Kashi Math

Kashi Math was founded in 1542 AD. Before the Kashi Math was established, most Vaishnava Gowd Saraswat Brahmins were followers of the Shri Kavindra Math of Madhvacharya. During the 15th century, Sri Ramachandra Tirtha of Moola Math (Jagadguru Sriman Madhwacharya Moola Maha Samsthana) initiated two shishyas as sannyasins: Vibhudendra Tirtha and Vidyanidhi Tirtha. The latter started a new math called Uttaradi Math and became head of the same, while Sri Vibhudendra Tirtha continued Parampara of Sri Ramachandra Tirtha, main parampara of Sriman Madhwacharya, now named Sri Raghavendra Math or Raghavendra Mantralaya after Sri Raghavendra of Mantralaya. Due to their proximity to South Kanara and Kerala.

Later, when Surendra Tirtha became the head of the Math at Kumbhakonam (Mula Matha), one of his disciples, Vijayindra Tirtha undertook a Chaturmasya (a religious event lasting four months) at Kochi in 1539–1540. Here, he selected Sri Vittalacharya and was given deeksha as Yadavendra Tirtha. Yadavendra Tirtha went on to become head of the new Kashi Math at Varanasi established in 1542 AD. Kumbhakonam Math gave two idols of Vyasa and Rama (Raghupati) to Shrimat Yadavendra Tirtha along with the rights to guide the Gowd Saraswats.