Shri Sumateendra Teertharu 

Shrimath Sumathindra Thirtha was the fifteenth Swamiji of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan. He was born on Monday. Ashvija Bahula Panchami of Kalayuta Samvatsara (Sh. Sh. 1720) corresponding to 29th October, 1798.

Sometime after the passing away of Shrimath Vibhudendra Thirtha Swamiji in 1834, a difference of opinion arose between his two Shishya-Swamijis. It went to such an extent that the younger Swamiji, Shrimath Vasudendra Thirtha demanded the division of all the movable and immovable properties of Shree Kashi Math as well as the followers of the Math and filed a suit in the Calicut court to that effect. The two shishyas being the official and legal heirs of the entire Kashi Math, the court agreed with the younger Swamiji and issued the necessary decree for the division of the Math . But before enforcing the different provisions of the decree two events happened, which prevented the changing course of the history of the Kashi Math. Firstly, the elder Swamiji, Shrimath Sumathindra Thirtha selected a minor (from the Kamath family) from his followers and initiated him into sanyas in Keelaka Samvatsara. Sh. Sh. 1770 (1849) and accepted him as shishya, who was named Shrimath Bhuvanendra Thirtha. Secondly, the elder Swamiji passed away on Pushya Bahula Amavasya of Sadharana Samvatsara, Sh. Sh. 1772 (Friday, 31 st January, 1851) in Shri Venkatapati Temple, Alleppy, where his Vrindavan is situated. When this happened, Shrimath Bhuvanendra Thirtha was still a minor.

In the meantime Shrimath Vasudendra Thirtha was camping in Shri Venkataramana Temple, Kundapura. He was about to get the decree enforced, thereby dividing the Math into two Math s and also to select a Shishya. It was at this time that news reached the Swamiji that his co-Shishya, Shrimath Sumathindra Thirtha, passed away in Alleppey. His Shishya, being a minor, a question arose as to who would be his guardian. The minor promptly and with great foresight requested Shrimath Vasudendra Thirtha to be his guardian.

Now the latter obliged. Further, he gave up the idea of division of Shree Kashi Math and even went a step further. He voluntarily and with a broad mind delegated all his rights to his share of the property of Shree Kashi Math sanctioned to him earlier by the court decree mentioned earlier, to his ward, the minor Swamiji. He did not proceed with his plans regarding the initiation of someone into sanyas and accepting him as his shishya.

Shrimath Vasudendra Thirtha Swamiji continued to camp in Shree Kashi Math premises in Manjeshwara, where he attained Maha Samadhi on Vaishakha Shuddha Purnima of Siddharthi Samvatsara, Sh. Sh. 1781 (Monday, 16th May, 1859). His Vrindavan is in Manjeshwara by the side of that of his Guru, Shrimath Vibhudendra Thirtha.

Source - kashimath.org