Latest news with #KanchiKamakotiPeetam
New Indian Express
03-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Former Basara temple priest Ganesh Sharma Dravid appointed 71st pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
NIZAMABAD: The appointment of Ganesh Sharma Dravid as the 71st pontiff (Sri Guru Sathya Chandrasekhara Saraswathi) of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam has drawn attention in Basara, Nirmal district. Vedic priest Kandikota Naveen Sharma from the Sri Gyana Saraswathi Devi temple welcomed the appointment and recalled his past association with the new pontiff. Ganesh Sharma, originally from Annavaram in Andhra Pradesh, served at the Basara temple between 2022 and 2024. He was appointed by the state Endowments department after Vedic training and spent much of his life in Hyderabad. Social media posts recently highlighted his earlier role as Rigveda Asthana Vidwan at Basara. Naveen Sharma said Ganesh Sharma had strong knowledge of the Rugveda and maintained good relations with temple staff. 'We were close colleagues. None of us expected him to become the successor of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam,' he said. The Basara temple, about 36 km from Nizamabad, regularly attracts devotees from across the Telugu states, especially during Vasantha Panchami and examination season. Many bring their children for the Aksharabhyasam ritual. Some also observe 41-day deekshas at the temple. There is a belief that the idol of Saraswathi was installed by Vedavyasa Maharshi and that Lord Nrusimha Saraswathi once visited the temple. With Sharma's connection to Basara now public, temple authorities expect increased footfall.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam appoints 25-year-old as 71st acharya
Tamil Nadu's Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam on Wednesday appointed a 25-year-old as its 71st acharya. The present Acharya Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swami anointed the 71st Acharya Ganesha Sharma Dravida from Andhra Pradesh and named him as Satya Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi. 'Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham has the distinction of an unbroken line of 70 acharyas. The acharyas have taken measures for the protection of Veda Dharma, for propagating the Advaita discipline, and alleviating the sufferings of the people,' the mutt said. The 2,500-plus-years-old mutt was established by Adi Sankara, an 8th century philosopher. The ceremony of multiple rituals began at 6am at the Kamakshi temple in Kancheepuram, more than 70 km from Chennai which was attended by thousands of devotees, governor RN Ravi and BJP state president Nainar Nagendran and seers across the country. The new 71st acharya is a Rig Vedic scholar from Annavaram Kshetra in Andhra Pradesh, served at Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam in Telangana, according to the mutt. 'It was indeed a moving function to see the young boy giving up everything material, removing the last bit of hair, changing into Saffron clothes, getting the Danda from Guru's hand & taking view to be a Sanyasi. All in front of his parents and only little sister and thousands,' said S Gurumurthy, part-time director on the central board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and an RSS ideologue. The present senior pontiff Vijayendra Saraswathi was made acharya of the Peetam when he was only 15 years old by his predecessor and 69th pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi on May 29, 1983. 'It was a great joy to personally attend the anointment of Sri Sathya Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal, the 71st Acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, founded by the great teacher Adi Shankaracharya,' said BJP leader Nagendran. 'I extend my respectful greetings to him as he prepares to carry forward the timeless parampara of the Mutt to the next generation. Our great nation continues to shine as a Dharmakshetra due to the blessings of our sannyasis and jnana gurus.'
United News of India
30-04-2025
- General
- United News of India
Kanchi Mutt's 71st Junior Pontiff anointed
Chennai, Apr 30 (UNI) On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, Sri Duddu Satya Venkata Surya Subrahmanya Ganesha Sharma Dravid from Andhra Pradesh was anointed as the 71st Junior Pontiff (Ilaya Peetadhipathi) of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, also called as Kanchi Sankara Mutt, on Wednesday. The ceremony took place in the sacred precincts of the world famous Goddess Kamakshi Amman Temple in Kanchipuram. After anointing him, as part of the tradition, Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal bestowed the monastic name Sri Sathya Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal upon the new junior pontiff. The current 70th pontiff, Sri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, bestowed the Sannyasa Ashrama Deeksha upon the new junior pontiff at the holy Panchaganga Theertha tank located inside the temple complex. To witness the spiritual initiation, special seating arrangements were made for Acharyas and Sannyasis on a floating theppam (raft) in the tank. Following the ritual, both the senior and junior pontiffs had darshan of the main deity, Goddess Kamakshi. The ceremony witnessed the presence of several prominent dignitaries, including Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, Hindu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath, BJP National General Council Member K. Annamalai, Thuglak Editor S. Gurumurthy, among others. After the rituals at the temple, both pontiffs were taken in a grand procession accompanied by traditional music to the Sankara Mutt where the new junior pontiff formally assumed his role as the 71st Peetadhipathi, following the traditional upadesam (spiritual instruction). In celebration of this significant event, the Kamakshi Amman Temple and the Sankara Mutt were beautifully illuminated and tastefully decorated with colorful lights and flowers. Ganesha Sharma Dravid is a Rigvedic scholar from Annavaram Kshetra in Andhra Pradesh and had served at the Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam in Basara, Telangana. He was initiated into Vedic studies in 2006. In addition to the Rigveda, he has also completed studies in the Yajurveda, Samaveda, Shadangas, and Dashopanishads. He has also been pursuing Shastric studies. UNI GV 1825
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Rig Vedic scholar Satya Chandrashekarendra anointed as junior pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
KANCHEEPURAM: Rig Vedic scholar from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh Sri Satya Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya was anointed as the junior pontiff of the ancient Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam at a grand religious ceremony here on Wednesday. The 25-year-old acharya, known as Ganesha Sharma Dravid before his initiation into sanyasa as per the tradition at the Kanchi matam, was identified by the matam as successor to the present Seer Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya. The historic event took place on the auspicious Akshya Thritiya attended by the seers from across the country. During the Sanyasa Sweekara Mahotsavam, the senior pontiff Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi blessed the Sanyasa name of Satya Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya to Duddu Satya Venkata Surya Subramanya Ganesha Sharma Dravid, marking the latter's ascension as "71st Shankaracharya of the Peetam" according to Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. The rituals connected with the ascension commenced on Tuesday at the Pancha Ganga Teertham, Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam. Special pujas at Sri Kamakshi Ambal Sannidhi and Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya Sannidhi at Sri Kamakshi temple, marked the occasion. Special pujas were held at Sri Shankaracharya and Sri Sureshwaracharya Sannidhi, too, followed by the junior pontiff's visit to Brindavan of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati and Sri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya. Prasadams from various temples across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states were offered to the 71st acharya by the temple representatives. "The event coincided with the 2534th Jayanti Mahotsavam (May 2, 2025) of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya who established Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in 482 BCE. Since then, the Peetam has the distinction of an unbroken line of 70 acharyas (spiritual leaders)," according to Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. This Rig Vedic scholar from Annavaram Kshetra in Andhra Pradesh, had served at Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam, Basara, Nirmal district, Nizamabad, Telangana. He completed his studies in Yajurveda, Samaveda, Shadangas, and Dashopanishat, also. The senior pontiff was made acharya of the Peetam at a young age of 15 by his predecessor and 69th pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi on May 29, 1983. Jayendra Saraswathi was made the acharya by his predecessor Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi on March 24, 1954.
The Print
30-04-2025
- General
- The Print
Rig Vedic scholar Satya Chandrashekarendra anointed as junior pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
During the Sanyasa Sweekara Mahotsavam, the senior pontiff Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi blessed the Sanyasa name of Satya Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya to Duddu Satya Venkata Surya Subramanya Ganesha Sharma Dravid, marking the latter's ascension as '71st Shankaracharya of the Peetam' according to Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. The 25-year-old acharya, known as Ganesha Sharma Dravid before his initiation into sanyasa as per the tradition at the Kanchi matam, was identified by the matam as successor to the present Seer Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya. The historic event took place on the auspicious Akshya Thritiya attended by the seers from across the country. Kancheepuram (Tamil Nadu), Apr 30 (PTI) Rig Vedic scholar from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh Sri Satya Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya was anointed as the junior pontiff of the ancient Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam at a grand religious ceremony here on Wednesday. The rituals connected with the ascension commenced on Tuesday at the Pancha Ganga Teertham, Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam. Special pujas at Sri Kamakshi Ambal Sannidhi and Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya Sannidhi at Sri Kamakshi temple, marked the occasion. Special pujas were held at Sri Shankaracharya and Sri Sureshwaracharya Sannidhi, too, followed by the junior pontiff's visit to Brindavan of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati and Sri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya. Prasadams from various temples across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states were offered to the 71st acharya by the temple representatives. 'The event coincided with the 2534th Jayanti Mahotsavam (May 2, 2025) of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya who established Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in 482 BCE. Since then, the Peetam has the distinction of an unbroken line of 70 acharyas (spiritual leaders),' according to Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. This Rig Vedic scholar from Annavaram Kshetra in Andhra Pradesh, had served at Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam, Basara, Nirmal district, Nizamabad, Telangana. He completed his studies in Yajurveda, Samaveda, Shadangas, and Dashopanishat, also. The senior pontiff was made acharya of the Peetam at a young age of 15 by his predecessor and 69th pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi on May 29, 1983. Jayendra Saraswathi was made the acharya by his predecessor Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi on March 24, 1954. PTI JSP ADB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
