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Adi Shankaracharya |
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Bhagvatpaad Adi Shankaracharya,
Incarnation of Lord Shiva, established four
Peethams (Monastaries and Institutions) at four
cardinal directions of India.
The
Peethams at East, West, South and North are named
as
Sri Govardhan Peetham, Puri (Orissa)
Presently headed by
H.H.Nischalananda Saraswati Swamiji
Sri Sharada Peetham,
Dwaraka (Gujarat) Presently headed by
H.H.Swaroopananda Saraswati
Swamiji,
Shri Sharada Peetham,
Sringeri (Karnataka) Presently headed by
H.H.Bharati Teertha Swamiji
and
Shri Jyotish Peetham (Uttaranchal)
Presently headed by
H.H.Swaroopananda Saraswati Swamiji.
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Poorvamnaya Sri Govardhan Math, Bhogavardhan Peetham
General Information
Sri Govardhan Math (Peetham), located in the Eastern
Indian state of Odisha is 2492 years old established by
Bhagvatpaada Adi Shankaracharya with an aim of
rejuvenating the Vedic Sanatan Dharma and establishing
the “Dharma” regulated, unbiased and extortion-free
regime. The details of the Peetham and its activities
are elaborated below as per the information maintained
by the tradition and old records.
Bhagvatpada Adi Shankaracharya: |
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Bhagvatpada Adi Shankaracharya was born in Kaladi (Kerala)
on Vaishakha Shuddha Panchami in B.C. 507. He accepted
the holy stage of Sanyas (Ascetism) at the tender age of
eight. Till the age of sixteen He composed the
commentaries on Prasthanatrayi i.e. Upanishads-
Bhagvadgita-Brahma Sutras, authored various Prakarana
Granthas like Vivekachudaamani, Aparokshaanubhuuti etc.
and composed various hymns in the praise of the
qualified form of deities and also on the unqualified
form of Brahma. During this period He defeated peak
scholars like Kumaril Bhatta and Mandana Mishra in
Shastriac debates and also defeated and impressed
Buddhist scholars by His unparalled knowledge of Vedas
and wisdom. |
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The Samrat Sudhanva
who then reigned over the Undivided India accepted
discipleship of eighteen years old Adi Shankaracharyaji
and initiated the epoch making work of enmeriting the
Vedic Dharma. Adi Shankaracharya established four
monasteries in the four cardinal directions of Bharat.
The Puri Govardhan Peetham at Puri in Utkala, the
Sringeri Peetham at Sringeri in Karnataka, the Sharada
Peetham at Dwaraka in Gujrat and the Jyotish Peetham in
the Badari region. He ordained his able disciples as the
“Jagadguru Shankaracharya” of these Peethams and laid
the constitution regarding the mode of ordination,
importance, functioning and utility of the Acharya. He
also marked the territory of each Peetham, and thus
ensured the proper administration of the institutions.
He classified and nominated the ascetics in ten
divisions to ensure followance and protection of the
Vaidik Dharma at various locations which were affected
by the non-Vedic cults. From age of 24 to 31 years, Adi
Shankaracharya resolved the differences between 89
schools of thoughts, rejuvenated the Vedic Sanatan
Dharma and established the “Dharma” regulated, unbiased
and extortion-free regime. At the young age of 32,
Bhagvatpada Adi Shankaracharya concluded His divine
existence form the practical world by transcending to
Kailash.
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Poorvamnaya
Sri Govardhan Peetham |
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Bhagvatpada Adi Shankaracharya established the
eastern monastery associated with Rigved called as
“Poorvamnaya Sri Govardhan Math- Bhogavardhan
Peetham” on the shore of Mahodadhi (Bay Of Bengal)
in the Holy Dham of Puri in B.C. 486. The whole of
the Eastern India viz. Bihar, Jharkhand, Chittasgarh,
Andhra till Rajmahendri, Orissa, Bengal, Nepal,
Bangladesh (Undivided India), Assam, Arunachal
Pradesh, Manipur, Sikkim, Bhutan, Meghalaya, Tripura,
Mizoram, |
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Uttarapradesh till
Prayaga including Gaya and Varanasi are considered
as the territory of Sri Govardhan Peetham. On the
auspicious day of Vaishakha Shukla Dashami B.C. 483 the
Holy Lotus Hands of Adi Shankaracharya restored and
reinstalled the holy idol of Lord Jagannatha and on the
same day He ordained his first disciple
“Padmapadacharya” as the first “Jagadguru Shankaracharya”
of Puri Peetham. Adi Shankaracharya installed the seat
of transcendental wisdom in the Peetham and established
Lord Ardhanarishwar and Lord Govardhan-nath. The Peeth
is world-renowned as one of the 51 Shakti-Peethas also
where the naval-part of Bhagavati Sati fell. As per the
tradition the Jagadguru Shankaracharya opf Puri
Govardhan Peetham presides over the Mukti-Mandap and
inaugurates the Internationally reputed “Ratha Yatra”.
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Shri Padmapadacharya Swami |
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Padmapadacharya’s term was full of vigour and
illuminatory activities. He authored the illustrated
book named “ Panchapadika” and wrote a commentary on
the the work name “Prapanchasara” written by Adi
Shankaracharya. The following Shankaracharyas also
had very illustrious terms. On of the
Shankaracharyas of Puri Peetham named Shankar Swami
promoted Vachaspati Mishra to write a “Teeka” on the
Brahma Sutra Shaankara Bhaashya.
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This “Teeka “ named as
“Bhamati Teeka” be very much lauded in the field of
Vedanta. Similarly the reknowned “Shridhari Teeka” on
“Shrimad Bhagavatam” was composed by Shridhara Swami who
belonged to the Govardhan Math Guru- Shishya tradition,
who resided in its branch at “Shankarananda Math”.
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Shri Madhusudan Dev Tirtha Swami |
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The 142nd Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Govardhan
Peetham Swami Madhusudan Dev Tirtha was reknowned to
have the Siddhi of Goddess Vimala who is the
presiding diety of the Govardhan Peetham. Thus even
the British Government regarded Him in very high
regard in this matter. The spread of the “Shaktipat”
tradition which is presently prevalent
internationally is solely attributed to Madhusudan
Dev Tirtha Maharaj. |
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Shri Bharati Krishna Tirtha Swami |
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He was followed by 143rd Jagadguru Shankaracharya
Bharati Krishna Tirtha, who was a scholar and Yogi
par excellence. He was in forefront in the Indian
Freedom Struggle and he was the one who gave clarion
call of “ Britishers Go Back”, this slogan was later
taken up by Gandhiji. Swami Bharati Krishna Tirthaji
Maharaj was arrested and jailed in the Karachi jail
for 2 years and in the Patna Jail for His active
involvement in the Indian Freedom Struggle. He
authored 3000 shlokas and various books like “
Sanatan Dharma”, “ Bhagvan Shri Krishna”,“Vasant
Panchami”, etc. of then the book “Vedic Mathematics”
was an epoch making book in the field of science and
mathematics. He taught the principles of Vedic.
Mathematics to the national and international
scholars His thoughts later helped in
revolutionizing the computational techniques by use
of the Binary System. |
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Shri Niranjan Dev Tirtha Swami |
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Later Swami Niranjan Dev Tirtha followed as the
144th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of the Govardhan
Peetham who was considered as the lion in the field
of Dharma and Shastras. His participation in the
“Cow Protection Movement” is remembered everywhere.
He agitated for the “Ban on Cow – Slaughter” by
fasting for 72 days which is a world record. He was
the president of the illustrious “Dharma Sangha”
established by His Holiness Swami Hariharananda
Saraswati (Karapatri Swami). |
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Shri Nishchalananda
Saraswati Swami |
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From 1992, Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati Maharaj
followed as the 145th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of
the Govardhan Peetham. His work in the field of
Dharma, Mathematics, Tantra, Patriotism and humanity
is well-known by his illustrious books numbering to
fifty. His participation in the reconversion of
Hindus who were by force or deceivance converted to
the other faiths, in the protection of Sri Rama Setu
is well-known. He has composed 6 books on Vedic-
Mathematics and a book on the science of health and
happy life. The Jagadguru Shankaracharyas of Puri
Peetham never relented to any kind of lust and fear
from the petty political or business-classes thus
the Govardhan Math was always ignored by such
classes. |
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