Chitrapur Guru Parampara

The Chitrapur Guru Parampara (Devanagari चित्रापुर गुरु परंपरा,Gu.ru Pa.ram.pa.ra) or Guru Heritage of the Chitrāpur Sāraswat Brahmins is the lineage of spiritual teachers (gurus), also known as Mathadhipatis (Ma.thā.dhi.pa.ti) (head of the Chitrāpur Math, Chi.trā.pur Ma.th) who have led the community throughout its history.

These teachers are viewed as the torch-bearers of the rich culture and heritage that the community has passed down from generation to generation. Starting with Param Poojya Parijnanāshram I Swamiji in 1708, the Parampara (lineage) continues through to the present Mathādhipati of the Chitrāpur Math Param Poojya Sadyojāt Shankarāshram Swamiji. He is currently the 11th Mathādhipati of the Shri Chitrapur Math.

This chart shows the lineage of Paramparas. It shows the reigning period of each Mathādhipati along with his place of birth as well as place where his shrine (samādhi) is located.

Saraswat (Sā.ra.swat) is the generic term for the Brahmins or learned people who inhabited the fertile basin between the ancient rivers of Saraswati and Drishadawati in Kashmir. But usually Saraswat refers to the Saraswat Brahmins who come under the Chitrāpur Matha at Shirāli and are hence called Chitrāpur Sāraswat Brahmins (Bhānaps or Smārtha Sāraswats). Due to drought and famine, they migrated southwards towards Goa and Maharashtra. But Portuguese invasion of Goa forced the Sāraswats established neat Gomantak region to migrate further south towards Karnataka and settled down in the Kanara regions of Karnataka. Their superior intelligence and administrative experience helped them attain several important posts in the regions in which they migrated to.

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