Our Jagadgurus
In our Indian tradition, a very high position has been accorded to the Guru. Without the grace of the Guru, no one can attain fulfilment of the purpose of life. We all desire Moksha, and the sole means to its attainment is Jnana (knowledge). The Veda says: “It is only by knowing the Supreme Brahman that one attains immortality. There is no other path”.
How can that knowledge be obtained by us? Can it be got by perusal of texts? No, this knowledge can be procured only from a Guru. In the Upanishads, we hear of holy ones going to Gurus who are well versed in the scriptures and established in the Supreme and making a request of the form, “O Guru! Please impart knowledge to me”. Even though the Rishis seeking knowledge may have been scholarly, it is certain that their acquisition of knowledge was solely dependent on their seeking it from a Guru. Only that knowledge which is obtained from the lotus mouth of the Guru is potent. Sans a Guru, no matter how many texts we may delve into, we cannot attain that knowledge. There is a hoary tradition everywhere which can be learnt only from the Guru.
The Hoary Guru-Shishya Parampara, avichchinna ( unbroken) Guruparampara of Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peetham is given below.
| Divine Group |
Lord Sadashiva |
Lord Narayana |
Lord Brahma |
| Semi Divine Group |
Vasishta Maharishi |
Shakti Maharishi |
Parashara Maharishi |
Veda Vyasa |
Sri Shuka Acharya |
Sri Gaudapada Acharya |
Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada |
Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada |
|
Jagadgurus of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham |
Period of Reign (CE) |
1. |
Sri Shankara Bhagavatpada |
820 (videha-mukti) |
2. |
Sri Sureshwaracharya |
820 - 834 |
3. |
Sri Nityabodaghana |
834-848 |
4. |
Sri Jnanaghana |
848 - 910 |
5. |
Sri Jnanottama |
910 - 954 |
6. |
Sri Jnanagiri |
954 - 1038 |
7. |
Sri Simhagiri |
1038 - 1098 |
8. |
Sri Ishwara Tirtha |
1098 - 1146 |
9. |
Sri Nrisimha Tirtha |
1146 - 1229 |
10. |
Sri Vidya Shankara Tirtha |
1229 - 1333 |
11. |
Sri Bharati Krishna Tirtha |
1333 - 1380 |
12. |
Sri Vidyaranya |
1380 - 1386 |
13. |
Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati I |
1386 - 1389 |
14. |
Sri Nrisimha Bharati I |
1389 - 1408 |
15. |
Sri Puroshottama Bharati I |
1408 - 1448 |
16. |
Sri Shankara Bharati |
1448 - 1455 |
17. |
Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati II |
1455 - 1464 |
18. |
Sri Nrisimha Bharati II |
1464 - 1479 |
19. |
Sri Puroshottama Bharati II |
1479 - 1517 |
20. |
Sri Ramachandra Bharati |
1517 - 1560 |
21. |
Sri Nrisimha Bharati III |
1560 - 1573 |
22. |
Sri Nrisimha Bharati IV |
1573 - 1576 |
23. |
Sri Nrisimha Bharati V |
1576 - 1600 |
24. |
Sri Abhinava Nrisimha Bharati |
1600 - 1623 |
25. |
Sri Sacchidananda Bharati I |
1623 - 1663 |
26. |
Sri Nrisimha Bharati VI |
1663 - 1706 |
27. |
Sri Sacchidananda Bharati II |
1706 - 1741 |
28. |
Sri Abhinava Sacchidananda Bharati I |
1741 - 1767 |
29. |
Sri Nrisimha Bharati VII |
1767 - 1770 |
30. |
Sri Sacchidananda Bharati III |
1770 - 1814 |
31. |
Sri Abhinava Sacchidananda Bharati II |
1814 - 1817 |
32. |
Sri Nrisimha Bharati VIII |
1817 - 1879 |
33. |
Sri Sacchidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharati |
1879 - 1912 |
34. |
Sri Chandrasekhara Bharati III |
1912 - 1954 |
35. |
Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha |
1954 - 1989 |
36. |
|
1989 - Present |
| 37 |
Sri Vidhushekara Bharati |
Successor- Designate |
