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Hindu Monasticism
Hindu Monasticism

Introduction

Hindu renunciates, Sanyassi were and are wandering mendicants. The tradition of becoming a renunciate (leaving home, family, and commerce) in Hinduism goes back to at least the 6th century BCE.1 The tradition continues until the present. During the early centuries, (from at least the 4th century BCE) renunciation was seen as one of the alternative choices of how to live a holy life. In the beginning of the first century CE, the tradition changed to viewing renunciation as the final stage of life after being a student and then a householder.2 From early times it was practical for the sannyasi to reside in a hut or other shelter during the monsoon season and wander the rest of the year.3

A Matha is a monastic institution in Hinduism for housing monks or nuns. Matha (also math or mutt) is a monastery where one or more sannyasis (renunciate or homeless ascetic) and their followers live. It may refer to the hut of a single ascetic or a large monastery housing a community of ascetics, their students, and disciples. Other Hindu monastic institutions include mandira (temples if a holy one is living there) and ashrama (ashrams, meaning hermitage). The term matha is also used by the Jains.

During the Indian Medieval period (8th century to 1526 CE), larger monasteries were constructed capable of housing communities of ascetics. According to tradition, the first large mathas in Hinduism were founded by Sankara in the 8th century CE. Sankara taught the concept of settled monastic communities similar to those of the Jains and Buddhists. The construction and support of these monasteries was often sponsored by donations from royal or wealthy patrons. The monks who lived there were often engaged in service to the surrounding community such as teaching, medical care, or charitable feeding of the poor. (cite)

Other reformers of Vaishnava Hinduism including Ramanuja (1017 – 1137 CE), Nimbarka (12th or 13th centuries CE), Madhva (1238 – 1317 CE), and Vallabha (1479 – 1531 CE) founded large mathas during this period.

Beginning in the 10th century CE, various Shaiva traditions also founded large mathas during the medieval period.4

After the end of the medieval period, there was a decline in support by royal and wealthy donors. Large monasteries were not prominent in the interim period until the founding of modern large mathas by Hindu reformers of the last 200 ??? years. (cite)

Citations


 * 1) “Samnyasa”. in      Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism:      Vol. 2 Sacred Texts, Ritual Traditions, Arts, Concepts. p. 8093.
 * 2) “Asrama and      Samnyasa”. in Brill’s Encyclopedia      of Hinduism: Vol. 2 Sacred Texts, Ritual Traditions, Arts, Concepts.      pp. 685-686.
 * 3) live in huts      during monsoon
 * 4) Sears, Tamara I.      Housing Asceticism: Tracing the      development of Mattamayura Saiva monastic architecture in Early Medieval      Central India (c. 8th – 12th centuries AD). PhD.      Dissertation 2004. p. 29     Also      Davis 1986 p.12
 * 5) ? decline until      modern reforms