Chitrapura Math was founded by Shri Vijayadhwaja Theertha of Shri Pejavara Math.
Chitrapur is a small town situated near Udupi in Mangalore.
Prior to the establishment of this Math, there existed a Bhatta Sampradaya, which Sri Vijayadhwaja Theertha defeated, persuading its followers to embrace the Madhwa Sampradaya.
Legend has it that Shri Vijayadhwaja Teertha swamiji once had a significant dream while residing at the Pejavar Math headquarters. In this dream, he witnessed Goddess Durga appearing as a bleeding rock and instructing him to construct a temple on that site. The following day, during his "Samudra Snana" ritual, he encountered the very same rock and promptly began making arrangements to build a Durga Temple there.
Additionally, he initiated a young Vatu from the same town as a Yati, bestowing the name Shri Vidhyadhiraja Teertharu upon him, and assigned him responsibilities to conduct Poojas and organize pravachanas. Furthermore, he provided the young Yati with Kaliya Mardhana, Rukmani, and Satyabhama Pratimas to worship. Since then, this Math has become the primary seat of Sri Vijayadhwajacharya's Sat Sampradaya.
Shri Pejavara Math continues to be the Guru Math for Sri Chitrapur Math.
Among the various Yatis who served as peetadipatis of this Math, Shri Varadendra Teertha and Shri Vishvendra Teertharu gained significant renown for their works. Shri Vishvendra Teertharu, in particular, composed Shri Durgastaka.
Sri Vidyadhiraja's Moola Brindavan is located in Tirupati. There are also Moola Brindavanas of 10 Yatis in Chitrapur, though the precise locations of the other Yatis' Moola Brindavanas remain unknown.
