The Four Pillars of Sanatana Dharma

The Four Principal Disciples

Among the numerous disciples who enjoyed the rare privilege of serving the great Acharya Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada, four emerged as luminaries, each embodying a distinct spiritual excellence:

• Sureshwara – celebrated for his vast learning and scholarly prowess
• Padmapada – distinguished by his intense devotion and unwavering faith
• Totaka – renowned for his exemplary service and humble dedication
• Hastamalaka – blessed with supreme Self-realization from childhood

These four disciples represented the complete spectrum of spiritual qualities necessary for preserving and transmitting the sacred teachings.

The Foundation of the Four Maths

Recognizing the need to establish a lasting institutional framework for Sanatana Dharma, Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya founded four monastic centers—the Amnaya Peethams—in the cardinal directions of India. These sacred institutions were designed not merely as centers of learning, but as living embodiments of Vedantic wisdom, each complete with its own presiding deities, sacred geography, spiritual traditions, and distinctive practices.

The establishment of these Maths represented a masterstroke of spiritual organization, ensuring that the light of Advaita Vedanta would illuminate every corner of the subcontinent for generations to come.

The Sacred Appointments

Sri Bhagavatpada himself installed his four principal disciples as the founding Acharyas of these prestigious institutions:

Southern Amnaya - Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Math
Acharya: Sri Sureshwaracharya
Location: Sringeri, Karnataka

Western Amnaya - Paschimamnaya Dwaraka Math
Acharya: Sri Padmapadacharya
Location: Dwarka, Gujarat

Eastern Amnaya - Poorvamnaya Govardhana Math
Acharya: Sri Hastamalakacharya
Location: Puri, Odisha

Northern Amnaya - Uttaramnaya Jyotir Math
Acharya: Sri Totakacharya
Location: Jyotirdhama (Badrinath), Uttarakhand

The Living Legacy

The enduring vitality of these four Maths, which continue to function with undiminished spiritual authority after more than twelve centuries, stands as compelling testimony to the genius of Sri Adi Shankaracharya's vision. Each Peetham remains a beacon of Vedantic wisdom, actively engaged in:

• Preserving and interpreting the sacred scriptures
• Training generations of spiritual teachers
• Guiding countless seekers on the path of Self-realization
• Maintaining the purity of dharmic traditions
• Responding to contemporary spiritual challenges with ancient wisdom

Through these institutions, the revolutionary spiritual movement initiated by Sri Shankara for the propagation of Advaita Vedanta continues to flourish, adapting to changing times while remaining firmly rooted in eternal truth. The Amnaya Peethams thus serve not only as monuments to the past but as dynamic centers ensuring that the light of Sanatana Dharma will never be extinguished.

The Amnaya Peethams