Successor appointed to historic Sharada peetham at Sringeri

CHIKKAMAGALURU: To the chanting of Vedic hymns, slokas and mantras by the priests from various Brahmin mutts and monasteries and in the presence of score of seers Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati seer was anointed as the 37 the head of Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham at Sringeri town located on the banks of river Tunga in the district located about 250 kms from Bangalore.
In continuation of the Guru-Shishya lineage established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya who said to have revived the Sanathana Dharma (Hinduism) and Unpanishadic philosophy of Vedanta, 36th pontiff of the peetham Sri Bharati Tirtha Swamiji anointed Sri Kuppa Venkateshwara Prasada Sharma as his successor and re-christened him as Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Swamiji.
More than half a lakh people from all parts of the country who descended at this non-descript pilgrimage town in the hills of Western ghats witnessed the anointing ceremony. However the Shishya Sweekara (acceptance of disciple)ceremony had begun on Thursday itself a prelude to the main ceremony of anointment.
On Friday ceremony began at 7:30AM with the successor seer performing the Purusha Sookta Homa and Virajaa Homa at the Samadhis of previous Jagadgurus. At 9 am seer proceeded to the banks of Tunga river and performed Preshochaarana and Sarva-bhoota-abhaya Pradhana — signifying a vow of non-violence towards all beings. He then discarded his clothes, sacred thread and tuft. As he rose from the Tunga river, Jagadguru Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji blessed him with Kashya Vasthram (saffron monastic robes), Dandam and Kamandalu. The Guru and Shishya Swamiji then proceeded to Samadhi of Jagadguru Sri Sri Abhinava Vidya Tirtha Mahaswamiji. There, as per the ancient tradition established by Sri Shankaracharya, Jagadguru new seer was given the Pranava Upadesha and Mahavakhya Upadesha. Thereafter, Jagadguru and the new seer crossed the Tunga river to offer pooja at Sharada Temple.
Speaking on the occasion the pontiff Sri Bharati Tirtha Swamiji said, "I have successfully handled and discharged the responsibilities passed on to me by Sri Abhinava Vidhya Tirth Swamiji(35th pontiff) in 1974 and the same responsibilities I am passing on today to the new seer."
About the new seer and successor-designate, Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Swamiji:
Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Swamiji whose earlier name was Kuppa Venkateshwara Prasada Sharma was born on July 24, 1993 at Tirupati Andhra Pradesh. Born as the second son of Sri Kuppa Shivasubrahmanya Avadhani and Smt.Seetha Nagalakshmi, he belonged to the Kaundinya Gotra and is a native of Anantavaram, Guntur District in Andhra Pradesh. His family has a long lineage of illustrious Vedic Pandits who were all ardent disciples of the Sringeri Jagadgurus.
Fom a young age, Sri Prasada Sharma developed a deep devotion towards Lord Krishna and visited e Krishna temple near his home daily. Under the guidance of the Jagadguru, he rapidly gained mastery in Sanskrit. Sringeri Vidwan Sri Tangirala Shivakumara Sharma taught him Sanskrit poetry and literature. He also learned the basics of Vyakarana Shastra under Sringeri Vidwan Sri Krishnaraja Bhat.
Observing his Guru Bhakti, humility, intelligence and dedicated application to his studies, Jagadguru decided to personally teach him the Shastras. The Jagadguru began to teach him the Tarka Shastra(Logics) in 2011. Sri Prasada Sharma grasped the teachings quickly and the lessons moved at an intense pace. Even during the hectic Vijaya Yatra of 2012-13, the Jagadguru continued to teach him without missing even asingle day. Under the guidance of the Jagadguru, Sri Prasada Sharma also studied Mimamsa Shastra He regularly attended the nightly Chandramoulishwara Puja performed by the Jagadguru. During this Puja, he also chanted the entire Krishna Yajur Veda Moola and the entire Yajur Veda Krama.
The Sringeri Guru Parampara lineage has been central to the preservation and growth of Sanatana Dharma. The induction of Sri Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Swamiji is therefore an event of historic importance to followers of Sanatana Dharma throughout the world said a press release from the mutt.