Titles - Swamis

[Guest guest]

My curiosity took to me to my favorite source of

information ... my library. I found some comprehensive

information about Sankaracharyas attempt at organizing the

vast array of knowledge that come under the umbrella

term Hindusim. <br><br>While dates are fuzzy, around

800 AD Sankaracharya set up four (mutts) or seats of

wisdom in four corners of the land to look after the

spiritual welfare of the country. While the Monks (swamis)

and Bhramacharis (novices) of these mutts were to

learn all the vedas, they were asked to make a special

study of one in more detail and a mahavakya (great

saying) from that text would be their main subject of

contemplation. <br><br>Sanakara is said to have taken more than

70 splintered quarelling factions, and united them

under the common wisdom of the Upanishads.<br><br>All

such spiritual leaders were grouped under 10

categories (Dasanamis) putting them under the allegiance of

the four mutts. They were - Saraswati (Wisdom),

Bharati (land), Puri (tract), Teertha (place of

pilgrimage), Asrama (resting place), Giri, Parvata (mountain),

Sagara (ocean), and Aranya (forest). These category

names follow a Swami's initiated name as in Tota Puri,

Dayananda Saraswati, etc.<br><br>Each mutt has its own

specifics <br><br>1. Jagannath Puri - Eastern Mutt-

<br>Name of Mutt- Govardhan Mutt<br>First acharya -

Padmapada<br>Titles of swamis - Vana, Aranya<br>Titles of Brahmachari

- Prakasa<br>Special study - Rig Veda<br>Mahavakya

for special comtemplation- Prajnanam Brahma

(Consciousness is Brahman)<br>Teertha( place of pligrimage)-

Mahadadhi (Bay Of bengal)<br>Divinity worshipped -Lord

Vishnu - Jagannath;<br>shakti- Vimala<br><br>2. Sringeri

-Southern Mutt<br><br>Name of Mutt- Sarada Mutt<br>First

Acharya - Sureswara<br>Titles of swamis - Saraswati,

Bharati or Puri<br>Titles of Bhramacharis-

Chaitanya<br>Special study - Yajur Veda<br>Mahavakya for special

comtemplation- Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman) <br>Teertha( place

of pligrimage)- River Tungabhadra<br>Divinity

worshipped - Lord Shiva; Shakti- Shree Sarada<br>Swamis of

Ramakrishna Mission, Divine Life Society, Chinmaya MIssion

all belong to this Mutt since the founding gurus are

all from this lineage.<br><br>3. Dwaraka - Western

Mutt<br><br>Name of Mutt- Kalika Mutt<br>First acharya -

Hastamaalaka<br>Titles of swamis - Teertha, Asrama<br>Titles of

Brahmacharis- Swaroopa<br>Special study - Sama

veda<br>Mahavakya for special comtemplation- Tat Twam Asi (That

Thou Art)<br>Teertha(place of pligrimage)- River

Gomati<br>Divinity worshipped -Lord Shiva; Shakti- Bhadra Kali

<br><br>4.Jyotirdhaam (northern mutt)<br><br>Name of Mutt- Jyotir

Mutt<br>First acharya - Totaka<br>Titles of swamis - Giri,

Parvat, Sagar<br>Titles of bhramacharis -

Ananda<br>Special study - Atharva Veda <br>Mahavakya for special

comtemplation- Ayam Atma Brahma (This self is

Brahman)<br>Teertha(place of pligrimage)- River Alokananda<br>Divinity

worshipped -Lord Vishnu; Shakti- Puranagiri<br><br>Sankara

is said to have brought about a renassaince of

"Hinduism" by bringing to focus its essence as presented in

the Upanishads. While he is best known for his texts

on non-duality he has composed some of the most

beautiful hymns and other devotionals. And he was only in

his 30's when he received mahasamadhi.<br><br>Tat

twam asi<br><br>UMA<br><br>(Information compiled using

Chinmaya Mission texts.)