“The Math has a long history of more than one thousand years and being a multi-dimensional institution has contributed immensely to the cause of societal advancement”
Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji
His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji is the 24th pontiff of the Sri Math. He assumed the Peetha in 1986. He had his spiritual training under the guidance of his illustrious predecessor Jagadguru Dr Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji.
Swamiji has been responsible for establishing ‘Bharathiya Samskruthika Parishath’, an all-India body, by providing collective leadership involving heads of different religions, with an aim to take up activities which could benefit humankind.
Contribution as a Religious Head
Swamiji has been instrumental in providing momentum to support the vision of His Excellency Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India, to start ‘The foundation for Unity of Religions (FUREC)’. His Holiness has also taken the initiative of spreading Indian spirituality and culture in the United States of America, by establishing the JSS Spiritual Mission in Maryland, USA. Besides, Swamiji is promoting the values in the Indian tradition and culture for the benefit of different sections of the Indian society through various other activities.
Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji is engaged in enabling the dissemination of knowledge available in our scriptures and spiritual texts, through publications and the establishment of Vedic Schools and Gurukulas (Centre for training the aspiring Religious Heads).
Believing in the words of his predecessor that “Ignorance is the cause of many social evils and knowledge is one of many remedies”, Swamiji has steered and guided JSS Mahavidyapeetha to evolve into a significant centre of learning. He actively oversees the activities of JSSMVP, which has more than 300 educational institutions spread over Karnataka, Tamil Nādu and Uttar Pradesh in India and Dubai, Mauritius, and the USA internationally.