The Puri Dashanamis are members of the Kitawara sect, which is associated with the Shringeri Math in Shringeri, India.
One of the eleven Dashanami Sanyasis divisions, ascetics who
are Shiva worshipers (bhakta).
Shankaracharya, a ninth-century philosopher, is said to have
founded the Dashanamis in order to establish a corps of erudite men who might
assist rejuvenate Hindu life.
Each division is given a separate name, such as puri
("city" in this example).
New members are given this name as their surname at
initiation, allowing for easy group identification.
These 10 "named" divisions are grouped into four
bigger organizational categories in addition to their distinct identities.
Each group, as well as other religious organizations, has
its headquarters at one of the four monastic centers (maths) allegedly founded
by Shankaracharya.
