At a time when the Sanatana Vaidika Dharma came under severe threat and subversion from the desert religions, and also the Indic religions that are either not founded in the Vedas & the Scriptures or have misinterpreted the holy spiritual texts, Lord Shiva incarnated Himself as Jagadguru Sri Adi Sankaracharya to protect and resurrect Vaidika Dharma by His Doctrine of Advaita.
Many independent Vaidika Peethas have been established across the country based on Sankaracharya’s Advaita Doctrine, as part of this renaissance. Amongst these numerous Peethas, Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham holds a position of distinction and preeminence. This Peetha has always been at the forefront of many a crusade whenever and wherever Sanatana Haindava Dharma has come under an attack.


Panchārāma Jaitrayātra

It was the year 2001. The country was experiencing a prolonged period dry weather and low rainfall resulting in severe drought, and it was the farmers of the State who were the most badly affected. Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami could not bear to see the farmers suffer so badly. Even as the Endowments Department was grappling with the situation to find a solution to end the drought, Mahaswamy explored the Scriptures for direction and decided to embark upon Panchārāma Jaitrayātra – an expedition on foot to visit and perform special rituals at the Panchārāmās* – the five holy shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the State of Andhra Pradesh. It was a 650-km expedition, successfully completed in spiritual splendour. During the entire stretch of the yātrā, sahasra-ghata-abhishekam is performed regularly in temples. Also, pītha-archana is performed daily at the Sri Sarada Chandramouliswara temple in the Peetham.

Mahaswamy continued with the yātrā inexorably in spite of many hurdles and health issues, for the wellbeing of the society at large. The yātrā progressed briskly along the first three of the five Kshetras – Samarlakota, Dakshārāmam, and Palakollu, but slowed down before reaching Bhimavaram. As Mahaswamy was walking in pādukās [wooden slip-ons] as per his sankalpa [the original resolve at the beginning of any ritual], his feet started hurting and bleeding. Even as the doctors advised against walking any further in wooden sandals, Mahaswamy was relentless in his resolve. But, things gotten worse and his feet could not take it any longer. So, there was a forced recess for five days near a village called Sivadevuni Chikkala, located at a distance of 8 km from Palakollu, en route to Bhimavaram. Mahaswamy resumed yātrā on the sixth day towards Someswara temple in Bhimavaram, against the advice of doctors. Mahaswamy and his entourage have already travelled for over 450 km. Yet, there was no sign of rain. The summer temperatures were soaring to record highs. Also, health issues started cropping up even among the disciples and the followers of Mahaswamy.

But, eventually, Varuna – God of Rain – had to relent in the face of the steely resolve shown by Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami. Finally when Mahaswamy reached near the Dhwaja Stambha of the Someswara temple after completing the ghata-abhisheka, the skies opened up and it started raining heavily accompanied by thunder and lightning. The torrential downpour was not confined to that region, but it rained heavily across the combined State of Andhra Pradesh – a record rainfall of 89 cm in a single day. It was as if pleased with the prayers of Mahaswamy, Lord Shiva unleashed Ganga from His Jaṭājūṭa, the Beautiful Matted Hair, as rain! The spiritual zeal and the religious fervour of the disciples and the followers of Mahaswamy received a mighty boost. The general public were happy beyond words – Panchārāma Jaitrayātra had become the talk of the town across the State. The farmers of the State were ecstatic as the days of drought were finally over.

A few days later, Panchārāma Jaitrayātra came to a successful conclusion at Amareswara Swamy temple in Amaravati, Guntur district.

[*In Andhra Pradesh, the Panchārāma Kshetras (or Panchārāmās) are five ancient Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva – Amarārāma in Amaravati, Dakshārāma in East Godavari District near Ramachandrapuram, Somārāma in Bhimavaram, Ksheerārāma in Palakollu, Kumarārāma in Samalkota]


Swamiji’s Initiative in Resolving TTD Decisions

Mahaswamy has always taken great initiative to resolve any controversies arising from TTD’s [Tirumal Tirupati Devasthanams’]. Notably, prior to the year 2004, there used to be many unresolved issues regarding Vaidik Dharma – leading to widespread discussions and debates among the scholars. Mahaswamy took it upon himself to resolve all these issues. He convened a Seminar on Vaikhānasa Āgama* in association with the Alwar Divya Prabandha Project. The attendees included Pīṭhādhipatis, Maṭhādhipatis, and eminent scholars of the Scriptures and various śāstrās. At this Seminar, Mahaswamy deliberated with the great sages and scholars who assembled from all over the country, and established unequivocally that Vaikhānasa Āgama is the only śāstrā that should govern the temple rituals at Tirumala. As a result of Swamiji’s initiative in resolving matters related to Hindu Dharma, many of the lingering controversies have been amicably resolved – such as maintenance of Mada streets, Veyi Kalla Mandapam or the Thousand Pillared Mandapam, Srivari Pushkarini, construction of the prākāra, and such.

[*Āgamās are the Śāstrās governing the rituals of worship in Hindu temples. The Vaikhānasa Āgama is one of the most ancient and most primary Āgama that is practiced in Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu, and His associated Avatārs. Vaikhanasa bhagavath Shastra is the guiding Āgama for rituals in Tirumala Venkateswara temple.]


Seminar on the Four Āgamās

Prior to 2004, the Endowments Department did not have any guidelines, or standard operating procedures regarding maintenance of the temples, and dealing with issues of the archakās, the purohits, and the Brahmins. Mahaswamy took the initiative again and conducted Chaturagama Sadassu in Visakhapatnam, a Seminar of the Āgamās linked to the 4 main Sects of Hinduism – Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and Smartism. This Seminar has firmly established that the temple rituals should strictly follow the agamas, and only agamas. Also, the Seminar provided solutions to some of the long-pending issues raised by the archaka associations.


Saviour of Hindu Spiritual Centres & Monasteries

More often than not Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami is the first to speak up whenever there has been any attempt to harm the interests of Hindu Dharma. It was the year 2006, when the State Government tried to take control of the Hindu Spiritual Centres & Monasteries. The Government tried to interfere with the administrative affairs of Hatheeramji Maṭh and wrest control. Mahaswamy succeeded in thwarting these efforts. The Government had no answer to the poser raised by Mahaswamy why should the Government wield control over monasteries run by Hindu sages and ascetics. Again, it was Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra who raised his voice against the arrest of Jayendra Saraswati, the Pīṭhādhipati of Kanch Kamakoti Peetham.

Devotees firmly believe that Mahaswamy’s protests are always for the cause of preservation of Hindu Dharma, and that the great sage never deviates from the path shown by Vedas in his struggles.


Efforts to Stop Anya Matha Pracharam [Promoting other religions] near Hindu Temples

Promotion of other religions around Hindu temples was rampant prior to the year 2008. Followers of other faiths used to blatantly indulge in proselytization by providing incentives to gullible Hindus. Mahaswamy realized that if unchecked, these practices would inflict severe damage to Hinduism. When the State Government did not heed to the warnings, Mahaswamy took the fight to the Government by taking direct action – leading a public protest at the temple premises of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Simhachalam, along with his disciples. Finally, the then Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government had to relent and issue a Government Order [GO] declaring promotion of other religions around the Hindu temples a crime.

Panchārāma Jaitrayātra

Panchārāma Jaitrayātra

It was the year 2001. The country was experiencing a prolonged period dry weather and low rainfall resulting in severe drought, and it was the farmers of the State who were the most badly affected. Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami could not bear to see the farmers suffer so badly. Even as the Endowments Department was grappling with the situation to find a solution to end the drought, Mahaswamy explored the Scriptures for direction and decided to embark upon Panchārāma Jaitrayātra – an expedition on foot to visit and perform special rituals at the Panchārāmās* – the five holy shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in the State of Andhra Pradesh. It was a 650-km expedition, successfully completed in spiritual splendour. During the entire stretch of the yātrā, sahasra-ghata-abhishekam is performed regularly in temples. Also, pītha-archana is performed daily at the Sri Sarada Chandramouliswara temple in the Peetham.

Mahaswamy continued with the yātrā inexorably in spite of many hurdles and health issues, for the wellbeing of the society at large. The yātrā progressed briskly along the first three of the five Kshetras – Samarlakota, Dakshārāmam, and Palakollu, but slowed down before reaching Bhimavaram. As Mahaswamy was walking in pādukās [wooden slip-ons] as per his sankalpa [the original resolve at the beginning of any ritual], his feet started hurting and bleeding. Even as the doctors advised against walking any further in wooden sandals, Mahaswamy was relentless in his resolve. But, things gotten worse and his feet could not take it any longer. So, there was a forced recess for five days near a village called Sivadevuni Chikkala, located at a distance of 8 km from Palakollu, en route to Bhimavaram. Mahaswamy resumed yātrā on the sixth day towards Someswara temple in Bhimavaram, against the advice of doctors. Mahaswamy and his entourage have already travelled for over 450 km. Yet, there was no sign of rain. The summer temperatures were soaring to record highs. Also, health issues started cropping up even among the disciples and the followers of Mahaswamy.

But, eventually, Varuna – God of Rain – had to relent in the face of the steely resolve shown by Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami. Finally when Mahaswamy reached near the Dhwaja Stambha of the Someswara temple after completing the ghata-abhisheka, the skies opened up and it started raining heavily accompanied by thunder and lightning. The torrential downpour was not confined to that region, but it rained heavily across the combined State of Andhra Pradesh – a record rainfall of 89 cm in a single day. It was as if pleased with the prayers of Mahaswamy, Lord Shiva unleashed Ganga from His Jaṭājūṭa, the Beautiful Matted Hair, as rain! The spiritual zeal and the religious fervour of the disciples and the followers of Mahaswamy received a mighty boost. The general public were happy beyond words – Panchārāma Jaitrayātra had become the talk of the town across the State. The farmers of the State were ecstatic as the days of drought were finally over.

A few days later, Panchārāma Jaitrayātra came to a successful conclusion at Amareswara Swamy temple in Amaravati, Guntur district.

[*In Andhra Pradesh, the Panchārāma Kshetras (or Panchārāmās) are five ancient Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva – Amarārāma in Amaravati, Dakshārāma in East Godavari District near Ramachandrapuram, Somārāma in Bhimavaram, Ksheerārāma in Palakollu, Kumarārāma in Samalkota]

Swamiji’s Initiative in Resolving TTD Decisions

Swamiji’s Initiative in Resolving TTD Decisions

Mahaswamy has always taken great initiative to resolve any controversies arising from TTD’s [Tirumal Tirupati Devasthanams’]. Notably, prior to the year 2004, there used to be many unresolved issues regarding Vaidik Dharma – leading to widespread discussions and debates among the scholars. Mahaswamy took it upon himself to resolve all these issues. He convened a Seminar on Vaikhānasa Āgama* in association with the Alwar Divya Prabandha Project. The attendees included Pīṭhādhipatis, Maṭhādhipatis, and eminent scholars of the Scriptures and various śāstrās. At this Seminar, Mahaswamy deliberated with the great sages and scholars who assembled from all over the country, and established unequivocally that Vaikhānasa Āgama is the only śāstrā that should govern the temple rituals at Tirumala. As a result of Swamiji’s initiative in resolving matters related to Hindu Dharma, many of the lingering controversies have been amicably resolved – such as maintenance of Mada streets, Veyi Kalla Mandapam or the Thousand Pillared Mandapam, Srivari Pushkarini, construction of the prākāra, and such.

[*Āgamās are the Śāstrās governing the rituals of worship in Hindu temples. The Vaikhānasa Āgama is one of the most ancient and most primary Āgama that is practiced in Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu, and His associated Avatārs. Vaikhanasa bhagavath Shastra is the guiding Āgama for rituals in Tirumala Venkateswara temple.]

Seminar on the Four Āgamās

Prior to 2004, the Endowments Department did not have any guidelines, or standard operating procedures regarding maintenance of the temples, and dealing with issues of the archakās, the purohits, and the Brahmins. Mahaswamy took the initiative again and conducted Chaturagama Sadassu in Visakhapatnam, a Seminar of the Āgamās linked to the 4 main Sects of Hinduism – Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism and Smartism. This Seminar has firmly established that the temple rituals should strictly follow the agamas, and only agamas. Also, the Seminar provided solutions to some of the long-pending issues raised by the archaka associations.

Saviour of Hindu Spiritual Centres & Monasteries

More often than not Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami is the first to speak up whenever there has been any attempt to harm the interests of Hindu Dharma. It was the year 2006, when the State Government tried to take control of the Hindu Spiritual Centres & Monasteries. The Government tried to interfere with the administrative affairs of Hatheeramji Maṭh and wrest control. Mahaswamy succeeded in thwarting these efforts. The Government had no answer to the poser raised by Mahaswamy why should the Government wield control over monasteries run by Hindu sages and ascetics. Again, it was Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra who raised his voice against the arrest of Jayendra Saraswati, the Pīṭhādhipati of Kanch Kamakoti Peetham.

Devotees firmly believe that Mahaswamy’s protests are always for the cause of preservation of Hindu Dharma, and that the great sage never deviates from the path shown by Vedas in his struggles.

Efforts to Stop Anya Matha Pracharam [Promoting other religions] near Hindu Temples

Promotion of other religions around Hindu temples was rampant prior to the year 2008. Followers of other faiths used to blatantly indulge in proselytization by providing incentives to gullible Hindus. Mahaswamy realized that if unchecked, these practices would inflict severe damage to Hinduism. When the State Government did not heed to the warnings, Mahaswamy took the fight to the Government by taking direct action – leading a public protest at the temple premises of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Simhachalam, along with his disciples. Finally, the then Y S Rajasekhara Reddy government had to relent and issue a Government Order [GO] declaring promotion of other religions around the Hindu temples a crime.

Shining brilliantly yet gently like the morning Sun, Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham has been the beacon that reveals the path of dharma to thousands of devotees.
The Peetham has conducted a number of Victory Marches by the Peethadhipathis with an objective of preaching dharma. Notable amongst these are the Panchārāma Victory March undertaken by Guru Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswathi, and the Hindu Dharma Prachāra Yātra by Sri Swatmanandendra Saraswati have been legendary.


Safeguarding Endowments Lands

Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami has been waging a battle to safeguard lands and other properties of the Endowments Department from occupation, encroachment, or appropriation. He strongly contended that the governments do not have any rights over these lands and properties donated by devotees for the maintenance of the temples. They can neither sell nor use them for any other purpose. Mahaswamy filed a court case regarding this issue and has been fighting to get the courts issue appropriate orders to the governments. As the matter is sub judice, governments have not been able to touch these lands for the last ten years.


In Service of Hindu Temples

Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami fixed gold plating on the ālaya śikhara of Srisailam Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple with his own hands. Gold plate fixing on the Vimāna Gopuram and Saṃprokṣaṇa, ritual cleansing or consecration, is also done by Mahaswami. Similarly, Saṃprokṣaṇa of the ālaya śikhara of Vijayawada Sri Kanakadurga temple, and also Saṃprokṣaṇa of the ālaya rājagopuram of Annavaram Sri Satyanarayana Swamy temple also have been carried out by Mahaswamy.


Daiva Sannidhānam

One of the important temples administered by the Peetham outside of Visakhapatnam is the Daiva Sannidhānam located in Filmnagar, Hyderabad, which has developed into a vibrant spiritual center. On Mahaswamy’s instructions, V B Rajendra Prasad, a famous film producer along with other film celebrities such as Chiranjeevi, Mohan Babu, and Paruchuri Brothers, and others have worked hard for construction of Daiva Sannidhānam. Ankurarpanam for the temple was performed on June 2, 2004. Within the Sannidhanam, there are temples dedicated to Sri-Bhu-Sameta Venkateswara Swamy along with sankha-chakra-nama, Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka, & Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy.


The Advent of Śankaravāṇi Magazine

Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham launched the magazine Śankaravāṇi to reach a much wider audience and take Śankara’s Advaita Vedanta closer to the masses. The content for the magazine includes, inter alia, spiritual articles by eminent scholars; religious discourses; Mahaswamy’s speeches and commentaries on spiritual matters; news specific to the Peetham, Mahaswamy, and Uttarādhikāri.
In a legend dating back to about 1200 years ago, while Pāṇini was in meditation, Lord Shiva appeared before him and played His dhamaru 14 times making 14 specific sounds. Pāṇini captured the 14 sounds, translated them into syllables. These syllables were the 14 Sutras, known as the Maahesvarasutrani. Based on these sutras, he had formulated the rules of Sanskrit morphology, syntax and semantics in Aṣṭādhyāyī, the foundational text of the grammatical branch of the Vedanga in eight chapters. Inspired by the legend of Pāṇini, Mahaswamy started the magazine to translate complex spiritual knowledge and Vedic wisdom into an easier format for the modern man.


The Unique Nature of Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham

At the macro-level, Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham is a peetham of traditional Advaita Vedanta of Sri Ādi Śankarāchārya. But, it is much more than a Seat of Advaita Philosophy. It is a Tapo-peetham, a Seat of Asceticism. It is a Jnana-peetham, a Seat of Vedic Wisdom. It is a Siddhi-peetham, a Seat of Spiritual Awakening and Fulfilment.

It is the conviction of Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham that Dharma follows Kaala, or the means of discharge of dharmic responsibilities has to adapt themselves to the current times. The Peetham has taken the task of harmonizing Sanatana Dharama with the changing times upon itself. In specific, the Pīṭhādhipati Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swamy and the Uttarādhikāri Sri Swatmanandendra Saraswati have been instrumental in promoting and disseminating Hindu Dharma across the country in the form and principle in harmony with the modern times. Sweeping changes are taking place across societies all over the world. Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham has been striving hard to make the Hindu Way of Life and the Hindu Philosophy adapt to these changes, so that Bharateeya Sanatana Dharma remains the life-force of our great nation.

Safeguarding Endowments Lands

Safeguarding Endowments Lands

Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami has been waging a battle to safeguard lands and other properties of the Endowments Department from occupation, encroachment, or appropriation. He strongly contended that the governments do not have any rights over these lands and properties donated by devotees for the maintenance of the temples. They can neither sell nor use them for any other purpose. Mahaswamy filed a court case regarding this issue and has been fighting to get the courts issue appropriate orders to the governments. As the matter is sub judice, governments have not been able to touch these lands for the last ten years.

In Service of Hindu Temples

In Service of Hindu Temples

Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swami fixed gold plating on the ālaya śikhara of Srisailam Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple with his own hands. Gold plate fixing on the Vimāna Gopuram and Saṃprokṣaṇa, ritual cleansing or consecration, is also done by Mahaswami. Similarly, Saṃprokṣaṇa of the ālaya śikhara of Vijayawada Sri Kanakadurga temple, and also Saṃprokṣaṇa of the ālaya rājagopuram of Annavaram Sri Satyanarayana Swamy temple also have been carried out by Mahaswamy.

Daiva Sannidhānam

One of the important temples administered by the Peetham outside of Visakhapatnam is the Daiva Sannidhānam located in Filmnagar, Hyderabad, which has developed into a vibrant spiritual center. On Mahaswamy’s instructions, V B Rajendra Prasad, a famous film producer along with other film celebrities such as Chiranjeevi, Mohan Babu, and Paruchuri Brothers, and others have worked hard for construction of Daiva Sannidhānam. Ankurarpanam for the temple was performed on June 2, 2004. Within the Sannidhanam, there are temples dedicated to Sri-Bhu-Sameta Venkateswara Swamy along with sankha-chakra-nama, Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka, & Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy.

The Advent of Śankaravāṇi Magazine

Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham launched the magazine Śankaravāṇi to reach a much wider audience and take Śankara’s Advaita Vedanta closer to the masses. The content for the magazine includes, inter alia, spiritual articles by eminent scholars; religious discourses; Mahaswamy’s speeches and commentaries on spiritual matters; news specific to the Peetham, Mahaswamy, and Uttarādhikāri.
In a legend dating back to about 1200 years ago, while Pāṇini was in meditation, Lord Shiva appeared before him and played His dhamaru 14 times making 14 specific sounds. Pāṇini captured the 14 sounds, translated them into syllables. These syllables were the 14 Sutras, known as the Maahesvarasutrani. Based on these sutras, he had formulated the rules of Sanskrit morphology, syntax and semantics in Aṣṭādhyāyī, the foundational text of the grammatical branch of the Vedanga in eight chapters. Inspired by the legend of Pāṇini, Mahaswamy started the magazine to translate complex spiritual knowledge and Vedic wisdom into an easier format for the modern man.

The Unique Nature of Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham

At the macro-level, Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham is a peetham of traditional Advaita Vedanta of Sri Ādi Śankarāchārya. But, it is much more than a Seat of Advaita Philosophy. It is a Tapo-peetham, a Seat of Asceticism. It is a Jnana-peetham, a Seat of Vedic Wisdom. It is a Siddhi-peetham, a Seat of Spiritual Awakening and Fulfilment.

It is the conviction of Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham that Dharma follows Kaala, or the means of discharge of dharmic responsibilities has to adapt themselves to the current times. The Peetham has taken the task of harmonizing Sanatana Dharama with the changing times upon itself. In specific, the Pīṭhādhipati Sri Sri Sri Swaroopanandendra Saraswati Swamy and the Uttarādhikāri Sri Swatmanandendra Saraswati have been instrumental in promoting and disseminating Hindu Dharma across the country in the form and principle in harmony with the modern times. Sweeping changes are taking place across societies all over the world. Visakha Sri Sarada Peetham has been striving hard to make the Hindu Way of Life and the Hindu Philosophy adapt to these changes, so that Bharateeya Sanatana Dharma remains the life-force of our great nation.

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