Sri Pejavara Adhokshaja Matha Udupi

A Great Legacy of Devotion and Social Service

The original pontiff of this Math, Sri Adhokshaja Teertha, was one of the direct disciples of Madhwacharya. The deity is `Sri Vittala’. The eighth pontiff in this lineage, Sri Vijayadhwaja Teertha wrote a commentary on Bhagavatha Purana which is well known under the caption, `Vijaya Dwaja Teertheeya’. The twentieth pontiff Sri Viswapathi Teertha had written criticisms on Madhwa Vijaya and Nrisimha stuti.

Udupi is known all over the world as the place where the famous Sri Krishna Matha is located. But what makes Udupi truly special is the presence of the eight ancient monasteries, or Ashta Mathas, which were established centuries ago to manage the worship and administration of the main temple. Among these eight great institutions, the Sri Pejavara Adhokshaja Matha is one of the most prominent, carrying a huge legacy of philosophy, devotion, and especially, modern social service.

This Matha is located very close to the Sri Krishna Matha, on the western side of the Rathabeedi (Car Street). It is not just a place of worship; it is a spiritual nerve center that actively promotes the Dvaita school of Hindu philosophy taught by its founder, Sri Madhvacharya.

The ruling pontiff, Sri Vishwesha Teertha, is the 32nd in this line. He was born in 1931 (Prajotpathi, Vaishaka Suddha, Dashami) and was ordained into sanyasa in 1938 (Bahudhanya, Margashira Shuddha, dasami). During his paryaya (in january 1953) he organised the All India Maadhwa Conference in Udupi. During his second paryaya, he got renovated the Badagumalige; during his third, renovated the wall of Sri Krishna Temple, also got constructed a spacious auditorium at Rajangana and a new chowltry (`Sri Krishnadhama’) there. He has taken a junior, Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha as his successor who was born in 1963 (Shobhakrit, Jyestha, Shuddha Pratipath), and received sanyasa in 1988 (Prabhava, Phalguna, Shuddha Chathurthi).

The Foundation: Established by the Great Guru

The history of Pejavara Matha goes back to the 13th century, when the great saint and philosopher Sri Madhvacharya founded the Krishna Temple and appointed eight of his direct disciples to look after the daily pujas (worship). The founder of the Pejavara lineage was Sri Adhokshaja Tirtha, who was one of those eight disciples.

The Originator: Sri Adhokshaja Tirtha

Sri Adhokshaja Tirtha was personally initiated into Sannyasa (monastic life) by Sri Madhvacharya. His main duty, like the others, was to preserve the true essence of Dvaita Vedanta, which teaches that the Supreme God (Lord Vishnu/Krishna) and the individual soul are eternally distinct (dual).

• The Deity Worshipped: The main idol (Aradhya Murthy) of the Pejavara Matha is Lord Vitthala (a form of Vishnu) along with his two consorts, Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. This idol was personally gifted to Sri Adhokshaja Tirtha by Sri Madhvacharya himself. To distinguish it from other Vitthala idols, this one is famously called ‘Aja Vitthala’ or ‘Adhokshaja Vitthala’. The idol is unique because one of the Lord’s hands rests firmly on his hip. The Matha also devoutly worships an idol of Sri Rama.
• The Name’s Origin: The name ‘Pejavara’ comes from the village where the Matha has its original and main branch, linking it deeply to the geography and traditions of the coastal Karnataka region (Tulu Nadu).

The Unbroken Lineage

The Matha has maintained an unbroken chain of spiritual teachers, or Guru Parampara, for more than 700 years. Over 30 Swamijis have headed the Matha, each one taking on the responsibility of spreading knowledge and devotion.

The most famous and influential Swamiji in the modern era was the late H. H. Sri Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji, whose name is respected across India for his devotion, scholarship, and commitment to social harmony.

The Visionary Leader: H. H. Sri Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji

Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji, who passed away in 2019, was a colossal figure who redefined the role of a religious leader in modern India. His tenure at the Matha and his service to the Udupi Krishna Temple are marked by several groundbreaking achievements.

A Record-Breaking Paryaya Seer

The most notable achievement of Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji was his unparalleled service during the Paryaya. The Paryaya is a unique system where the responsibility of performing the daily puja and managing the Udupi Sri Krishna Matha rotates among the eight mutts for a period of two years.

• Five Paryayas: Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji created history by being the only seer among the Ashta Mathas to ascend the Paryaya Peetha (throne of administration) a remarkable five times (in 1952, 1968, 1984, 2000, and 2016). No other Swamiji has achieved this feat since the current system was introduced in 1522.
• Focus on Development: Each of his Paryaya periods was focused not just on rituals but on massive developmental works, like constructing guest houses, renovating the administrative offices, and establishing modern, spacious halls like the Rajangana for cultural programmes.

Champion of Social Justice and Harmony

What truly made him an icon was his passionate work for social reform. He strongly believed that true religion must be inclusive and serve all people.

• Inclusivity and Unity: He bravely worked to promote harmony between different castes and religions. He personally participated in movements to ensure that members of all castes had access to temples and religious education, earning him deep respect from all sections of society.
• Educational Institutions: Recognizing the power of knowledge, he established many educational centers, the most famous being the Poornaprajna Vidyapeetha in Bengaluru, which has trained numerous scholars in Vedic scriptures and Dvaita philosophy.

The current head of the Matha is H. H. Sri Sri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swamiji, the 34th in the lineage. He is the direct disciple of Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji and is dedicated to carrying forward his guru’s vision of blending tradition with social responsibility.

• Cow Protection (Go Samrakshana): A flagship project under the current Swamiji’s guidance is the huge Neelavara Goshala (cow shelter) near Udupi. This charitable institution houses and cares for thousands of cows, symbolizing the Matha’s commitment to the Indian tradition of cow protection.
• Caring for the Vulnerable: He runs the Sri Krishna Balanikethana for the welfare and education of poor children and also founded Sumedha – Prajna Vikas Kendra, a special school dedicated to the care and development of specially-abled children. This highlights the Matha’s focus on helping the most vulnerable sections of society.
• A National Spiritual Voice: Sri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swamiji is a respected voice across the nation. He recently served with utmost devotion during the Prana Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of the Lord Sri Rama temple in Ayodhya, showcasing the Matha’s vital role in national spiritual events.

About Paryaya – Udupi

Pejavar 60Exclusive Photo Album by Arunachala Hebbar

 The guru parampara of Sri Pejavara Mutt Udupi

Adhokshaja Teertha
Kamalaksha Teertha
Pushkaraksha Teertha
Amarendra Teertha
Mahendra Teertha
Vijayadhvaja Teertha
Uttama Teertha
Chintamani Teertha
Damodara Teertha
Vasudeva Teertha
Vadindra Teertha
Vedagarbha Teertha
Anuprajna Teertha
Vijaya Teertha
Vijaya Teertha
Vishveshwara Teertha
Vishvabhushana Teertha
Vishvavandya Teertha
Vidyaraja Teertha
Vishvamurthy Teertha
Vishvapati Teertha
Vishvanidhi Teertha
Vishvadhisha Teertha
Vishvadhiraja Teertha
Vishvabodha Teertha
Vishvavallabha Teertha
Vishvapriya Teertha
Vishvavarya Teertha
Vishvaraja Teertha
Vishvamanohara Teertha
Vishvajna Teertha
Vishvamanya Teertha
Vishvesha Teertha
Vishvavijaya Teertha
Vishwaprasanna Teertha (Present Swamiji)

Address Sri Pejavara Mutt, Udupi

Sri Pejavar Math
Car Street, Udupi – 576 101
Karnataka, INDIA
Phone: 91 820 2532198