Preface

Twelve centuries back, Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya established His first and foremost Peetham, the Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetham for the sustenance and propagation of Sanatana-Dharma. Since then, the Peetham has been adorned by an unbroken chain of Acharyas who have been erudite scholars and dispassionate saints. Out of their innate compassion, the Jagadgurus have been incessantly teaching the path of Dharma to the multitude of Their disciples, through Their very lives, Their teachings and by the establishment of temples, Pathashalas and other charitable institutions.

The 33rd Acharya of the Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji was a great yogi, a repository of Shastraic knowledge, an expert in Mantra-Shastra and an epitome of compassion. A life sketch of the Mahaswamiji was first published in Kannada by the Peetham in 1924. It was penned by GuruSevaPraveena Sri Srikantha Shastri, the then Sarvadhikari (agent) of the Math who had the fortune of serving the Mahaswamiji for many years. It is this work that forms the primary source of this book.

While compiling this book, excerpts from an abridged English translation, of the Tamil version of the aforesaid Kannada book, by Sri B V Kameshwara Iyer, titled “The life of Sri Jagadguru Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Swami of Sringeri” have been included.

One is able to see several striking similarities between the great master, the Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya and the Mahaswamiji when one reads about their respective lives and accomplishments. No wonder, the Mahaswamiji was extolled as ‘Abhinava Shankara’, a reincarnation of the great master Sri Adi Shankaracharya.

It was the Mahaswamiji who rediscovered the birthplace of Sri Adi Shankaracharya at Kalady. Ever since the rediscovery, a perennial stream of spiritual influence stemming from Kalady has been flowing and flooding our land. If India and the world today celebrate Shankara-Jayanti commemorating the birth of Sri Adi Shankaracharya, it is solely due to the Mahaswamiji who instituted this celebration way back in the late 19th century. It is again due to the Mahaswamiji’s efforts that we have with us the complete works of Sri Adi Shankaracharya.

This book also contains a brief life sketch of the Mahaswamiji’s Guru, Jagadguru Sri Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji (32nd Acharya of the Peetham) in the beginning. It was this revered Acharya who initiated the Mahaswamiji into Sannyasa at a tender age of 8, and groomed Him.

This book also comprises a section in which the hymn ‘Gurudvaya Abheda Anusandhanam’ composed by the present Acharya of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji has been presented. The hymn beautifully portrays the non-difference between Sri Adi Shankaracharya and Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji.

It is very apt that this book is getting released on the special occasion of the Centenary Celebrations (23rd May 2010) of the rediscovery of Kalady and the Kumbhabhishekam of the temples of Adi Shankaracharya and Goddess Sharadamba. Thanks to each one of the team members of Shankara Advaita Research Centre, Sringeri, who had worked in the publication of the book; special thanks to a disciple for his tireless efforts while editing the contents of this book.

We offer our humblest pranams to Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, whose blessings, inspiration and guidance has made this work possible. We are sure that the life of the Mahaswamiji will serve as an inspiration to all the devotees to tread the path of dharma and achieve higher good.

“I worship Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji, the king of ascetics, a repository of knowledge, a treasure-house of mantras, who is ever immersed in the Self and who is none other than the Lord Shiva human form.”

12-05-2010 GurusevaDhurina, Padmasri

Kalady Dr. V.R. Gowrishankar

CEO & Administrator

Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham,

Sringeri.