanta.org/avhp/alt_hindu_msg.html
It is high time that folks use AD and BC in the right context.
ReplyDeleteAD is italian for Anno Domini - translated as 'in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ'
Which obviously is not what you would like to use here!
Instead use BCE or Before Common Era for BC (Before Christ) and CE or Common Era instead of AD.
While we might or might not know what is right or not, please remember that Vedanta of all the philosophies of India was NEVER history-centric (unlike semitic religions!). So in the TRUE spirit of Vedanta, ignore these claims and focus on the immediate truth... the falsehoods (whatever it is) will die of itself. What is TRULY needed are folks who honestly and authentically live the vedanta values. In that spirit the great paramacharya of kanchi was an outstanding example... That is all that is needed for us - not this hair-splitting which results in all kinds of bad blood amongst vedanta brethren! If some folks are claiming something wrong.. .that is their ignorance which should not affect exemplariness of the transformational sadhana that a true sanyasi has done - like for example the great paramacharya! In such context, these history-centric claims or counter-claims are of absolutely no consequence!
You can Call AD or CE , BC or BCE, How does it change anything, it points to the same.
DeleteIf you want to close your eyes like that Cat and think the world has gone dark, it is your wish. Who can stop it?
emotions apart...it is a clear historical proof that this is called only kumbakonam madam... and as the article says the east india companies letters are all over the web world to check now... and the kamachi temple affairs can be easily traced .. surely one day some one will come up a nice case with all the records to tier this mutt of its false stories and claims
ReplyDeleteFor the devotees or disciples of the Great Acharyas of both the Mutts, the controversy is immaterial. We have heard about great personalities like Thethiyur Subramanya Sastrigal, Noornani Ananthakrishna Sastrigal, etc. and now presently we have Goda Venkateswara Sastrigal, Prof. Krishnamurthy Sastrigal, Shri Mani Dravid Sastrigal, Shri Vijayaraghava Ganapatikal, etc. who are devoted to both the Mutts and who have been recongnised by the Acharyas of both the Mutts. The controversy is quite unncessary as the outcome would be only delusion.
ReplyDeleteFor Faith nothing is required, just the heart is enough.
DeleteWe are talking about Religion here. Religion is an institution. Like any other establishment, it is made up of people, People in it can be corrupt.
Again I am not talking about Faith here, just religion. If you go by Adi Shankara teachings, you will not even distinguish between different forms of god, let alone mutts.
The Controversy will be immaterial if Kanchi mutt has struck to truth and just did service to god and people. But it does not do so, so the controversy. Lot of mutts even founded this century do divine and social service, no controversies there!
Nice article...Sometimes it is hard to accept that our understanding is not correct... But only truth persists.... I feel today both the mutts are doing in its own way to society and the motto of both the mutts is on Shankara's teachings only...India is a land of many yogis like Chandrashekara Bharathi of Sringeri mutt as well as Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi of Kanchi mutt... As a Hindu let us accept and propagate their great deeds by ignoring all others... If kanchi was first or sringeri was last, but there are enough sources saying that great sage called Adi Shankara existed and Advaita universal philosophy irrespective of any religion, country, caste, folk..... Lets stick for this and strive for this....
ReplyDeleteExactly that is what we need, instead of arguing on what is true and what is wrong.
DeleteI am not sure if Kanchi mutt is true mutt or not but Chandrasekhara saraswathi was a great saint and advaitha guru. We need to accept it.
We need to consider and take all good things from all mutts (if possible proper documentation of Adviatha philosophy). Rest all is waste of time.
Very true. Its only some self proclaimed idiots who talks all this nonsense. We need to consider and take all good things from all the mutts.
DeleteBefore commenting on Kanchi and Other Mutts lineage, what is the proof of your grand and grand parents other your ancestral exists? Do you have proof? Do you have clue? Do you have any trace? except YOU, no one. right?
DeleteLikewise, in those days you cannot expect some one to collect the proof and show that to some one asking stupid questions.
It is historians who claim that Adi Shankara lived around 7th or 8th century AD. the 68th Shankaracharya of Kanchi has given a very detailed explanation, refuting the arguments of historians using available evidence. The 7th or 8th century dating of Adi Shankara is only speculative. There is no scientific basis to it. Historians have also dated the Vedas to 1500 BC, which goes against what is mentioned in the Hindu scriptures. About whether the Kanch mutt was established by Adi Shankara, I don't know. I do have a lot of respect for the 68th head of this institution - Chandrashekarendra Saraswathy. He is more convincing than the academic historians.
ReplyDeleteonce Sringeri Shankara Jivan muktha Shri chandrasekhara bharathi maha swami(parama guru OF pRESENT shankaacharya tapaschakravarthy shri mad bhaarathi theertharu)found one of the scholar preparing a material to coutnter the claims of kanchi mutt.Then he said that "when we are all followrs of adi shankara and teaching the same message of advaita and protecting dharmic traditions like srividya why do we have to fight amongst ourselves.If they(Kanchi MUTT) SAY sharada of sringeri is not real dont try to fight them.Sharada is for real and she is the godess for this kalpa.the shakthi in her will not fade by mere claims.Bhakthi and faith are what we need."
ReplyDeletethis is what he said.
Kanchi mutt is known for its immeasaureable service to dharma.Kanchi mahaswami jivanmuktha IS widely recognized and worshipped by Many srividya scholars.THE GREAT LITERRARY WORKS LIKE Muka PAnchasati and nama mahima were written by seers of Kanchi MUTT.MANY SCHOLARS ARE EQUALLY RECOGNIZED BY BOTHE THE MUTTS AND MAHASWAMI IS RESPECTED BY EVERYONE.
dont waste time like this....
it is better to study the works of adi shankara and adhere to the principles taught by seers and put them in practice with faith in guru and amba.
Why exploring truth should be against faith?
DeleteSringeri mutt claims their pontiff's are around 30 th or 31st where as all other Sankara mutts including the Ramachandrapura mutt at Karnataka established by Adi Sankara himself has their pontiff's running around 65 ~ 75. Kanchi mutt pontiff's also running around 70th pontiff etc. This establishes very clearly that Kanchi mutt was originally established by Adi Shankaracharya himself. May be Srigneri mutt claim over Kudli mutt established by Adi Sankara to be verified and to be established.
ReplyDeleteAge of Sri Adi Sankaracharya
ReplyDeleteFixing the time of Sri Sankara:
Of the numerous compositions with the title 'Sankara Vijaya’ and describing the exploits of Sri Sankara, the Brihat Sankara Vijaya of Chitsukhacharya is the most famous and authoritative.` The author Chitsukhacharya was associated with Sankara from the age of 5, in his studies at school and when he (Sankara) became a Sanyasi (or monk! in his 10th Year, followed his example. receiving the initiation at his hands and always kept him company thereafter throughout his wenderings and exploits all over the country, survived Sri Sankara for several years and composed his great work 'The Brihat-Sankara—Vijaya’ to immortalise the achivements of his friend and preceptor. The date of the birth of Sri Sankara is specified in this authoritative treatise, This date tallies with the date assigned to the birth of Sri Adi Sankaracharya in the lists of the Acharyas of the various religious establishments known as Sankara Pithas established by Sri Adi Sankara at Dwarka, Kanchi, Puri etc, These lists of the heads of the religious establishments are complete and continuous from the time of the founder Sri Adi Sankara to the present day. These lists are therefore traditional documents of unquestioned authenticity and authority. The date of the birth of Sri Sankara according to these authorities is given by the verse.
"తిష్యే ప్రయాత్య నలసేవధి బాణనేత్రే |
యే నందనే దినమణా వుదగధ్వభాజి |
రాధే దితే రుడువినిర్గతమంగలగ్నే |
స్యాహూతవాన్ శివగురుః సచ శంకరేతి ||
tishyae prayaatya nalasaevadhi baaNanaetrae |
yae naMdanae dinamaNaa vudagadhvabhaaji |
raadhae ditae ruDuvinirgatamangalagnae |
syaahootavaan Sivaguru@h sacha SaMkaraeti ||
तिष्ये प्रयात्य नलसेवधि बाणनेत्रे |
ये नंदने दिनमणा वुदगढ़वभाजी |
राधे दिते रुडुविनिर्गतमन्गलग्ने |
स्याहूतवान सिवगुरुहू सच श्रंकरेति ||
Meaning:···-· Anala=3. Sevadhi = 9, Bana = 5, Netra= 2, which comes to 2593rd year of Kali (or 509 B. C.)
On Sunday, Vaisakha Sukla Panchami in the constellation and Lagna of Dhanus in the year Nandana, a son was born to Sivaguru and he was named ‘Sankara’ by his father in 2593 Kali (which corresponds to 3102-2593=509B.C)
Referring to the extraordinary meeting of Sankara with Kumarila Bhatta (the great expounder of the Karma Kanda of the Vedas) on his funeral pyre, the Jina Vijaya declares: -- "There-upon when 15 years had elapsed from his birth, (in 2608 Kali or 494 B.C,,) Sankara met Bhattacharya (`Kumarila Bhatta) for the first and last time."
Referring to the date of Sankaracharya's Niryana, the Jina Vijaya states:
ఋషి ర్బాణ స్తధా భూమి ర్మర్త్యాక్షౌ వామమేళనాత్|
ఏకత్వేన లభేతాంకం తామ్రాక్షా తత్ర వత్సరః|
RShi rbaaNa stadhaa bhuumi rmartyaakshau vaamamaeLanaat|
eakatveana labheataankam taamraakshaa tatra vatsara@h|
रशी रबान स्ताधा भूमि र्मार्त्याक्षाऊ वामामेलानात |
एअकत्वेअन लभेअतान्कम तामराक्षा तत्र वत्सरः |
"When we calculate the figures Rishi = 7. Bana = 5, Bhumi = 1 and Martyakshau = 2, in the reverse order and reckon the total number of years in the Yudhishtira Saka(of the Jains), we arrive at the year Tamraksha (Raktakshi) as the year of Sankara’s death."
Hence Sankara's Niryana works out to 2157+468 = 2625 Kali or 3102-2625=477 B.C.; (or 2634 B.C. - 2157 =) 477B.C.
(Note I: The Jains and Buddhists use a Yudhishtira era which commences 468 years after Kali i. e. in (3102 B.C.-468=) 2634 B. C.)
The Jinavijaya is a composition by a Jaina. It contains among other things a brief account of the life of Kumarila Bhatta whom the Jains (who condemn the Vedic rituals) held as their bitterest opponent. Therein we find a reference to the meeting of Sankara with Kumarila just before the death of the latter.
There could be no partiality in the writer in favour of his opponents..... To be continued
Regarding this Sankara vjaya of Chitsukacharya, Sri SwamiTapasyananda of Ramakrishna Math writes:"Brihat Sanklara Vijaya and Prachina Sankaravijaya are supposed to be the products of the contemporaries of Sankara, their authors being the Acharya's disciples. Nothing can be said of this claim, as THE TEXTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE AT PRESENT. Si T S Narayana Sastri, the author of 'The Age of Sankara', claims to have come across what he calls "a mutilated copy....There is, however, no means to assess the authenticity of the claim on behalf of this mutilated copy, as it is not available anywhere." It is really surprising that this FAMOUS Sankara Vijaya is not available anywhere.
Delete.....Chronology of the Peetadhipaties of Kanchi KamaKoti Peetha, commencing from Adi Sankara (509 B. C)
ReplyDeleteThe Sankaracharya matha established in Kanchipura by Sri Sankara himself, (transferred to Kumbhakonam in the Tanjore District, in the end of the eighteenth century) and presided over from time to time by men of vast learning, great piety and mighty intellect, has continued to be a centre of Hindu culture and religion in these parts. Some of the
occupants of the Kamakoti pitha, are among the most distinguished teachers of Vedanta philosophy and authors of well-known treatises on Advaita-Vedanta. _
The Chronology of the Kamakoti Pitha is of the utmost importance as it gives accurate dates for a number of events in the history of India. Therefore, all information that is dated, and dated accurately, is of immense importance to it. There can be no doubt of the accuracy of the chronology as a whole. The Punya—sloka—manjarigives only the cyclic year, the (lunar) month, Paksha and tithi, sometimes
even the time of the day, decease of the gurus. But here and there. the Kali or Saka year is given, and with the help of these, we can get a complete chronology.
The chronological table of Kamakoti clearly gives the following dates among many:
1. Establishment of Peetha 482 B.C.
2. Sri Sankaracharya, First Acharya, occupied peetha for 6 years, demise: Raktakshi year, Vaisakha month, Sukla-Paksha, 11th day, 476 B.C.
Nepalaraja Vamsavali:
In the Suryavamsi dynasty of Nepal the 18th king was Vrishadeva Varma. He reigned from 2554 Kali to 2615 Kali or 547 B.C., to 486 BC. (Vide “Chronology of Nepal History Reconstructed by this Author.)
It is stated in the Nepalaraja Vamsavli that; "Adi Sankaracharya came from the South and destroyed the Buddha faith." Kali 2614 or 487 B.C. (Vide The Ind. Ant. Vol. XIII p. 411 ff)
Temple of Sankaracharya in Kashmir:
"Gopaditya the 70th king in the list of Kashmir kings (417-357 B.C.) founded Agraharas and built the temples of Jyestheswara and Sankaracharya" (A short history of Kashmir By P. Gwasha Lal, B.A., Ed. 1932; p. 27).
“Sankaraoharya"-—"This shrine is situated in the city of Srinagar. Sankaracharya is an ancient temple crowning the Takht-i-Sulaiman hill and standing 1000 ft. above the valley. The temple and the hill on which it stands take their name from Sankaracharya, the great South Indian Teacher of Monism who came to Kashmir from Travancore. This temple was built by king Gopaditya who reigned in Kashmir from 368 to 308 B.C. It was repaired later by the liberal minded Muslim king Zainul Abdin." (Vide The Hindu dated 17——7·—1949 p. 15, 2nd column and Kali Saka Vijnanam by K. Venkatachalam part III, p. 66). The real time of Gopaditya is 417-357 B.C. `Therefore it is evident that Sri Adi Sankaracharya lived before Gopaditya’s time i. e. Between 509-477 B.C. (This is elaborately discussed in Nepala-Raja·Vamsavali by it author K. Venkatachalam)
Esoteric Buddhism: Mr. A. P. Sinnett in his "Esoteric Buddhism" (VIII Ed· 1903, Ist Ed. being printed in 1883-—pp. 182, 183) assigns the year 503 B.C. or thereabouts for Sankaracharya. This tallies with the date 509 B.C., given in Brihat Sankara Vijaya and Jina Vijaya.
It is clear from the above evidence that Sri Adi Shankaracharya was born in 509 B.C., and passed away in 477 B.C.
Note: The above extract is from The Chronology of Kashmir History Reconstructed by Pandit
Kota Venkata Chelam published in 1955.
Markhandeya purana contains verses that speak about Adishankara and establishment of Sankara mutt in Kanchi. Surprisingly Markhandeya purana is written in BC. Refer Sacred Kanchi, by Dr.Gayathri
ReplyDeleteNamaskar. I am not interested in the main topic at all; only wish to point out some non sequiturs in the Nepalraja Vamsavali: how could Sri Adi Shankara come to Nepal to "destroy" Buddhism when it was not even born? There has been much research re: Bhagavan Buddha's dates, and there is much more to be learnt. But suffice to say, we can study the Yogacara and Madhyamika schools to understand what Sri Shankara was arguing against. We also have the Kashmir Shaiva and Vaishnava arguments with certain Buddhist sects, although Sri Shambhunatha is given as the root Guru of both AbhinavaGupta and the Druk Kagyu sect. One can o to Ladakh today and see the references and veneration for 'Shomunatha". Reading the Mangalachara for the Madhyamika Karika, it is clear that Sri Nagarjuna, a vaidika brahmin in purvashrama, is using specific phrases from the Upanishads, "pratitya samutpada .....prapancopashamamshivam..." as a nuanced challenge to other vaidikas who will have seized upon the implications. The flowering of those Buddhist schools against which Sri Shankara took up cudgels, [and because of which he has been accused ofbeing a "prachannabauddha", a cryptoBuddhist] flourished at known periods in history, and that was NOT before the Common Era. We have plenty of evidence from Ashoka, the many Hinayana schools, the Mahasamghikas, etc. about the evolution of Buddhism in India and greater India. Likewise, the dates and evolution of the Vajrayana in Mahacina, i.e. Tibet. Whatever the merits of the Nepal rajvamsavali is, the proposition that Sri Shankara arrived in Nepal some 400 years before the COmmon Era, is absurd and rubbish. I am an orthodox vaidika, well-read in Buddhist scriptures/history of the Nyingma and Gelugpa, as also that of the Shaiva and Shakta sects of Kashmir and Bangabhumi, not excluding the holy Devikalottara Agama, which reads like something Sri Nagarjuna would have written!! Sri Shankara also differs for SriPadaGaudapada's Ajativada in many conspicuous ways Why would he do that? Surely not to promote his own viewpoint but to address the adyatana dharma of the times, that was being challenged in a negative way by certain elements within Buddhism. Not all elements, but certain elements. Sanatana Dharma si continually being elaborated and enlarged to meet the needs of adyatana dharma.
ReplyDeleteIn the year 1817 Revenue Board took over the management of temples. They were managed by Court of Directors. In 1840, the Government gives back to old Sthalattars. For Kanchi temples also old trustees (Muthusamy Sastry, Annakutty Sastry, Neelakanta Arunachala Sastry, Krishna sastry, Ramakrishna Sastry & Others) applied to hand over the management back to them. Now Sankaracharya of Coombaconam who had come the Kumbhabhishekam done in 1840 also applied. Collector Freeze of Chinglepet appointed the Sankarachriar of Coombakonam as the temporary trustee of KanchiKamakshi temple in the year 1842.(vide BookNo.42, Takeed No.28 dated 5.11.1842.)This sankarachariar takes charge in 1843. Even after that he agrees ti pay a portion of income to Neelakanta Sastry & his descendants!
ReplyDeleteThe hereditary trustees of the temple apply against this to the collector wherein this Swamiji is referred to as "entirely stranger to Kanchipuram"
In 1763, there was a dispute in celebrating RUBY LEELA BY bERI AND kOMATTI Chetties. Nawab Walaja refers this refers to Lokaguru Sankaracharya at Sringeri. Under His directive ddecides against Beri Chetties which has been cited by District Judge F R Coleridge ICS.
As per the NepaliVamsavali, The Sankaracharya who visited Nepal in the reign of Vrishadeva Varman is stated to be 7th incarnation of Sankara. If we work out the vamsavali from the 2nd king Chandravarman, the life span of the king at the time of Sankara is 400 years!. Space forbids such a working here. The book narrates that in the previous six incarnations he is said to have been defeated by Buddhists and burnt!The other narrations in this book about Sankaracharya are ridiculous. Murdering people, cutting off tufts and sacred threads and ordering animal sacrifce are some of his activities in Nepal according to Vamsavali.
ReplyDeleteThis book also states that in the reign of Varadeva (521 AD) another incarnation of Sankaracharya visited Nepal.A Lama urinated in his front and Sankara abused him. Now the Lama ripped open his body to demonstrate his purity and asks Sankara to do it. Now Sankara is freightened, transformed into a kite and tried to fly away. What a description of the greratest saintly philosopher of India. The descriptions go on and on in the same vein. We can not read it.It is rerally unfortunate that this book is relied to decide about the life of Sankara!
Above all, the Government of Nepal in their letter dated 26.6.1986 categorically declare that "We have not yet found any record so as to prove that Shri Adi Shankaracharya has effected a visit to Nepal during 400-500 BC.This letter has been published in the book "Shankara's Date' by R M Umesh, foreword by Sri Kunjunni Raja, printed at The India Printing Works, Mylapore, Chennai-4.
Yes that's true.
DeleteIn fact the kanchi kamakotee people under the mahaperiyava have caused trouble to the author Shri R.M Umesh for bringing out the truth in his book - Date of Shankara.
ReplyDeleteThey went one step further and cast black magic on shri R. Krishnaswamy iyer for writing the book - Truth about kumbakonam mutt.
It was jyeshta mahasannidhanam who removed the black magic and gave sanyasa deeksha to shri krishnaswamy iyer and he became shri jnananda bharati swamigal.
Such are the evil ways of them. Finally they paid back. Mahathirrutu periyava
Dear Sri Hari, You have left out the troubles given by the kumbakonam math to Si Rajagopala Sarma of Varanasi.
Delete