Rig Vedic scholar from Andhra Pradesh anointed as next Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
The 25-year-old acharya, known as Ganesha Sharma Dravid before his initiation into sanyasa, was identified by the matam as successor to the present Seer Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya. He will be the 71st Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam
Kancheepuram (Tamil Nadu): Rig Vedic scholar from Andhra Pradesh Sri Satya Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya was anointed as the junior pontiff of the ancient Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam at a grand religious ceremony here on Wednesday.
The 25-year-old acharya, known as Ganesha Sharma Dravid before his initiation into sanyasa as per the tradition at the Kanchi matam, was identified by the matam as successor to the present Seer Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya.
The historic event took place on the auspicious Akshya Thritiya attended by the seers from across the country. During the Sanyasa Sweekara Mahotsavam, the senior pontiff Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi blessed the Sanyasa name of Satya Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya to Duddu Satya Venkata Surya Subramanya Ganesha Sharma Dravid, marking the latter’s ascension as “71st Shankaracharya of the Peetam” according to Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
The rituals connected with the ascension commenced on Tuesday at the Pancha Ganga Teertham, Sri Kanchi Kamakshi Ambal Devasthanam.
Special pujas at Sri Kamakshi Ambal Sannidhi and Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya Sannidhi at Sri Kamakshi Temple, marked the occasion. Special pujas were held at Sri Shankaracharya and Sri Sureshwaracharya Sannidhi, too, followed by the junior pontiff’s visit to Brindavan of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati and Sri Jayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya.
Prasadams from various temples across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other States were offered to the 71st acharya by the temple representatives.
“The event coincided with the 2534th Jayanti Mahotsavam (May 2, 2025) of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya who established Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in 482 BCE. Since then, the Peetam has the distinction of an unbroken line of 70 acharyas (spiritual leaders),” according to Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam.
This Rig Vedic scholar from Annavaram Kshetra in Andhra Pradesh, had served at Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam, Basara, Nirmal district, Nizamabad, Telangana. He completed his studies in Yajurveda, Samaveda, Shadangas, and Dashopanishat, also.
The senior pontiff was made acharya of the Peetam at a young age of 15 by his predecessor and 69th pontiff Jayendra Saraswathi on May 29, 1983. Jayendra Saraswathi was made the acharya by his predecessor Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi on March 24, 1954.
Following the revered tradition of monastic initiation at the Peetam, his guru and present Peetadhipathi Vijayendra Saraswathi handed the new acharya a danda (staff) at the event witnessed by scores of dignitaries including Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi and former Union Minister Subramanian Swamy.
His father, Duddu Dhanvantari, serving as priest at the renowned Sri Sathyanarayana Swamy Temple in Annavaram, mother Alivelu Mangadevi, and sister, too, witnessed the initiation ceremony.
BJP State chief Nainar Nagenthiran, who participated in the spectacular event marked by elaborate rituals and chanting of Vedic hymns, said he was overjoyed to personally attend the anointment of Sri Sathya Chandrasekharendra Saraswati as the 71st Acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, founded by the great spiritual teacher Adi Shankaracharya.
“I extend my respectful greetings to him as he prepares to carry forward the timeless parampara of the Mutt to the next generation. Our great nation continues to shine as a Dharmakshetra due to the blessings of our sannyasis and jnana gurus,” Nagenthiran said.
