Historically speaking, Sri Uttaradi Math is the original seat of Jagadguru Sri Madhvacharya. From reliable sources we come to know that Madhvacharya has inherited this seat from Sri Achyuta Preksha, who belonged to the Ekadandi Order of Brahma Sampradaya. There is a legend on how this Brahma Sampradaya was initiated.
At the time of creation, Shri Narayana, the supreme God, moved primordial matter into numerous forms in an evolutionary process and gave the infinite souls, who were under his care from unoriginated times, physical bodies that suited to their nature, karma and effort. He created the entire universe including the earth, with its Sadhana Bhoomi – the land where merits turn out to be fruitful.
The Supreme God also wanted to bless the souls with divine knowledge, by which they can attain salvation. For this purpose Shri Narayana himself incarnated as Shri Hamsa and adorned the pontifical seat called the Hamsa-Pitha. As He is also known as Uttara, the Math initiated by Him came to be known as Uttara-Adi Math (The Math initiated by Sri Uttara). Sri Hamsa initiated Shri Brahma as his first disciple-pontiff and revealed the divine knowledge to him.
He also gave him the idols of Shri Sita and Shri Rama for daily worship in Uttaradi Math. As these idols preceded all other idols of Sri Sita and Rama, they were called as Sri Moola Sita and Moola Rama idols (Moola means original or the first). Accordingly Shri Brahma worshipped Shri Moola Rama and Shri Sita for a very long time in his capacity as pontiff of Shri Uttaradi Math and passed the pontifical seat to Sanaka. This tradition continued for a long period of time until the advent of Kali Yuga.
Eventhough the tradition continued unabatedly, it could not openly continue due to the attacks from demonic groups until Sri Madhvacharyas incarnation. Madhvacharya revived and rejuvenated the tradition and poured new life into it.
