H.H Shrimath Vishnu Thirtha Swamiji
Shrimath Sureendra Thirtha (also referred to as Surendra Thirtha in some of the documents) became the twelfth Swamiji of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan after the passing away of his Guru, Shrimath Rajendra Thirtha in 1799. He was born on Sunday, Pushya Shuddha Shashti of Hevilambi Samvatsar (Sh. Sh. 1699) corresponding to 4th January, 1778.
It is recorded that H.H Shri Swamiji was prevented from touring Udupi with all titles and honours (birudavalis). A ban was imposed on behalf of the eight Mathdhipatis of Udupi on the movement of Shrimath Sureendra Thirtha Swamiji in Udupi with his titles. H.H Shri Swamiji then filed a suit against this ban. As a result, Captain Thomas Monroe, the Chief Collector of Kanara Districts (North and South) issued a notice on the respondents and delivered a judgment in Basrur on 12th May 1800 to the effect that H.H Shri Swamiji of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan had full rights of travel with full honours and titles in the Kanara districts. Copies of the text of this judgment were distributed to all centres in North and South Kanara districts.
Document No. 24 is a Rahadari ensuring the safety of travel of Shrimath Sureendra Thirtha from Vanarasi to Allahabad. It was issued in Vanarasi on 1st September 1789 and further endorsed on 14th July 1804. It was addressed to the police department (chowkidars). It states as follows:
“Surendra Swami is going from Vanarasi to Allahabad. It is ordered that he should not be obstructed on his way and should not dispute his right of travel. He should be given full protection during the travel. He is accompanied by thirty people and three female horses”.
H.H Shri Swamiji had installed the idol of lord Venkataramana in Kundapura on Thursday, Vaishakha Shuddha Triyodashi of Yuva Samvatsar, Sh. Sh. 1737 (1815)
An interesting episode has come to light. The original of a promissory note dated 22nd December 1798 issued on behalf of the East India Company for a loan of Rs.12,500 from Shrimath Sureendra Thirtha Swamiji had been recently recovered. A photostat copy of this promissory note is still in the records of the Math. However, the original was unfortunately misplaced and is not traceable. But it is certain that the promissory note had never been redeemed and that neither H.H Shri Swamiji nor his successors received the amount, which he had loaned to the East India Company in 1798.
H.H Shri Swamiji passed away on Jeshta Shuddha Saptami of Khara Samvatsar, Sh. Sh. 1753 (Friday, 16th June, 1831) and his Vrindavan is in Shri Venkatapati Temple in Alleppy (Kerala).
Earlier he had initiated a vatu and called him Shrimath Vibhudendra Thirtha.
Shrimath Vishnu Thirtha, the younger shishya of Shrimath Rajendra Thirtha became the thirteenth Swamiji of Shree Kashi Math Samsthan. He was camping at Shree Kashi Math premises in Prayag for a long time to look after the extension work of the Math Bhavans, where he stayed till he attained Jala Samadhi. The exact year in which this took place is not known with certainty. The Vrindavan is situated in Prayag Shri Kashi Math.