Sri Satya Chandrashekarendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya, a 25-year-old Rig Vedic scholar from Andhra Pradesh, was anointed as the junior pontiff of the ancient Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam at a grand religious ceremony. The historic event took place on the auspicious Akshya Thritiya, attended by seers from across the country. The new acharya, known as Ganesha Sharma Dravid before his initiation into sanyasa, is the successor to the present Seer Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi Shankaracharya. The event coincided with the 2534th Jayanti Mahotsavam (May 2, 2025) of Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya, who established Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam in 482 BCE.
Over 100 Carnatic musicians from all over Mumbai converged at the Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekharendra Saraswati auditorium on January 13 for a rendition of the Pancharatna Kritis of Saint Thyagaraja in chorus.
M N Krishanmani, the Kanchi Shankaracharya's lawyer, believes Jayendra Saraswati is the victim of personal vendetta.
'He will always live in the hearts of the millions of children who have studied in schools and colleges established by him and the faithful Hindus to whom he was a symbol of the invincible spirit of glorious Hindu Dharma,' says Tarun Vijay.
'When name and fame come, people do change, but Srinivas was one person who never changed. He was a personification of humility and moved with all fellow musicians and everyone in society with respect.'
With his strong views on Bharatiya economics, his appointment to the RBI board may well presage interesting times, says Archis Mohan.
