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Math

Math or Mutt is a term for monastic and similar religious establishments of Hinduism and Jainism. "Th" pronounced as in Thaakur, or Thumaree. A large place where many Sanyaasee live. A Math is usually more formal, hierarchical, and rule-based than an Aashram. Tradition is anything transmitted or handed down from the past to the present. Material objects, beliefs, images, practices, institutions, can all be traditions, that is, "things handed down". The handing down of them constitutes a tradition.

One of the important features of the democratic order is that while it has recognized the importance of tradition, it has also made possible change and modification of tradition.

Primitive and earlier societies were often held back by a single body of tradition which tended to be rigid and unbending. In modern states, individuals live in a multi-traditional society. Diverse or even incompatible beliefs and practices exist. Different models for belief and conduct are available. An individual can make a choice between them. This is the product of freedom-related ideas.

The basis of tradition is reason and experience. Experience is perhaps as important or more important than reason. Experience extends beyond reason and mental horizons and embodies factors which people only dimly perceive and cannot rationally explain but which contain elements of truth and understanding, based on accumulated experience.

The problem with traditions is that since they have been handed down over a long period of time, the rational bases are either not known by those who uphold them or cannot be lucidly explained. There are often reasons to support traditions but, to the extent that tradition is based on experience and observation, it cannot always be effectively rationalized.

Traditions develop gradually over centuries and keep on developing - a spiritual and cultural dynamic growing out of the endeavours, sacrifices, experiences and trials of a people who possess an inborn sense of their ancestry, religion, social customs, language, literature, music, games etc. This way "core values" are established and passed on from father to son/mother to daughter, like name or property, and become a way of life that is both virtuous and enduring.

We must cherish our yesterdays, but never carry them as a burden into the future. Each generation must take nourishment from the other and give knowledge to the one that comes after.

Shankar's Math
Although many Math are there, in Hinduism four Math are very famous. Aadi Shankaraachaarya established them in four corners of India - the Uttaraamnaaya Math, or Northern Math at Jyotir Math in the city of Jyotirmath
the Poorvaamnaaya Math or Eastern Math, the Govardhan Matha, at Puree
the Dakshinaamnaaya Math, or the Shringeree Shaaradaa Peetham, the Southern Math, at Shringeree
the Pashchimaamnaaya Math, or the Dwaarakaa Peeth, the Western Math, at Dwaarakaa.

 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 10/08/13