Puthige Matha (Kannada: ಪುತ್ತಿಗೆ ಮಠ) or Puttige Mutt in some records and literature is a MadhwaVaishnava monastery. It is one of the Ashta Mathas of Udupi founded by Dvaita philosopher Madhvacharya of Udupi.[1] The first pontiff of Puttige matha was Sri Upendra Tirtha,[2] who was a direct disciple of Sri Madhvacharya, the founder of the Dvaita school of philosophy. The main idols worshipped in the Puttige matha are that of Panduranga (Vittala),[3] which was given to Sri Upendra Tirtha by Sri Madhvacharya. Till date, there have been 29 pontiffs who have headed the matha.
The current Swamiji of the matha is Shri Sugunendra Tirtha Swamiji[4]
Upendra Tirtha-Sri Madhwavijaya mentions a story of Sri Upendra teeertha. Sri Madhva undertook a second trip to Badari. On the way, many interesting incidents took place. Once, after Sri Madhva and his followers crossed the Ganga river, the troops of a Muslim ruler arrested all of them. Sri Madhva explained to the King that it was the same Supreme Being that all people on earth worshipped and therefore he feared none. Looking at the fearless saint and impressed by his words, the King offered many gifts to Sri Madhva (all of which were politely refused) and permitted them to leave. On another occasion, a band of dacoits attacked the party. Sri Madhva asked Upendra Tirtha, his disciple, to confront them. Sri Upendra Tirtha, who went on to become one of the eight disciples who got the opportunity of worshipping Sri Krishna at Udupi, and who is the founder of the Puttige Matha, fought like a man possessed and drove away the bandits.
Shreenivasa Tirtha- Puthige mutt guruparampara shloka describes him as "Vadirajamunisupriyam". His disciple's Shreenidheeya tippani on Nyaayasudha describes that his Vidyaguru had Narasimha's grace shrInivAsapadAMbhOjayugalAsakta mAnasAn| shrInivAsAkhyahaMsEMdrAn naumyahaM buddhishuddhayE|
Shreenidhi Tirtha-He has written commentary on nyaaya sudha written by jayateertha
Gunanidhi Tirtha
Anandanidhi Tirtha
Taponidhi Tirtha
Yadavendra Tirtha
Kavindra Tirtha- There were two pillars opposite to each other on which a lion and an elephant was carved. The villagers of puthige village were in trouble. Brindavana of Puttige MathaLord Ganesha came out of the pillar on which elephant was carved hearing to prayers of Kavindra teertha.
Bhuvanendra Tirtha-His brindavana is at Kuruvalli in teerthahalli. He has been mentioned in Vishvapriyavilaasa written by kochi rangappacharya. He had done sudha mangala for 12 times. BHUVANENDRA TEERTHA, PUTHIGE MATHAHe renovated Ananteshvara temple in Udupi. He had many sanyasi shishyaru like Yogindra teertharu of puthige mutt, Vidyadheesha teertharu of Krishnapura mutt, Rajendra yatigalu, etc. Rajendra Yati Vrindavana of his Panditya, puthige matha got jahgeer at Teerthahalli. His disciple Rajendra yatigaLu entered brindavana before Bhuvanendra Tirtha. So he gave ashrama to Yogindra teertha.
Shatayushi Sudhindra tirtha- Sri Sudheendra Teertha took ashrama from Sri Vidyadheesha Teertha of Krishnapura Mutt and ruled the peetha for 79 years. He was born in the year 1856 at Hejamadi Village belonging to Shukla Yajurveda Shakha. He took Sanyasa in 1878. He got his initial education under Sri Vidyadheesha Teertha of Krishnapura Mutt and later studied sudha and other higher education under Sri Lakshmivallabha Teertha of Shiroor Mutt.
