Hinduism: ranks and lineage

IColours

Colour used for this page of the library: Saffron (bhagwa, kesari) #F28C28. Every colour code is approximate, since most paths name their colours without publishing codes.

Principal colour the colour of the path

Place of worship real sanctuaries

Ritual colours by occasion and season

Mourning and avoided colours

IIRanks

Hinduism has no central church. Authority is spread across monastic orders, the matha monasteries (four principal mathas founded by Adi Shankara, each led by a Shankaracharya with its own line of succession), temples and Brahmin families. In Vietnam, the Cham Balamon (Ahier) of Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận have a hereditary Basaih priesthood headed by the Po Adhia, with worship at the towers of Po Klong Garai, Po Rome, Po Nagar and Po Dam.

1. 1
   Shankaracharya (teacher in the Shankara tradition) शङ्कराचार्य (Śaṅkarācārya) · Shankaracharya

   Heads one of the four principal mathas founded by Adi Shankara: Sringeri (south), Dwarka (west), Puri (east), Jyotirmath (north). Kanchi Kamakoti also claims foundation by Shankara. Each matha keeps its own succession, and none has authority over all Hindus. The Jyotirmath seat is disputed.

2. 2
   Sannyasi, Swami (renunciate) संन्यासी (saṃnyāsī) · Sannyasi, renunciate

   One who has renounced worldly life, lives simply without possessions and pursues the spiritual life. It is a stage of life, not an administrative office.

3. 3
   Pujari (temple priest) पुजारी (pujārī) · Temple priest

   Performs puja and aarti in temples. Most are Brahmins, appointed by the temple custodian (shebait).

4. 4
   Brahmin (priestly class) ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa) · Brahmin

   The traditional varna in charge of sacrifice and Vedic learning, and the main source of pujaris. It is a hereditary status, not a conferred rank.

5. 1
   Po Adhia, chief priest (Cham Balamon) Po Adhia (Basaih Po Adhia) · Chief priest of Cham Ahier

   The highest office, with supreme authority among the Basaih. Keeps the scriptures and the ritual calendar.

6. 2
   Po Tapuh, deputy chief priest (Cham Balamon) Basaih Po Tapah · Deputy chief priest

   A rank that has attained detachment from the world, below the Po Adhia.

7. 3
   Basaih Tahwak, feeding priest Basaih Tahwak · Basaih Tahwak

   Holds the exclusive right to perform the feeding rite at funerals.

8. 4
   Basaih Liah Basaih Liah · Basaih Liah

   Rank after the ordination rite. Must learn the Cham script and doctrine.

9. 5
   Basaih Ndung Akaok, newly initiated Paseh Basaih Ndung Akaok · Novice Basaih

   A cleric newly entered into the priestly ranks.

10. 6
    Ka-ing, Kadhar, Muk Pajau (Cham folk ritualists, outside the Basaih ranks) Ka-ing, Kadhar, Muk Pajau · Folk ritual specialists

    The Kadhar chants with the rabap fiddle. The Muk Pajau is a woman who presents offerings and dances. The Ka-ing, with the Maduen, conducts the Raja (Rija) rite. All three take part in the Katê festival at the towers. They are not part of the Basaih hierarchy.

Followers: Hindus. In Vietnam: the Cham Balamon, or Cham Ahier (Balamon Cham).. In India there are no formal grades of believers, but there is the hereditary varna system. Among the Cham, lay believers are distinct from the hereditary Basaih priesthood.

IIIForms of address

IVVestments by rank

Flat drawings made from the descriptions in the sources, with no people shown. Colours are approximate.

VLine of succession

Hinduism has no founder and no common church. Transmission runs through many parallel guru lineages (parampara), and each matha keeps its own succession: Advaita through the Shankaracharyas, Sri Vaishnava through Ramanuja, Dvaita through Madhva. In Vietnam, the Balamon religion of the Cham passes through a hereditary Basaih priesthood, now represented by Councils of Dignitaries.

The Vedas, Adi Shankara and the Advaita mathas, current heads

1. No founder सनातन धर्म

   Hinduism has no founder or central church. The Vedas are held to be śruti, heard by the seers rather than authored.

2. c. 1500 to 1200 BCERigveda ऋग्वेद

   Oldest of the Vedas, the earliest Hindu scripture.

3. c. 1500 to 500 BCEThe four Vedas and the Brahmanas वेद

   The four Vedas with the ritual Brahmanas, transmitted orally in Brahmin lineages.

4. c. 800 to 200 BCEThe Upanishads उपनिषद्

   Philosophical close of the Vedas (Vedanta), basis of later Vedanta schools.

5. traditionalVyasa (Veda Vyasa) वेदव्यास

   Sage credited with dividing the Veda and composing the Mahabharata, head of many guru lineages.

6. c. 6th to 7th centuriesGaudapada गौडपाद

   Author of the Mandukya Karika, teacher of Shankara's teacher.

7. c. 7th to 8th centuriesGovinda Bhagavatpada गोविन्द भगवत्पाद

   Direct teacher of Adi Shankara.

8. c. 8th century (Sringeri gives death in 820)Adi Shankara (Shankaracharya) आदि शङ्कराचार्य

   Systematised Advaita Vedanta, traditionally founded four mathas in the four directions, revered as an incarnation of Shiva.

9. #East · in office from 1992Govardhan Matha, Puri: Swami Nischalananda Saraswati निश्चलानन्द सरस्वती

   145th Shankaracharya of the Govardhan Matha, Puri, per the matha's count.

10. #West · in office from 2022Dwarka Sharada Peetham: Swami Sadanand Saraswati सदानन्द सरस्वती

    Succeeded Swaroopanand Saraswati who died in 2022.

11. #North · took office 2022, disputedJyotirmath: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati (disputed) अविमुक्तेश्वरानन्द सरस्वती

    Named successor in 2022, but the Jyotirmath seat has long been disputed, with rival claimants such as Vasudevanand Saraswati.

12. #Kanchi · in office from 2018Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham: Sri Vijayendra Saraswati विजयेन्द्र सरस्वती

    70th pontiff per Kanchi's count. Kanchi claims Shankara as founder, not accepted by the other four as an original matha.

Full list at the source

Advaita: the Shankaracharyas of Sringeri Sharada Peetham

1. #1 · died 820 according to SringeriAdi Shankara आदि शङ्कराचार्य

   Founded the Sringeri Sharada Peetham in the south, first of the four mathas.

2. #2 · 820 to 834Sureshvaracharya सुरेश्वराचार्य

   Disciple of Shankara, first pontiff after him.

3. #10 · 1229 to 1333Sri Vidya Tirtha विद्यातीर्थ

   Pontiff commemorated by the Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri.

4. #12 · 1380 to 1386Sri Vidyaranya विद्यारण्य

   Great scholar associated with the founding of the Vijayanagara Empire.

5. #33 · 1879 to 1912Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati सच्चिदानन्द शिवाभिनव नृसिंह भारती

   Revived Shankara's birthplace at Kalady.

6. #34 · 1912 to 1954Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati III चन्द्रशेखर भारती

   Revered as a jivanmukta.

7. #35 · 1954 to 1989Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha अभिनव विद्यातीर्थ

   Expanded the matha's work across India.

8. #36 · born 1951, in office from 1989Sri Bharati Tirtha भारती तीर्थ

   Current 36th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri.

9. #37 · designated successor since 2015Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati विधुशेखर भारती

   Chosen and initiated by Bharati Tirtha in 2015 as successor.

Vaishnava: the Sri Vaishnava line of Ramanuja

1. c. 824 to 924Nathamuni नाथमुनि

   Collected the Alvars' hymns into the Divya Prabandham, first acharya of the line.

2. c. 916 to 1041 by traditionYamunacharya (Alavandar) यामुनाचार्य

   Grandson of Nathamuni, the master before Ramanuja.

3. 1017 to 1137 by traditionRamanuja रामानुज

   Systematised Vishishtadvaita, head of Sri Vaishnavism, enshrined in temples as an incarnation of Adishesha.

4. 1268 to 1369Vedanta Desika वेदान्त देशिक

   Principal master of the Vadakalai branch.

5. 1370 to 1443Manavala Mamunigal मणवाळ मामुनिगळ्

   Principal master of the Tenkalai branch.

6. incumbentAhobila Matha, 46th Jiyar (present representative) श्री रङ्गनाथ यतीन्द्र महादेशिकन्

   Sri Vaishnavism has no single head. The 46th Jiyar of the Ahobila Matha (Vadakalai) is one leading pontiff, Tenkalai has its own jiyars.

Vaishnava: the Dvaita line of Madhva

1. 1238 to 1317 (some sources give 1199 to 1278)Madhvacharya मध्वाचार्य

   Founder of Dvaita, installed the Krishna image at Udupi with its eight mathas, revered as an incarnation of Vayu.

2. c. 1345 to 1388Jayatirtha जयतीर्थ

   Foremost commentator of the school, called Tikacharya.

3. 1460 to 1539Vyasatirtha व्यासतीर्थ

   Master of the Vijayanagara era, high point of Dvaita.

4. 1595 to 1671Raghavendra Tirtha राघवेन्द्र तीर्थ

   Worshipped at his brindavana in Mantralayam.

5. in office from 1996Uttaradi Matha: Sri Satyatma Tirtha सत्यात्म तीर्थ

   Pontiff of the Uttaradi Matha, a principal Madhva matha.

6. holds the Paryaya from January 2026 to January 2028Udupi, Paryaya Shiroor Matha: Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha वेदवर्धन तीर्थ

   The eight Udupi mathas rotate the worship of Krishna every two years (Paryaya). Shiroor Matha holds it from January 2026.

Vietnam: Cham Brahmanism and Hinduism

1. late 4th centuryBhadravarman I and Mỹ Sơn Bhadravarman

   Champa king who founded the Bhadreshvara Shiva shrine at My Son, landmark of Hinduism in present Vietnam.

2. tower built in the late 13th centuryPo Klong Garai Po Klaong Garai

   Deified Cham king worshipped at the Po Klong Garai towers, site of the Kate festival.

3. hereditaryCham Balamon religion (Ahier) and the Basaih priesthood Ahier, Basaih

   Hereditary Basaih priests rise from novice to Po Adhia. No overall succession list.

4. late 19th centuryMariamman Temple, Saigon

   Temple of the Tamil community, a second Hindu strand in Vietnam separate from the Cham tradition.

5. recognised 2012Councils of Cham Balamon Dignitaries of Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận

   The two state recognised bodies of Cham Brahmanism.

6. Chairman, re-elected for the 2022 to 2027 termChief Priest Hán Đô

   Chair of the Ninh Thuan council, re elected at its third congress in September 2022.

A venerated figure: the library shows no portrait, only the name inside a round seal.

VIOrdination and transmission

In India, a renunciate receives sannyasa from a teacher within a lineage, and each matha keeps its own Shankaracharya succession, sometimes settled by the courts. Among the Cham Balamon, the Basaih priesthood is hereditary, and priests rise through ordination rites from Ndung Akaok to Po Adhia.

1. Cham: entry as Basaih Ndung AkaokRequirement: A man of a Basaih lineage, from a harmonious family, without disabilityRite: No source found describing the initiation rite in detail
2. Cham: ordination, becoming Basaih LiahRequirement: Study of the Cham script and doctrineRite: Ordination rite, details: no source found
3. Cham: rising to Tahwak, Po Tapuh, Po AdhiaRequirement: Long years of practice and study. The Po Tapuh has attained detachment from the worldRite: no source found
4. India: receiving sannyasa dikshaRequirement: Renunciation of worldly lifeRite: No source found with a detailed description

VIIWhere the sources disagree

• The old code #A8480F in mau-sac.json is the fired-brick shade of the Cham towers, not saffron. The note of 16/09 already acknowledged this. Proposal: change the main colour to bhagwa and keep the brick shade for mau_noi_tho.
• Sources give different saffron codes (#F4C430 for saffron, #FF671F for India saffron of the flag). The code #F28C28 is an estimate in between. The flag of India is a national symbol, not a religious one.
• The Bhagwa Dhwaj (saffron flag) is linked to Shivaji and has been used since the 1920s by Hindutva organisations such as the RSS. Using this flag as a religious symbol on the page should be avoided.
• Whether the Balamon religion of the Cham is Hinduism remains a scholarly question. One author (champa.one) sees Ahier as a phase of Awal Islam with worship of local deities and does not call it Hindu. It is best described as a Cham belief system influenced by Brahmanism.
• Names and order of the Cham ranks differ between sources: Po Tapuh or Po Tapah. One source lists, from the top down, Ndung Akaok, Liah, Pauh, Tapah below the Po Adhia. Another lists Liah and then Tahwak. Paseh, Basaih and Baséh are the same office.
• One source says Baséh literally means one who wears yellow, while other sources describe the Basaih as wearing white. Unresolved.
• Role of the Ka-ing: the vjol source groups the Ka-ing with the Maduen for the Raja (Rija) rite, while the Dân tộc và Phát triển newspaper says the Ka-ing take part in the Katê festival at the towers. Both may be true.
• mau-that.json takes the colours of the home puja room from an Asian Paints (vastu) blog. This is not a source from the religious community, so it is a decorative reference, not a standard.
• Dates of Adi Shankara: Sringeri gives his death as 820, scholars usually place him around 700 to 750, and some other mathas place him before the Common Era.
• Wikipedia gives the 33rd Jagadguru of Sringeri as in office 1872 to 1912, while the Sringeri list gives 1879 to 1912. The full list follows sringeri.net.
• The Jyotirmath Shankaracharya seat is disputed in court, with several claimants. Kanchi claims foundation by Shankara, which the other four mathas do not accept.
• All Shankaracharyas, Vaishnava acharyas and Paryaya holders are marked sacred because devotees keep their images in shrine rooms and perform foot worship (pada puja). This is a cautious choice under the rule of choosing true when in doubt, so this line has no photos.
• The years in office of the 46th Jiyar of the Ahobila Matha could not be verified.
• Whether the Balamon religion of the Cham is Hinduism is still debated. It is best described as a Cham belief system influenced by Brahmanism.
• The year of recognition of the two Councils (2012) follows a VietNamNet article and has not been checked against the original document. No list of earlier chairmen was found. After the 2025 provincial merger, Ninh Thuận became part of Khánh Hòa and Bình Thuận part of Lâm Đồng. It is unclear whether the Councils have new names or whether Chief Priest Hán Đô's term has changed.

VIIISources

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