Swamijis dispute - The easy way out

The Kerala GSBs were followers of the Kumbhakonam mutt until the establishment of Kashi mutt. When Surendra Tirtha was head of the Mutt, one of his disclples, Vijayindra Tirtha (who was a Saraswat) was invited by Cochin Saraswats to undertake Chaturmasya at Cochin in 1539–1540. They requested Him to initiate a saraswat boy among them to sanyasa. In 1541, Sri Hanumantha Bhaktha was selected and taken to Kumbakonam. The new Sanyasin was named Yadavendra Tirtha who eventually became head of the new Kashi Mutt at Varanasi established in 1542 AD.

While forming the Kashi mutt, Pondiff of the Kumbhakonam Math, Shrimat Surendra Tirtha gave two idols of Lord Rama and Vyasa to Sri Yadavendra Tirtha along with the rights to guide the GSB Samaj in spiritual matters.

A copper plate charter issued by Surendra Tirtha on 21-1-1542 AD and received by Yadavendra Tirtha defines his jurisdiction over the Saraswats.

We give an idol of Sri Rama, a Vyasa idol, a salagrama, a pallak, a Sweta Chatra  or white  Umbrella, two chamarams, two peetas, two oil lamps, a white shanku, nagari or drum, phalakas and plates to the Kashi mutt samsthan. We hereby permit to use the positions. You and your heirs and  successors while travelling across the country will have the rights to give their seal (giving awards etc.) on to the Gowda Saraswat Brahmin community members. We will interfere to settle any infights that may occur in the Kashi mutt samsthan. Those who do not follow this will be considered as against Guru. Kashi mutt samsthan may have their own Guruparampara. We send this undertaking in the name of Lord Narayana.

- KS Kamath, pp 57,Saraswata Kshetrangal,  1977

So, we may request the Kumbhakonam Mutt (which is presently the Raghavendra Swamy Mutt)  or the Moola Samsthan, the Uttaraadi Mutt to intervene to settle the dispute.

It may be mentioned that Kashi Mutt had approached the Uttaraadi mutt to settle a dispute at the time of Raghavendra Swamiji (1711-1726) of Kasi mutt between him and Yogeendra Vader, the head of Raghavendra Mutt (erstwhile Kumbakonam mutt).