KANCHI KAMAKOTI MATH
A MYTH
Edited by
Varanasi Raj Gopal Sharma
Varanasi-1 (UP.)
“qrrairrec on
Publishers
Ganga-Tunge Prakashan
50 & 51 Hanuman Ghat
Varanasi 1 (UP)
(21 001)10.
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KANCHI KAMAKOTI MATH
AMYTH
CONTENTS
Editors Note
Introguetion
Date of Shri Shankara
Birth Place of Sn Shankara
Mathamne
Sarvagnya Peetha
Pace of Disappearance
Kumbakonam = Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt
{(Gneage & Gururatnamala)
‘Si Vigyeteerne, Sri Bharat Kichna Tecra
SS Vidyarenya & three Machavas.
Copper Plates of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt
Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt Buldings at Kenchi
‘Kamakshi Temple & Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt:
‘Removal of Ios of three temples in Kanchi.
‘Shing of Kanchi Kamakot Mut headquarters
from Kanchi to Kumbakonam va Tanjore.
Sf Suresnwara & Sri Viswarupa
Story of Five Lngas trom Kailasa
‘Sh Gaudapadacharya & Sri Govindapadacharya
Kanchi Kamakotl Mut authori (50 called) —
uranic and Later Literature...
‘The Tatanka Pratishta~ Akhlandeshwari Dew 1844 A.
Rebuttal & Denial eters -
“The curious ease ofthe missing monk”
25
a
4
a7EDITOR'S NOTE
(On the dawn of 238.1987, Sri. Jayendra Saraswathi
Sswamigal (Head of Kanchi ‘Kamakot! math) suddenly
isappeared. He reappeared after a week. The media gave a
‘wide publicity to this episode. Sri Swamigal lett the math,
without the knowledge of anyone, not even his guru or his
Sishya, at dead of night. Mis sacred Danda and Kamandalu
‘ware found abandoned in the Kanchi Math, That he deserted
the place during the Chaturmasya period and went on a tour,
after laking the oth during Vyasa Puja is significant. This
Unshastrie action invited comments from the Jagadgury
‘Sankaracharyas of Owaraka and Puri- Amnaya Maths. When
{questioned by he Press and public on this, the Paramacharya
‘ofthe Kanchi Mutt evaded the issue. He playeditdown later by
saying "after all, ne had gone there only for some deep and
‘peaceful meditation.” In fact, he threatened to walk the
Sistance from Kanchi to Talacauvery, if Sr. Jayendra
Saraswathi Swamigal did not return. The unshastic action is
‘made to look insignificant by the ingenuity of the
Paramacharya. Marvelious indeed! The worst crisis in the
Annals of the Kanchi Kamakoti Math stands defused
“The Paramacharya of Kanchi Math met the press, ind in the
Hindu’ dated 10.8.1887, is reported as having sald, “It has
tod an opportunity for us to carty that the Kanchi Mathis
‘he Moola Math'(orignal).” The inspiration (or provocation?)
:0 write this booklet is got from this statement,
“Salyameva Jayatey say our scriptures. tis adopted in our
National Emblem too. To what extent there is ‘satya or truth
Dehind the Paramacharya's statement is oitically examined in
his booklet. The issue before us is that whether Sankara,
2stabished at allan Amnaya Math at Kanchi or not, The ise
8 sidetracked by the Kanchi Math by bringing In extraneous
tnd irelevant facts belore the public. As the Amnaya Maths
stand for the four Vedas andits Mahavakyas, here cannotbe a
ith Amnaya Math, uniegs there existed a fifth Veda and ite
Jpadeshtavya Mahavakya,
It is during the past couple of centuries, a relentless
>ropaganda has been unleashed by the Kanchi Math fo carveout a place tor iselt among the Maths established by Adi
Sankara. Atmong the Amaya Maths established by tne great
preceptor, Sri. Act Sankara, Kanchi tinds no place. How ther
ould a claim be made for acceptance ofthe Amnaye Moth by
jeople? A story is concocted that Adi Sankara established 4
Maths at Sringer, Pur, Dwaraka and Badri for his 4 sishyas,
tnd founded a Math at Kanchi for himself, which, therefore is
the supreme institution of Sankara, Gulible people
Suecumbed to tis wily propoganda nd the Math has cometo
be venerated as such. The purpose ofthis book sto examine
ts to what extent there s the truth n this, Readers may please
(go through the various facts based on historical and
SGovernment records, seriptures and opinions reported in the
Marious media given herein, and infer for themseves te truth
bbehine the claims of Kanchi Math
Finally. would be falling in my duties, if! donotexpress my
gratitude to the numerous persons who contributed ther mite
Rneneially and otherwise n bringing out tis publication. «>
\V. RAJ GOPAL SHARMA
VARANASI-1
camp: BANGALORE