Once Shri Vijayendra Teertha Swamiji, then a Junior Pontiff of Kumbakonam Math and a Sishya of Shri Surendra Teertharu; was invited by Goud Saraswath Brahmanas of Kochi to observe the Chaturmasa Vrata during 1539-40. Swamiji accepted their invitation and visited Kochi to observe the Vrata. On reaching Kochi, he decided to select a Vatu from the Goud Saraswath Brahman community and initiate him into Sanyasa in Kashi and establish a Matha with the young Sanyasi as the head of the new Matha.
The Kochi Goud Saraswath Brahmanas agreed and the Shri Vijayendra Teertharu selected a suitable boy from their community and after completion of the Chaturmas Vrata, took him to Kumbakonam with him for imparting knowledge.
With the blessings and permission of Shri Surendra Teertharu, Shri Vijayendra Teertharu instructed the Goud Saraswath Brahman residents of Kochi to procure land in Kashi (Benarus/Varanasi) on the banks of the holy river Ganga and construct a Math there. The land was procured as per the wish of the Swamiji and the construction work began.
Since the Senior Pontiff was old, It was decided that Shri Vijayendra Teertharu himself will initiate sanyasa on the young Vatu. Accordingly, Swamiji and the young Vatu along with Swamiji’s other sishyas and a group of Goud Saraswath Brahmans from Kochi set on a long journey (“Padayatra”) from Kumbakonam to Kashi. By the time the entourage reached Kashi, the Building was constructed and was ready to house the new Math.
On an auspicious day, the boy was initiated into sanyasa and named Shrimath Yadavendra Teertharu. The entire group stayed in Kashi in the premises of the Math for some time and then returned to Kumbakonam, visiting various sacred places on the way. The new Swamiji was ceremoniously brought before Shrimath Surendra Thirtha, who presented him two deities, one of Lord Ramachandra (Raghupati) and the other of Vedavyasa as well as a shalagrama for the daily puja, along with other paraphernalia, required for different purposes on the same lines as those followed in the Kumbakonam Math Samsthan. Shri Yadavendra Teertharu was also authorized to prescribe rules and conduct all religious ceremonies including giving Mantropadesha, Mudra Dharana to Bhakts.
Thus, Shri Vijayendra Teertharu established Shree Kashi Matha Samasthana by initiating Shri Yadavendra Teertharu.
A detailed narrative of the origin of Shri Kashi Math can be found in their website https://www.kashimath.org/origin/
Head Quarters
Varanasi Shri Kashi Matha Sansthan
K 22/87, Brahma Ghat,
Varanasi (Benarus)
Uttar Pradesh - 221001
Telephone: 0542-2435632
