22nd December 2024: Inauguration rituals took place at the new Venkata Krishna Vrundavan Mandir in St Albans. Located in a former church, this is the UK branch of the Sri Puthige Matha. The Puthige Matha is one of the Ashta-mathas, or eight monasteries established by Shri Madhcacharya, who lived either between 1199-1278 or 1230-1317 CE in the Tullu-speaking region (southern Karnataka). Madhvacharya is one the most influential Hindu philosophers who propounded the Tattvavada or Dvaita (Dualistic) school of Vedanta*. He is also the founder of one of the main Vaishnava traditions, known as the Madhva Vaishnava Sampradaya. The town of Udupi (Karnataka) is the spiritual centre of this tradition which is largely practised by Hindus in the Southern states of Goa and Maharashtra. In addition to contributions to philosophy and temple building, Madhva Vaishnava mystics were very influential in developing Carnatic classical music. Inspired by the prasad prepared at the Udupi’s Krishna temple, members of this community also popularised vegetarian South Indian food across the world.
At the St Albans Mandir, forms of Vishnu, namely Venkateshwara (Balaji) and Krishna, have been established for daily pujas along with Hanuman (who Madhvacharya is regarded as an incarnation) and Shiva. The shrine also includes Raghavendra Swami, a popular Guru from the tradition who lived between 16-17th centuries. Historically the Madhvas and Kannada/Tullu-speaking Hindus have been one of the smaller segments of the UK Hindu population, therefore the St Albans Mandir is a welcome milestone for the diversity of Hinduism in Britain**.
*In the Dvaita (Dualistic) philosophy, Jagat (the world), Jiva (individual living beings) and Brahman (supreme) are distinct entities (in contrast to Advaita (non-dualistic) philosophy where ultimate Brahman is the only reality and the perception of the world and Jivas being separate is an illusion). **This is not the first space for Madhva tradition in the UK, GB-SRS Brundavan in Slough was established in 2010.