Sri Pejavara Adhokshaja Matha, Udupi
Sri Pejavara Adhokshaja Matha is one of the Ashta Mathas of Udupi, which was started by Sri Adhokshaja Tirtha,[1] who was a direct disciple of Sri Madhvacharya, the founder of the Dvaita school of Hindu philosophy. Till date, 32 sanyasi pontiffs have headed this matha. The current presiding pontiff is Sri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swamiji. He ascended the Vedanta Peetha after the death of his predecessor and Guru H. H. Sri Sri Vishvesha Tirtha Swamiji on 29 December 2019. It is a prominent spiritual institution dedicated to the worship of Lord Sri Krishna and the propagation of Madhva philosophy. The Matha has played a significant role in preserving and spreading the teachings of Sanatana Dharma.
Each of the eight Mathas takes turns in worshipping Sri Krishna at the Udupi Sri Krishna Matha through a system known as Paryaya, a biennial ritual where the responsibility of temple administration rotates among the Ashta Mathas. The Pejavara Matha has been blessed with great saints, most notably Sri Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji, who was a guiding force in spiritual and social reforms. His successor, Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha Swamiji, continues the tradition with dedication.
The Matha is deeply involved in social service, education, and charity. It runs various schools, Vedic institutions, hospitals, and feeding programs for the poor. It has also been active in interfaith dialogue, temple reforms, and Dalit upliftment, making it a beacon of both religious and social welfare. Pejavara Matha remains a vital institution in Karnataka’s spiritual landscape, upholding the teachings of Madhvacharya and serving humanity with devotion and wisdom.
The idol worshipped here is that of Vithal with Sri Devi and Bhuu Devi gifted to the founder pontiff Sri Adhokshaja Tirtha by Sri Madhvacharya. This idol with its one hand placed on hips is also known as Aja Vithala to distinguish it from the other idols of Vithala. The idol worshipped by Adhokshaja Tirtha is rightly called Aja Vithala. Along with this, the idol of Sri Rama of Kanvatirtha is also worshipped. This is the idol worshipped by Sri Vijayadhvaja Tirtha.
Present Swamiji is Sri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha was born on 3rd March, 1964 at Dakshina Karnataka, near Mangalore. His holiness is a graduate from Poorna Prajna Evening College, Udupi, adding to that he is a Yoga exponent and an expert Swimmer.
Sri Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha – Present Swamiji
Sri Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha is the 34th seer in the lineage, or guruparampara, of Pejawar Muth. He was born in the year 1964 at Haleyangady-Pakshikere in Dakshina Kannada district to Krishna Bhat and Yamunamma. His purvashrama or pre-sannyasa name was Devidas Bhat, and he received sanyasa Deeksha from his guru Sri Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swamiji in 1988, when he was 24.
He did Vedic studies at Admar Gurukula and also studied Vedanta Vidwat at SMSP Sanskrit College. He knows all four Vedas and did his B.A. at Poorna Prajna Evening College in Udupi. Sri Sri Vishwaprasanna Teertha Swamiji is the present President of Janata Shikshana Samiti. He speaks a number of languages, including Kannada, Tulu, Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and English. He is a good swimmer and a yoga practitioner. He also publishes a monthly magazine ‘Achara Vichara’. He has taught shastas to Kaniyooru Seer Vidyavallabha.
His holiness Vishwaprasanna Teertha continues to do dharma prachara by setting up the “Prahlada Gurukula” at Udupi, had established a huge Goshala near Neelavara, Udupi where about 2000+ Cows are protected till date, and many more.
Prana Prathistha Ayodhya Bala Rama by Sri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha
Sri Sri Vishwaprasanna Tirtha Swamiji of Udupi has been leading the pooja karyakrama at Ayodhya especially on 22nd Jan 2024. He is incharge to complete the mandala pooja at holy shetra. The whole World watched the great event, and we must be thankful to Holy Swamiji for completing such a bigger milestone for the Welfare of the Entire World. Sri Rama will continue to lead us both inside and outside us. Sri Swamiji fasted continuously on 21st Jan 2024 (which was Ekadasai) without a drop of water, for about 50 hours and completed the installation and Prana prathistha of Lord Sri Rama at Ayodhya. He had to break his fasting only in the afternoon on 22nd Jan 2024. All his tapa shakthi will for sure bless all the devotees of Lord Shri Rama, and there is no doubt at all!
Contributions & Donations:
Philanthropists and donors are encouraged to support this noble cause.
Account Name: SHRI PEJAVARA MUTT
Account Number: 8022500100554101
Bank: Karnataka Bank Ltd.
Branch: CAR STREET, UDUPI
IFSC Code: KARB0000802