Okay, kiddo! So back in olden times in a place called Udupi in India, there was a very wise man named Madhwacharya who was very important to the Hindu religion. He had many followers who wanted to carry on his teachings even after he passed away.
To help keep his teachings alive, he set up eight different groups, or mathas, each with their own leader or swami. These mathas were called Ashta Mathas, which means "eight mathas" in the local language.
Each of these mathas has a specific role and responsibility, kind of like how different kids in a classroom have different jobs to help the teacher. One matha might focus on managing the temple, while another might be in charge of training new priests.
Together, these eight mathas work to make sure that Madhwacharya's teachings continue to be passed down through the generations and that the community remains strong and united.