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The Kamakoti Peetham at Kanchi was founded by Adi Shankara in Vaisakha Sukla Purnima of the year Siddharthi with Adi Sankara Himself as the first Acharya in the year 482 BC.

The present acharyas are His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal  (69th Pontiff) and His Holiness Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal (70th Pontiff).

The 68th Pontiff His Holiness Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal  (1907-1994) was born as Swaminathan in 1894. He was affectionately called "Mahaswamigal" and "Walking God".

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham has the distinction of an unbroken line of 70 Acharyas till now. The Acharyas have taken measures for the protection of Veda Dharma, for propagating the Advaita discipline, and alleviating the sufferings of the people.

Renovation of ancient temples which are in need of repairs is one of the important activities of the Math. In addition to this, construction of new temples is another major activity of the Math.

While activities of a religious nature are undoubtedly within the realm of the Peetham, the social side has not been neglected.

A good number of Veda Patasalas have been established wherein different sakhas of Veda are being taught.

Apart from Veda Patasalas, seventeen Oriental schools and thirty-eight Sankara Schools are functioning in different parts of the country under the guidance of the Math.

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam runs hospitals at different places, which includes the Kamakoti Child Trust Hospital in Madras, Eye Hospitals at Coimbatore and Guwahati, hospitals at Madhubani (Bihar), Rathura for tribals (Uttranchal), Berhampur (Orissa) Hindu Mission Hospitals in many places in Tamil Nadu.

Charitable trusts, established with the blessings of the Acharyas come to the aid of poor families to enable them to perform marriages of their daughters, Homes for the Aged and uncured for are functioning with a considerable number of inmates in each. 

Also, at Kalavai (Tamil Nadu), a home for the disabled is also functioning. Handicapped persons are provided with tricycles, artificial limbs, etc.

Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Rural Development Trust and several such other organizations take care of the rural and neglected areas. Unemployed youths are provided with means for starting some craft to earn their livelihood. Likewise women are given sewing machines as a self-employment measure.

Nithya Annadhanam (free food) is provided to all devotees visiting Kanchi and the Math. The "Pidi Arisi Thittam" (Handful of Rice) scheme is running successfully at many places. Under this scheme, every household sets apart just a handful of rice every day and this will be collected by a central agency once a week, cooked in some temples and offered as neivedya to the deity and then distributed to the poor and needy.

The Math runs go-salas (shelter for the cows).

Victims of flood, famine, earthquake and other natural calamities are being helped in various ways under the orders of the Acharyas.

Brindavanam, Samadhi Shrine of HH Kanch Kamakoti Peetathipadi Jagadguru Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Maha Periyava is located in the math. Devotees pray to Him at the Samadhi Shrine.