Junior pontiff appointed for Madurai Aadheenam

Madurai: V Thirunavukarasu of Pillaiarpatti in Sivaganga district was appointed junior pontiff of the 1,500-year old Madurai Aadheenam by 292nd pontiff Srila Sri Arunagirinatha Gurugnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya Swamigal on Wednesday.
Announcing Thirunavukarasu's appointment, Arunagirinatha said, "After performing the necessary rituals he was appointed as my successor and will hereafter be called as Srila Sri Kumarasundara Gurugnanasambanda Desika Paramacharya Swamigal."
He said that Thirunavukarasu is the sixth son of S P Vaidyanathan and Indhra of Pillayarpatti.He completed his undergraduation in Tamil at the college of Dharmapura Aadheenam Mutt and postgraduation in Alagappa University, Karaikudi.
He was trained in Sanskrit at Pillaiarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Vedagama College and also learnt yoga teaching.
It may be recalled that the pontiff had appointed controversial godman Nithyananda as his junior pontiff on April 27 in 2012. The pontiff's action was widely criticised and evoked stiff opposition from various organisations across the state. Adhering to their demands, Nithyananda was removed from the post of junior pontiff within the next six months.