Gokarna Math - History

History

In the true sense, establishment of Shree Mutt renowned as the Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Mutt coinci­dentally took place in the Himalayas at Badrikashram on Chaitra Shukla 2, saka 1397 (1475 A.D.)

Shree Madhvacharya had established Ashtamuttas (eight mutts) at Udupi to disseminate the Dvaita philosophy of the Mudhva sect. Of these eight, one was the Phalimaru Mutt. The Saraswat community spread along the Western Coast of India, following the philosophy of the Vaishnava sect had accepted the spiritual guid­ance of this Phalimaru Mutt.

The tenth Acharya of the Phalimaru Muth Shree Ramchandra Teerth, while on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas accompanied by his entourage, was taken seriously ill. The place being inacces­sible and remote from Udupi, it was not possible to establish any contact with the headquarters of the Mutt at Udupi. Fearing that the lineage of the Acharyas of the Mutt may be severed in case he breathes his last at the feet of Lord Narayan, and the tradition of the Mutt would be curtailed, as an alternative arrangement he ritu­ally conferred the discipleship on an eligible Saraswat bhrahmachari (celibate bachelor). Having thus initiated him into the Mutt tradition by giving diksha and having bestowed the name of Shree Narayan Teerth on him, the Guruswami advised him to return to Udupi after duly completing his pilgrimage.

After being duly initiated into renunciation, Shree Narayan Teerth resolved to complete his pilgrimage to the sacred spots and shrines of North India. Thus moving from places of pilgrimage such as Kurukshetra and Brahmavarta to Brahmahruda, he fi­nally arrived at the world-renowned pilgrim centre of Varanasi. This ancient land of Vaishnavas is considerd as the abode of rest of Lord Madhava.

The holy month of Kartik had drawn near and the Swamiji was aware of the extraordinary significance of the sacred dip at the Panchaganga ghat at this auspicious time. In fact, it has been mentioned in the Ramayana that Lord Ram had made a year-long sojourn at Varanasi on the way to his vanavas (disbandment).

It so happened that, during the very month of Kartik, the prin­cess of Kashi (Varanasi), along with her companions arrived at the ghat for the gangasnaan (holy bath). As had been her practice, she kept her ornaments on the bank over the clothes and dipped into the water. But due to the extreme cold, she began to shiver and quickly rushing for dry clothes on the shore and pulled them on.

Having completed their bath, as the entire troupe was about to return to the palace, it was discovered that the diamond studded bangle of the princess was lost. But where could it go? Who could have dared to steal the bangle of the princess? An intense search was launched but to no avail.

An hermit was seen engaged in japa anushtthan (ritual of chant-worship) at one corner of the ghat. Many had seen this alien sanyasin (ascetic) there. Although there was a hue and cry over the lost ornament of the princess, it had not disturbed the Concen­tration of the hermit engrossed in his worship. However, the sol­diers disturbed his meditation and accosted him with their suspi­cion. His reply was spontaneous and forthright:

"We are ascetics who have renounced the world. What en­ticement could wealth and ornaments hold for the like of us? When we don't even covet a square meal a day, why would we turn trai­tors to our own belief of non-accumulation and astheya vrata (non­steaking) ?"

Although Shree Narayan Teerth was unmoved by the accusa­tion, the soldiers refused to be dissuaded by his candid speech and searched him. But they were crestfallen when they found nothing on his person!

There was no iota of doubt left about the innocence of Shree Narayan Teerth, when the waters of the river receded the bangle was discovered in the shallow riverbed near the bank.

The royal family sought forgiveness of Shree Narayan Teerth. The King of Kashi heard that an innocent sanyasin had been harassed by the royal household. He Was deeply disturbed. He felt that he had to seek personal forgiveness for his high handedness of the royalty. Coming to the Panchaganga ghat, he fell at the feel of Shree Narayan Teerth.

"We are ashamed of what has come to pass. Swamiji may kindly forgive us." The King prayed.

Shree Narayan Teerth replied, "Oh Royal Prince' In your kingdom dharma and religiousity have always been given gener­ous patronage. On this Panchaganga ghat, mother Ganga has turned the corner of her stream to become ishyanyaplava (oriented to­wards the North-East). We belong to the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community from the distant land of Aparant, but we are deeply devoted to Mother Ganga in the holy land of Kashi. We desire that more and more people or our community should visit this sacred place to seek the darshan of Mother Ganga and bathe in the holy waters: So we intend to have Mutt premises here. If your Royal Highness takes active interest in this project, it would be a virtuous act of benevolence."

The repentant King of Kashi was much relieved by the words of Shree Narayan Teerth. He helped the construction of a modest of a mutt premises on the very ghat facing Shree Bindu Madhav temple on the banks of the ishyanyaplava Ganga. Having ritually installed the pancha-dhatumaya (quinta-metalic) idol of Shree Laxmi­ Narayan and having inade adequate arrangements for the daily pooja of the deity.

Shree Narayan Teerth Swamiji had established the arch Mutt in the Varanasi region, in the absence of any clear perception re­garding the existing and ideal relations between the Mutt and the society. The primary objective behind the establishment of a Mutt would be solely to raise the banner of one's sect in a leading place of pilgrimage and to provide a secure shelter to the pilgrims who venturing forth to remote lands in search of spiritual solace and benediction. This was the initial Mutt of the Vaishnav sect of Saraswat Brahmins.

Having thus established the first Mutt at Kashi, Shree Narayan Teerth Swamiji returned to Udupi. After some time, the venerable Guru Shree Ramchandra Teerth Swamiji having recovered from his ailment believed to be incurable, also returned to his own Mutt. On seeing Shree Narayan Teerth, the Guruswami was cast into a quandary. He was in two minds. The Dravid Brahmins wanted him to rescind the authority over the Peetha granted to Shree Narayan Teerth; while he himself was aware of the worth of the Batu who had served him so well during his pilgrimage and who having taken diksha as his disciple had planted the banner of his glory in the holy region of Varanasi.

As a way out, the revered Guru anointed Shree Vidyanidhi Teerth as his successor and advised Shree Narayan Teerth to orga­nize the Saraswat Brahmin community and to create a separate Mutt tradition. Accordingly, Shree Narayan Teerth arrived at Bhatkal and having erected a Mutt premises there began the spread of faith among the Saraswat community in the land of Parashur am.

That was the beginning of the Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Mutt which is considered as the emblem of Saraswat identity and the rallying point for their unification. De­voted for over 530 years to preserve and organize a people forced to be disorganized and committed to serve and energize a community ordained to undergo many an ordeal by fate and compelled to be dispersed by history, the success story of the Mutt also con­tains the history of the Saraswat community. In this long march ahead, the Mutt has had the rare fortune of having an unhindered lineage of 23 Swamijis. The tiny sapling planted on the banks of lshyanyaplava Ganga by H.H. Shree Narayan Teerth Swamiji and nurtured by this long unbroken tradition has today in the form of the holy Mutt burgeoned like a mighty, banyan tree with its branches spread far and wide.