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Anantshri Vibhushit Rigvediya Shri Govardhan Math Puri Peethadheeshwar Jagadguru Shrimad Shankaracharya Shri Nischalananda Saraswati | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Title | 145th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Govardhan Math |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Nilambar Jha, later ordinated as Dhruvachaitanya 30 June 1943 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Order | Mathematicians Vedanta, Smārta |
| Philosophy | Advaita Vedanta, Nondualism |
| Religious career | |
| Guru | Swami Karpatri |
| Govardhan Math | |
| Assumed office 1992-present | |
| Preceded by | Niranjanadev Tirtha |
| Website | https://govardhanpeeth.org |
Nischalananda Saraswati is the current 145th Jagadguru Shankaracharya of the Rigvediya Purvamnaya Sri Govardhana Peetha of Puri,Odisha,India. [1] [2] [3]
He is a prominent Indian spiritual leader and scholar in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. Serving in this esteemed position since 1992,he has played a pivotal role in promoting and preserving India's spiritual and cultural heritage. As a revered figure in Hinduism,he actively engages in spiritual discourse,addressing contemporary issues while upholding ancient traditions.
Sri Nischalananda Saraswati was born as Neelambar Jha in a Maithil Brahmin family in Madhubani in the year 1943,as a son of the Raja-Pandita (Royal Priest) of the Maharaja of Darabhanga to Pandit Lalvamshi Jha and Smt. Gita Devi. His father was a renowned Sanskrit scholar and court vidwan of the Darbhanga Kingdom. [4]
After spending his early childhood at home,and subsequent education at Tibbia College,Delhi,he decided to leave his home and took initiation as a Brahmachari. He was given the name Dhruvachaitanya by Swami Sri Naradanand Saraswati of Naimisharanya. He rigorously studied Shastras in Kashi,Vrindavan,Haridwar,Prayagraj,Naimisharanya,Puri and Sringeri.
He actively participated in cow protection movements and was imprisoned for 52 days in 1966 for his advocacy in Dharma Samrat Karpatriji Maharaj’s protests against cow slaughtering. On 11 April 1974 in Haridwar,he was ordained into Sannyasa by Swami Karapatri,who bestowed upon him the monastic name Nischalananda Saraswati.
His dedication and brilliance led to his appointment as the 145th Shankaracharya of the Govardhan Math in Puri by Swami Niranjanadev Tirtha ji Maharaj on 9th February 1992 (Vikram Samvat 2048).
On 11 February 2018,the silver jubilee (25th anniversary) of the pattabhisheka of Swami Nischalananda Saraswati was celebrated in Puri,attended by the Chief Minister of Odisha,Naveen Patnaik,former King of Nepal,Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev,and Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deba of Puri.