PasqualeCairnduf: further correct section for consistency and cleaned formatting per standard format

2026-02-20T00:33:58Z

further correct section for consistency and cleaned formatting per standard format

>Mookambikamaya at 22:20, 6 July 2021

2021-07-06T22:20:23Z

New page

{{Short description|36th Peetadhipathi of the Sringeri Sharada Peetha}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| honorific-prefix = Sri
| name = Sri Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswami
| order = [[Vedantha]]
| honorific_prefix = His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya
| honorific-suffix = Mahasannidhana
| title = 36th [[Jagadguru]] [[Shankaracharya]] of [[Sringeri Sharada Peetha]]
| image = Jagadguru Bharathi Teertha 2018.jpg
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| philosophy =
[[Advaita]] [[Vedantha]], [[Nondualism]]
| ordination = 11 November 1974
| birth_name = Seetharama Anjaneyalu
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|04|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Alugumallepadu, Guntur district, [[Andhra Pradesh]], India
| nationality = [[India]]n
| module = {{infobox officeholder|embed=yes
|title = [[Sringeri Sharada Peetha]]
|term_start = 1974-present
|term_end =
|predecessor = [[Abhinava Vidyatirtha]]
}}
}}
'''Bharathi Tirtha''', is an Indian religious leader who is the current [[Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetha|36th]] [[Jagadguru]] [[Shankaracharya]] of the [[Sringeri Sharada Peetha]]. The Sringeri Sharada Peetha
has preserved the unbroken lineage of [[guru]]s stretching back to the [[Advaita Vedanta|Advaitic]] [[philosopher]] [[Adi Shankara]]charya, who established the [[matha]] for the propagation and preservation of [[Hinduism|Sanatana Dharma]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maramkal |first1=MB |title=Successor designate appointed |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysuru/Successor-appointed-to-historic-Sharada-peetham-at-Sringeri/articleshow/45993640.cms |accessdate=7 October 2018 |work=Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Murthy |first1=Narasimha |title=Salutations To Sringeri Jagadgurus |url=https://starofmysore.com/salutations-sringeri-jagadgurus/}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Bharathi Tirtha (born Seetharama Anjaneyalu) was born 11 April 1951 to a [[Telugu people|Telugu]] [[Smarta tradition|Smarta]] family from Alugumallepadu village in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. He was born on Chaitra Shukla Shasti in the year of Khara (the sixth day of the month of Chaitra as per the [[Hindu calendar]]) as a result of long prayer and penance by his father Venkateswara Avadhani and mother Ananthalakshmamma.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shastre |first1=Giredhar |title=Jagadvandya Jagadguru (Kannada) |date=2003}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Chandar |first1=Suresh |title=Inspiring Saint |publisher=Sri Vidyatirtha Foundation,Madras |url=https://archive.org/details/InspiringSaintLifeOfSriBharatiTirthaSureshChandarK.Sringeri/page/n5}}</ref>

Seetharama Anjaneyalu (Bharathi's name in his poorvashrama) showed increasing signs of devotion towards God in his childhood. His [[Upanayana|Brahmopadesha]] was performed when he was seven years of age and he was regular in the performance of the prescribed karmas of [[Sandhyavandanam]] three times a day and [[Agnikaryam]], twice a day. In addition to schooling, he spent his time studying [[Sanskrit]] and took [[Vedic]] lessons from his father, who himself was a [[Vedic]] scholar.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chandar |first1=Suresh |title=Inspiring Saint |publisher=Sri Vidyatirtha Foundation,Madras |url=https://archive.org/details/InspiringSaintLifeOfSriBharatiTirthaSureshChandarK.Sringeri/page/n5}}</ref>

In the year 1966 at the age of 15, Anjaneyalu approached the 35th Jagadguru of the [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]], [[Abhinava Vidyatirtha|Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji]] as a bachelor, seeking his blessings and tutelage in the [[sastras]]. The [[Acharya]] accepted the disciple and the lessons in the [[Tarka sastra]]s commenced. The Acharya also kept a close watch over the progress of his ward.<ref>{{cite book |title=Tattvaloka |publisher=Vidyateertha Education Trust |location=Chennai |edition=Sep 2018 |url=http://www.tattvaloka.com/ |accessdate=7 October 2018 |quote=The guru meets His disciple}}</ref>

=== Embracing Sanyasa ===
[[Abhinava Vidyatirtha|Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji]] announced his desire to appoint the brahmachari ("bachelor" in [[Sanskrit]]) Seetharama Anjaneyalu as the successor-designate (i.e., as the 36th [[Jagadguru]] [[acharya]]) and give him [[Sanyasa]]. The Shishya Sweekaram ceremony took place on the 11th day of November, 1974 and the brahmachari received the saffron robes, the sacred staff and the kamandalu (water pot) from the [[acharya]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shivaram |first1=Choodie |title=Successor initiated |url=http://digital.hinduismtoday.com/publication/?i=411729&article_id=2798892&view=articleBrowser&ver=html5#{%22issue_id%22:411729,%22view%22:%22articleBrowser%22,%22article_id%22:%222798892%22} |accessdate=6 October 2018 |publisher=Hinduismtoday}}</ref> The newly initiated [[sanyasi]] was given the yogapatta Bharati Teertha in line with the [[Dashanami Sampradaya]] of [[Adi Shankara]]charya.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Geeta |first1=Venktaraman |title=Ascetic extraordinary |url=https://www.thehindu.com/books/sri-abhinava-vidyatirtha-ascetic-extraordinary/article25058881.ece |accessdate=8 October 2018 |work=The Hindu|date=27 September 2018 |quote="Successor nominated"}}</ref>

== Reign as Pontiff ==

The [[Acharya]] is the pontiff, both in spiritual and secular sense. A celibate ascetic by tradition of the [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham|Matha]], he leads the learning institutions within the monastery and worship festivals. In case of differing views on the operation of monastery, his decision is considered by the monks as binding.{{sfn|AK Shastri|1999|pp=75-76}} He is also responsible for screening, studying and selecting the monk who will succeed him as the next pontiff.{{sfn|AK Shastri|1999|pp=77-78}}

Bharati Teertha Mahaswami has studied [[shastras]] like [[Vedanta]], [[Mimamsa]], [[Tarka sastra|Tarka]], [[Nyaya]], [[Vyakarana]] amongst others and has completed his studies in the [[Yajur Veda]] in [[Sadvidya Sanjivini Pathasala]] prior to taking up [[Sanyasa]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vidya |first1=Shree |title=Ideal Pontiff |url=https://shreevidyaranyasameethi.wordpress.com/2017/12/21/lineage-of-gurus/ |publisher=Shrividyaranya Samethi}}</ref> The devotees of the [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]] pay frequent visits to the [[matha]] seeking guidance and blessings.<ref>{{cite book |title=Jagadguruvin Arulamuda Thuzigal |date=2010 |publisher=Sri Vidya Bharathi press |language=Tamil}}</ref> Many notable personalities like [[Narendra Modi]], [[Abdul Kalam]] and others pay frequent visits and seek guidance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Modi meets acharya |url=https://bharatabharati.wordpress.com/modi-sringeri-acharya/}}</ref> The [[Acharya]] delivers benedictory addresses in Indian languages like [[Sanskrit]], [[Kannada]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and [[Hindi]] which are available on [https://www.youtube.com/user/sharadapeetham Youtube].<ref>{{cite book |last1=K |first1=Suresh |title=Acharyalin Ponmozhigal |date=2010 |publisher=SSP |language=Tamil}}</ref> As part of the tradition, the [[acharya]] also undertakes Vijaya Yatras (tours) to visit different places and guide the devotees. The most recent one took place in the year 2017 which covered the states of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Kerala]] and [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Special |first1=Correspondence |title=Reception accorded to the Jagadguru |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/reception-accorded-to-sringeri-seers/article19152941.ece |accessdate=8 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Staff Reporter |title=Pontiffs arrive in the city |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/sringeri-pontiffs-arrive-in-city/article18204129.ece |accessdate=8 October 2018 |work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=A |first1=Rajagopal |title=Sringeri mutt chief arrives in capital |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2017/jun/12/sringeri-mutt-chief-arrives-in-capital-1615588.html |accessdate=8 October 2018 |publisher=The new Indian Express}}</ref> The various events involved in the Vijaya Yatra are covered by [[Sri Sankara TV]], which broadcasts the highlights on a daily basis during the course of the Vijaya Yatra.

During his reign as the [[Jagadguru]], assisted by [[V. R. Gowrishankar]] - the current [[CEO]] and administrator of the [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]], the [[matha]] has also undertook activities in the field of education and social service in addition to being a seat of Vedic learning.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Correspondence |first1=Special |title=Seat of Learning |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/book-on-sringeri-peetam-released/article25100939.ece |accessdate=6 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="Bricks laid for Sringeri Sharada Peetham Temple in Houston">{{cite web | url=http://india-herald.com/bricks-laid-for-sringeri-sharada-peetham-temple-in-houston-p3559-1.htm | title=Bricks laid for Sringeri Sharada Peetham Temple in Houston | work=India Herald| date=28 August 2013 | accessdate=20 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Correspendence |first1=Special |title=Sringeri seer releases a book about the Peetham |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/book-on-sringeri-peetam-released/article25100939.ece |accessdate=6 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="The Management and Board Members">{{cite web | url=http://www.adishankara.ac.in/administration.aspx | title=The Management and Board Members | publisher=Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering Technology | date=2016 | accessdate=21 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114190202/http://www.adishankara.ac.in/administration.aspx | archive-date=14 January 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Management Team">{{cite web | url=http://www.rangadorememorialhospital.com/teammanagement.htm | title=Management Team | publisher=Rangadore Memorial Hospital | date=2016 | accessdate=21 January 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308023859/http://www.rangadorememorialhospital.com/teammanagement.htm | archive-date=8 March 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Appointment of the successor ==

Sri Bharati Teertha Mahaswami appointed the brahmachari Kuppa Venkateswara Prasada Sharma as his successor designate, i.e., the [[Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetham|37th]] [[Jagadguru]] of the [[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]] on 23 January 2015 and gave him the Yogapatta (monastic name) Sri '''Vidhusekhara Bharati''' Mahaswami.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sringeri seer appoints successor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/sringeri-mutt-seer-names-successor/article6760994.ece |accessdate=7 October 2018 |work=The Hindu|date=24 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sringeri seer names successor |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/455370/sringeri-seer-appoints-successor.html |accessdate=7 October 2018 |work=Deccan Herald|date=24 January 2015}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Sringeri Sharada Peetham]]
*[[Jagadguru of Sringeri Sharada Peetham]]
*[[Advaita Vedanta]]
*[[Adi Shankara]]
*[[Smartism]]
*[[Chandrashekhara Bharati III]]
* [[Abhinava Vidyatirtha]]
*[[Vidyaranya]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.sringeri.net/ Sringeri Sharada Peetham]
*[http://www.sankaracharya.org About Shri Adi Sankarcharya and His Parampara]
*[https://www.sringeri.net/label/bharati-tirtha Books written about Shri Bharathi Teertha]

{{Shankara mathas}}
{{Hindudharma}}

[[Category:Advaita Vedanta]]
[[Category:Sringeri Sharada Peetham]]
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu monks]]
[[Category:Shankaracharyas]]

Bharathi Tirtha - Revision history

PasqualeCairnduf: further correct section for consistency and cleaned formatting per standard format

>Mookambikamaya at 22:20, 6 July 2021