Govardhana Matha - History

History

The monastery was founded in 8th century CE by Adi Shankara and is said to represent Rig Veda. Padmapadacharya became the first leader of the matha. The matha has historical connections with the Jagannath temple, which is also located in Puri. It is called the Govardhanathatha, and has sub-location in Puri called the Sankarananda Math. The first leader of the matha was one of the four main disciples of Shankara. Later, Shri Bharati Krishna Tirtha, who was then the leader at the Dvaraka matha, took the leadership position in 1925. Shri Shankara Prushottama Tirtha supervised the Matha on his behalf while he visited the Self Realization Fellowship in the USA. After Bharati died in 1960, he was succeeded by Shri Yogeswaranda Tirtha who died a year later. in 1961. In 1964, after a period of uncertainty Shri Niranjana Deva Tirtha who was one of the disciples named in Bharati's will, was installed by Shri Aghinava Saccindananda Tirtha of Dvaraka. Shri Nirnjana Deva Tirtha became known for his unpopular political views affecting the Hindu people. In 1992, he stepped down after nominating Shri Niscalananda Saraswati as his successor in the 1990s.