SRI RAGHAVENDRA MATHA

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It is essential to dwell a little on the matter of names of the Mutts. There is ambiguity about the names of Mutts during Acharya’s period and the periods before and after. As could be seen from the records of the Mutt, instead of the names of different Mutts appearing, only the respective names of predecessors and those of their predecessors find mention. There has been a mention as Shree Rayara Mutt in the records of Shree Mutt. Now the different Mutts have different types of names. Firstly they are veritably named after the respective founders or the celebrated pontiffs, either, or secondly after the places where they are established. The eight Mutts of Udupi, the two Mutts of Sathyatheertha and the Subrahmanya Mutt established by Acharya’s younger brother Vishnutheertha have become popular by the names of their places.

The Mutts established by Acharya’s disciples and the Vyasaraja Mutt and the original Mutt are known after the names of the founders and the celebrated saints. Silhouetted against this background, the name Uttaradi Mutt is at variance. This has given scope to climb this as the original Mutt. But there is absolutely no proof. It also defies logic. The main contention of their argument is that as the disciples of Acharya, Padmanabhatheertha and others belonged to north, the main Mutt acquired the name Uttaradi Mutt. But this name fails to suggest that this Mutt is the main Mutt. The claim that Padmanabhatheertha and others hailing from north themselves called their Mutt as Uttaradi Mutt is both unreal and unnatural.

Even the Mutts of Acharyas of other sects do not have names based on such an absurd logic. Therefore, there is every reason to conclude that after Ramachandratheertha during the period of Vidyanidhi, branching out into a different Mutt this must have come to be called Uttaradi Mutt. One more reason can be adduced for this. As Vidyanidhitheertha, the founder of Uttaradi Mutt was a Taulava, it is but natural for him to have called the Mutt established by him as Uttaradi Mutt. Moreover, mainly because of the absence of the names of such legendary saints like Vibudhendra, Vijayeendra, Raghavendra, Sumatheendra, Chandrikacharya in the tradition of this Mutt, it must have become popular as Uttaradi Mutt. All said, to claim that “Uttaradi Mutt is the main Mutt just because it has retained its name all along” is simply inappropriate. That apart, in course of time the trio, Vyasaraja Mutt, Raghavendraswamy Mutt, Uttaradi Mutt becoming very popular began to grow in harmony. Great souls like Sumatheendra, Sugunendra through their magnanimity have exhibited their fraternity by helping Uttaradi Mutt come out of crises. It is everybody’s wish to see it continue. Instead of squabbling over trifles like a name it is better to work towards achieving unity amongst Mutts. This is certain to greatly benefit the Madhwa society.