Shree Saunsthan Gaudapadacharya Kavale Math holds an unbroken Guru Parampara, tracing its lineage back to Shree Gaudapadacharya, the first guru of the Manava Guru Parampara. As the sthapanacharya (founder) of the Kaivalya math and the param guru of Shree Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya, Gaudapadacharya played a pivotal role in the Advaita tradition. Born as Shukadatt to Vishnudatta and Gunavathi in a devout Saraswat Brahmin family in Bhupalam, present-day Sangli district Maharashtra state around 618 BCE, they renounced worldly life at a young age and gained Vedantic wisdom through the grace of Narayana dev and the blessings of Shree Vedavyasa at Badrikashrama.

They later arrived in Gomantak, residing at an ashram in Kardalya Van (Kelosi) on the banks of the Gomati River. His Holiness Shree Gaudapadacharya, the Adi Guru of the Kali Yuga and the proponent of the profound doctrine “Brahma Satyam Jaganmithya,” of Mayavad was a Mahayogi versed in the essence of all the Vedas. He established a great monastery (Maha Math) in Kushasthali that is Kaivalya Math, situated on the banks of the river Gomati in Gomantak Bhumi, within the Saptakonkan created by Parashurama, for self-reflection and penance. The venerable Shree Gaudapadacharya through Kushasthali, imparted his philosophy to his devoted disciples. With their blessings, this land came to be known as Punya Bhoomi. 

The works attributed to Shreemat Gaudapadacharya are :

1. MANDUKYOPANISHAD
2. UTTARGEETHA VYAKHYA
3. PANCHIKARANA VARTHIKA
4. NRISIMHA TAPANIYA BHASHYA
5. ANUGITHA BHASHYA
6. SHRI VIDYARATHNA SUTHR
7. DURGA SAPTHA SHATHI VYAKHYA
8. SANKHYA KARIKA
9. SAMAYACHARA SUTHRA
10. SUBHAGODAYA

Their disciple, Shree Govinda Bhagavatpada, continued this legacy of kaivalya Math. Shree Govinda Bhagavatpada was the Guru of the Advaita philosopher Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya. They were the disciple of Shree Gaudapadacharya. This was mentioned in the first verse of Adi Shankara’s Prakarana grantha (treatise) Viveka Chudamani. Shree Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya is named after Shree Gaudapadacharya in the Guru Parampara (lineage) of both Kavale Math and all the 4 Shankaracharya Peetham. Shree Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya was an incarnation of Shesha. Shree Govinda Bhagavatpada was also the guru of Shree Vivaranandacharya, the first peethadhipathi of the Shree Saunsthan Gaudapadacharya Kaivalya Math in Goa which was founded around 499 BCE.

The work attributed to Shree Govinda Bhagavatpadacharya

1. YOGA TARAVALI
2. ADVAITHANUBHUTHI
3. BRAHMAMRITHA VARSHINI
4. RASAHRADAYAM

The Saraswat Brahmins of Goa, after their third migration from northern India, sought spiritual guidance and turned to Swami Vivaranandacharya, who returned to Goa and became the first mathadhipathi of the Kaivalya Math. The Saraswat community united under this math, following the Smartha tradition and Advaita philosophy, worshiping Shiva, Vishnu, Ganapati, Shakti, and Surya through various festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Chudi Puja, Gauri Puja, Navaratri, Shivaratri, and Krishna Janmashtami.

Shree Vivaranandacharya Swamiji established the tradition that every swami of the kaivalya math carries the suffix ‘Anand,’ the honorific ‘Saraswati,’ and the title ‘Swami,’ with the name of his grand guru Gaudapadacharya, honouring the math’s heritage. The mathadhipathi was thus addressed as Shreemat Vivaranand Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya. The Guru-Shishya tradition was upheld, where the head of the math appointed a shishya, selecting him at a young age to continue the lineage.

During the Portuguese rule in the 15th and 16th centuries, Hindu temples and maths in Goa faced destruction. The Gaudapadacharya Math at Keloshi was destroyed in 1564, and many records of the math and Swamiji’s were lost. To preserve the math’s legacy, the 57th guru, Shreemat Purnanand Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya, left Goa and took refuge at the Golvan Math, Maharashtra. The 57th, 58th, and 59th gurus continued to stay at Golvan Shaka Math, while the 60th guru, Shreemat Ramanand Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya, stayed at Chinder Shaka Math, Maharashtra. The 61st and 62nd gurus, Shreemat Sadanand Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya and Shreemat Bhavanand Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya, moved to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh as the situation in goa did not improve for Hindus.

Eventually, with peace returning, Shri Vittal Shyama Sharma Shenavi Ranganekar of Kushasthali persuaded the 62nd guru, Shreemat Bhavanand Saraswati Swami, to return to Goa. Due to his advanced age, the 62nd guru initiated Ranganekar into sannyasa, naming him Shreemat Sachidanand Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya, the 63rd mathadhipathi. In 1630, a new math building was constructed in Kavale, Ponda, Goa, on land gifted by King Basavalinga Soundha of the Sonde Kingdom, making it the headquarters of the math.

Since then, the Guru Parampara has continued at Kavale, with the current pontiff, Shreemat Shivanand Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya, serving as the 77th mathadhipathi of Shree Saunsthan Gaudapadacharya Kavale Math. Their shishya sweekar was performed by the 76th peethadhipathi on March 2, 1994, on Magha Vadya Krishna Panchami Tithi at Shree Saunsthan Kavale Math, Ponda, Goa. Their Peetarohana took place in 2005 after the samadhi of the 76th Peethadhipathi Shreemat Sachidanand Saraswati Swami Gaudapadacharya at Kavale, Ponda, Goa.

Since 1994, Swamiji has undertaken various developmental works for the well-being of society, including the renovation of the math and temples. Shreemat Shivanand Saraswati Swamiji serves as the dharmadhikari for several significant temples in Goa, including Shree Mangueshi Temple, Shree
Shanta Durga Temple, Shree Nageshi Temple, Shree Mahalakshmi Temple, Shree Saptakoteshwara Temple at Narve, Khandola Mahaganapati, Datta Wadi Datta Guru Temple, Shree Kalabhairav Temple, and many more. Under his leadership, Shree Saunsthan Gaudapadacharya Kavale Math remains a
beacon of Advaita Vedanta, fostering spiritual wisdom, religious harmony, and cultural preservation. The math continues its mission of guiding devotees, safeguarding dharma, and upholding the profound legacy of its esteemed lineage.