Branch Heads Conference
Dharmadhikaris and Managers of branches of Sringeri Math assembled at the Branch Head Conference
On 23rd June 2015, various branch heads of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham, led by the CEO & Administrator, Guru Seva Dhurina Sri V R Gowrishankar, assembled at the Sringeri Shankara Math in Bengaluru to have Darshan of the Ubhaya Jagadgurus, for the first time as a group since the historic Shishya Sweekara in January, 2015. The CEO offered Pranams to the Jagadgurus and welcomed the branch heads, and the heads of various affiliate institutions of the Peetham in the areas of education, healthcare, and other aspects of social work. He explained at length the various social activities that the Math is engaged in.
In His Anugraha Bhashanam, Sri Mahasannidhanam said that it is the uniqueness of the Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham at Sringeri, established by Jagadguru Sri Adi Shankaracharya, to have had an unbroken Guru Parampara, and to have had Acharyas who have all been great scholars; are Sannyasis of exemplary conduct and are ever intent on guiding disciples. Keeping Dharma Prachara (propagation of Dharma) in mind, a number of branch Maths also were founded such as the Maths in Hampi (founded by Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya), Shivaganga (founded by the 24th Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Narasimha Bharati), etc. With time, many branches also came to be founded over the past 150 years in various cities, towns and villages of the country, each functioning as centres of Dharma for the Astikas therein. Sri Mahasannidhanam said that in recent times, the branch at Panchavati, Nasik is the oldest, having been established in the later part of the 18th century. Sri Mahasannidhanam also alluded to the fact that the oldest known branch is at Kedarghat, Kashi where Lord Chandramoulishwara was consecrated by Jagadguru Sri Vidyaranya in the 14th century. Sri Mahasannidhanam then said that some of the relatively old branches were established during the time of His Parapara Guru, the 32nd Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Vriddha Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji. These include the Pracheena Sringeri Math in Sultanpet, Bengaluru; the Math in Georgetown, Chennai; the Math in Amman Sannidhi Street, Madurai and the Math in Tirunelveli Town. Thereon, the 33rd Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Narasimha Bharati Mahaswamiji founded the branches in Shankarapuram, Bengaluru and Kalady. Sri Mahasannidhanam said that the Maths in Mysore (Abhinava Shankaralaya) and Nanjangud came into existence during the time of His Paramaguru, Jagadguru Sri Chandrashekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji. Many branches have been newly founded by the 35th Acharya, Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji and also during the present times.
Sri Mahasannidhanam said that the running and management of all these branches was no ordinary task. Only people with devotion to the Guru, and firm faith in Dharma could be given the responsibility of running these branches. Sri Mahasannidhanam said that all the assembled heads of the branches have been rendering good service. His Holiness blessed them all, invoking the Grace of Goddess Sharadamba to give them the ability to put in their best service. Thereafter, all branch heads were individually felicitated by CEO Sri Gowrishankar and received the blessings of Sri Mahasannidhanam and Sri Sannidhanam.