Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchipuram

Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Kanchipuram

Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham is a Hindu monastic institution located in Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu. The head of the matha is referred to as a "Sankaracharya". This is situated on the Salai Street very near to the Kachabeswarar temple. This Mutt contains the Samadhi of Kanchi Shree Mahaperiva. The place is called as the Brindavanam, The mutt is open for visitors till 8.00 officially, but normally is extended till 9.00.

History

The mutt is founded by the Adi Sankara. HH Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, the 69^th Shankaracharya and his successor the 70^th Shankaracharya, HH Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi are the current pontiffs, before which, the mutt was headed by HH Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Mahaswamiji.

The Kamakoti Peetam however, traditionally refers to Kamakshi, referred popularly as Kamakoti referring to Goddess Durga. Kancheepuram is referred to as Kanchi. The Vyakarana Mahabhashya of Patanjali uses the word 'Kanchi' and it can be thus understood that the word Kanchi also has a Sanskrit base. Under the guidance of Sureshvarachaya, Adi Shankara appointed Sarvajnatman as the second Peetathipathi. The mutt however has no historical chronology before the 1820's. 

Chronological list of Sankaracharya’s

As per claims of the Kanchi Mutt (erstwhile Kumbakonam mutt) it was established by Adi Sankara in 482 BC though Adi Sankara is historically accepted period is 8^th century AD. The following order of guru Parampara given by the mutt is subject to proof of existence of the mutt prior to 1823.

The chronological list of Guru Parampara of the Matham follows:

1.              Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada (482 BC-477 BC)

2.           Suresvaracharya (477 BC-407 BC) (One of the four disciples who is the first guru of Sringeri mutt, Kanchi mutt was reportedly not one of the four mutts established by Adi Sankara)

3.              Sarvajnatman (407 BC-367 BC)[5]

4.              Sathya Bodhendra Saraswati (367 BC-268 BC)[6]

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.          Vidyateerthendra Saraswati (1297–1385)

52.          Sankaranandendra Saraswati (1385–1417)

53.          Purnananda Sadasivendra Saraswati (1417–1498)

54.          Vyasachala Mahadevendra Saraswati (1498–1507)

55.          Chandrachudhendra Saraswati II (1507–1524)

56.          Sarvajna Sadasiva Bhodhendra Saraswati (1524–1539)

57.          Paramasivendra Saraswati II (1539–1586)

58.          Atma Bodhendra Saraswati (1586–1638)

59.          Bodhendra Saraswathi (1638–1692)

60.          Advaitatma Prakasendra Saraswati (1692–1704)

61.          Mahadevendra Saraswati IV (1704–1746)

62.          ChandrasekharendraSaraswati V (1746–1783)

63.          Mahadevendra Saraswati V (1783–1813)

64.          Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VI (1813–1851)

65.          Sudarsana Mahadevendra Saraswati (1851–1891)

66.          Chandrasekharendra Saraswati VII (1891 - 7 February 1907)

67.          Mahadevendra Saraswathi V (7 February 1907 – 13 February 1907)

68.          Chandrashekarendra Saraswati (13 February 1907 – 3 January 1994)

69.          Jayendra Saraswathi (3 January 1994 – Present)

70.          Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati (successor)