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 69th Shankaracharya and his successor
the 70th 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 8th 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)