Kapil Math, Madhupur, Jharkhand India

Established in 1927-28 by Samkhya-yogacharya Swami Hariharananda Aranya. The founder came from an educated wealthy zamindar family in Bengal. In his student days, he felt the urge to renounce the world and don the robe of a sannyasin. In his search he met many spiritual adepts but was not fully satisfied until he chanced upon a copy of an ancient text on Samkhya-yoga in a library. It resulted in his leaving the home, taking the vow of a sannyasin and becoming a mendicant.

Acharya Swamiji passed his early monastic life (1892-1898) in the caves of Barabar hills in Bihar where his earthly resources consisted of a blanket, a thick cotton shirt, a single piece of dhoti, a napkin and a wooden kamandulu (water pot). A devout and generous villager from two miles from the cave provided Swamiji with the means of his subsistence, which was brought to him once every noon. In absence of utensils, that frugal meal was deposited on a black stone and sparkling water from nearby mountain springs satisfied his thirst. He devoted the whole time to gain mastery over his mind, which is Yoga.

Having attained his goal, he returned to the world of men. He continued the same secluded austere lifestyle and intense spiritual practice in places like Tribeni in Hoogly district in West Bengal, Varanasi, Hardwar, Rishikesh and in other places in the Himalayas and finally decided to settle down at Madhupur, Jharkhand (formerly Bihar). He had already began disseminating the message of Samkhya-yoga through books in Bengali and Sanskrit. Emanating from his own experience it was unique, logical and penetrating.

Attracted by his unique personality some genuine seekers after truth found him out in the small town of Madhupur and one of them volunteered to build a suitable house containing an artificial cave as the permanent home of the Master. Thus did Kapil Math came into existence. First a dwelling, and an artificial cave with it's one and only entrance permanently blocked, where the Master spent the rest of his life. The Math was built adjacent to the 'cave' to house his followers who responded to his call for accepting Samkhya-yoga as the only aim in their lives.