Sringeri Sharada Peetham Acharya Aradhana

A lamp before the image or sandals of a guru, flowers at a shrine, and recitation of a lineage prayer are the visible heart of an aradhana, a day of reverential remembrance. At Sringeri Sharada Peetham, these three aradhana days honour successive Jagadgurus of the monastic lineage rather than a single festival event.

What the set commemorates

Sringeri Sharada Peetham is a traditional seat of learning and spiritual leadership associated with the worship of Sharada, the goddess of knowledge, and with the Advaita Vedanta teaching lineage. A Jagadguru is a revered spiritual preceptor of that lineage. Aradhana marks remembrance and worship of such a teacher, especially on the annual lunar day assigned to him.

The three observances gathered here concern the 32nd Jagadguru Shri Nrisimha Bharati, the 34th Jagadguru Shri Chandrashekhara Bharati, and the 35th Jagadguru Shri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahasvami. Grouping them on one page reflects their shared place in the Sringeri succession; each still has its own lunar date and its own identity.

When the three days fall

The 32nd Jagadguru Shri Nrisimha Bharati Aradhana falls on Dvitiya, the second tithi or lunar day, of Shukla Paksha, the waxing fortnight, in Jyeshtha. The tithi current at sunrise governs the day.

The 35th Jagadguru Shri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahasvami Aradhana falls on Saptami, the seventh tithi, of Krishna Paksha, the waning fortnight, in Bhadrapada. The tithi current at sunrise governs the day.

The 34th Jagadguru Shri Chandrashekhara Bharati Aradhana falls on Amavasya, the new-moon tithi and fifteenth tithi of the dark half, in Bhadrapada. Here too, the tithi current at sunrise governs the day. Since these are lunar observances, their Gregorian dates change from year to year.

Why remembrance matters

In guru aradhana, honouring the teacher is also honouring the teaching received through the lineage. Devotees may pray for clarity, discipline, learning, and steadiness in spiritual practice. The day is therefore meaningful both as a memorial observance and as an expression of continuity between teacher, institution, and student.

Local and household practice can differ. A monastery or temple programme may include formal worship, recitation, offerings, and distribution of food, while a household may keep the day with a lamp, flowers, prayer, and respectful remembrance. The specific scale of worship should not be assumed to be identical everywhere.

Guru aradhana is the reverential remembrance of a spiritual teacher. In the Sringeri Sharada Peetham tradition, these days honour three Jagadgurus—Nrisimha Bharati, Chandrashekhara Bharati, and Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahasvami—whose places in the succession give the set its shared identity.

The observance expresses gratitude for the transmission of learning and spiritual discipline through the guru-parampara, or teacher lineage. It may also be understood as a day to turn toward study, prayer, meditation, and the qualities traditionally associated with a worthy teacher. The verses connected with this set praise devotion, wisdom, courage, generosity, forbearance, Self-meditation, and mastery of the shastras, meaning authoritative teachings.

The three days remain distinct rather than becoming one combined festival. Their lunar placements are Jyeshtha Shukla Dvitiya for the 32nd Jagadguru, Bhadrapada Krishna Saptami for the 35th, and Bhadrapada Amavasya for the 34th. In each case, the tithi current at sunrise determines the day. A temple observance may be elaborate, while a household remembrance can be quiet and simple.

A household observance can begin by cleaning the prayer space and lighting a lamp before an image, portrait, or sandals representing the revered acharya. Offer flowers, fruit, water, incense, and a simple sattvic food offering if customary. Recite a guru prayer or the verse associated with the remembered Jagadguru, then sit quietly for remembrance or study.

At a monastery or temple, aradhana may be marked with a more formal puja, recitation, teaching, and distribution of prasada, food first offered in worship. Such programmes are common expressions of the day, but their exact order and scale vary by institution. A universal fasting rule should not be assumed for this set. Those observing at home may choose a simple vegetarian meal or follow the discipline prescribed by their family, teacher, or local Sringeri centre.

The date is selected by the tithi current at sunrise. For the Nrisimha Bharati day, observe on Shukla Paksha Dvitiya in Jyeshtha; for Abhinava Vidyatirtha, on Krishna Paksha Saptami in Bhadrapada; and for Chandrashekhara Bharati, on Bhadrapada Amavasya.