SRI GURUM SRI VISHNUM SRI SIVAM
SRI DEVAM MAHADEVAM PARAM
SRI NIDHIM SRI PADHAM SRI GURUM SRI KARAM
SRI KUKHAM SRIVARAM SRI VIDYA GURUM BAJEHM

Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavad Pada established four Peetams in four places, one each in Sringeri in the South, in Badrikaranya in the North, in Dwaraka in the West and in Puri Jagannath in the East. He entrusted these to His four disciples., one for each Veda and ordained them to preserve, promote and propagate the Vedas and their pristine glory.

In their turn, the stalwarts among the disciples of these Acharyas established Upa-Peetams on their own totalling 51 in all. Sri Vidya Peetam (Rishikesh) is one of such 51 Sakthi Upa-Peetams established by His Holiness Sri Uddeesananda Nada Saraswathi Swamigal in the line of Sri Todakacharya. All the earlier Peetadhipadis were great scholars and sages and spent their lives in meditation and tapas in the Himalayan Caves, hills and forest abodes in pursuit of the Supreme knowledge of the Self and attainment of Eternal Bliss. However, HIS HOLINESS SRI SATCHITHANANDA SARASWATHI SWAMIGAL, the 32ND in the line, Shifted to the South and established himself at Nasik on the banks of Godavari where He spent His life in Tapas and also service to the poor and the needy in the area.
The present Swamiji, HIS HOLINESS SRI SRI SRI RAMAKRISHNANANDA SARASWATHI SWAMIGAL, the 33RD Peetadhipathi in the line, moved further South to Tamil Nadu as directed by His Guru and established an office of the Madras Unit of the Sri Vidya Peetam on 12-10-1978 Vijayadasmi day at 4 - III Cross Road, Raja Annamalaipuram., Madras - 600 028. In May 1979 as requested by devotees, the Madras Head Quarters of the Ashram was temporarily established in Karpagam Gardenm, Adyar and Trust by name "SRI VIDYA ASHRAM(RISHIKESH) TRUST" was formed to manage the affairs of the Ashram. Later, on 18-01-1981, the Mutt moved into its own premises at 5/13, Station Border Road, Chrompet, Chennai - 600 044.