page_title: Gaudapadacharya Math
section_title: Guru Parampara
hierarchical_section_title: Gaudapadacharya Math / Guru Parampara
caption_attribution_description: English: Brahmaikya Shri Sachidananda Saraswati Swamiji, Kavale mutt
context_page_description: Shri Gaudapadacharya Math, also known as Kavaḷē maṭha, located in Kavale, Ponda, Goa, is the oldest matha of the Smarthan Saraswat Brahman Samaj. It was founded by Gauḍapāda around 740 AD, whose student was Govinda Bhagavatpada, the guru of Adi Shankara, a highly influential figure in Hinduism. There is also a belief that Gauḍapāda himself established the Shri Gaudapadacharya matha when he lived in Gomantak. Thus, the matha came to be known as Shri Saunstan Gaudapadacharya matha. Unlike other mathas, Shri Gaudapadacharya matha is not a polemical center established to influence the faith of all Hindus, its jurisdiction is limited to only Dakshinatya Saraswat Brahmins. The Peetadhipathi "head monk" is Śrī Gauḍapadācārya. Smartist Goud Saraswat Brahman Samaj and Rajapur Saraswat Brahmin are its main disciples.
context_section_description: The following well-known 'Parampara-stotra' among Smarthas  in Sanskrit has the list of early Advaita teachers in their order and that is recited at the beginning of the study of Commentaries,
  Nārāyanam Padmabhuvam Vasishtam shaktiæ ca tatputraæ Parāsharam ca |
  Vyāsam Shukam Gaudapāda Mahantam Govindam Yogindram athasya shishyam |
  Shri Shankarāchārya mathasya Padmapādam ca hastamalakam ca shishyam |
  Tam trotakam vartika karamanyan asmad guru-nsantat-amanato ’smi ||
  It means: 'To Narayana, to the lotus-born Brahma, to Vaśiṣṭha, to Shakti Maharshi and to his son Parashara, to Vyasa, to Shuka, to great Gaudapada, to Govinda-Yogindra and to his disciple Sri Shankaracarya, then to his disciples Padmapada, Hastamalaka, Totraka and Vartikakara [Suresvara], to these our Masters we pay our respectful obeisance now and forever'.
  From this verse we can understand that, first teacher being Lord Narayana himself and line of descent from father to son up-to Sri Shuka Acharya. From Lord Narayana to Sri Shuka Acharya the line of succession is known as 'Vamsarsi-parampara' and from Sri Gaudapadcharya starts the descent of Sanyasins and known as 'Manava-Guru-Shishya-parampara'.
  To bifurcate Acharyas according to the Yuga:
  A) In Satya or Krata Yuga
  1) Lord Narayana / Lord Sadashiva and 2) Lord Brahma.
  B) In Treta Yuga
  1)Vasishta Maharishi 2)Shakti Maharishi and 3) Parashara Maharishi.
  C) In Dvapara Yuga
  1) Veda Vyasa and  2) Sri Shuka Acharya
  D) In Kali Yuga
  1) Acharyas start with Sri Gaudapada Acharya.
caption: Shivaikya Shrimad Sachidananda Saraswati Swami Gauḍapādāchārya, 76th Peetadipathi of Shri Saunstan Gauḍapādāchārya matha, Kavale, Goa
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