Disciples beware : Help or guidance from another kindred religious institution, like giving diksha or suggesting a successor, doesn’t make your Math a shakha of someone else. It’s only an Act of Goodwill, Not Authority. Every Math is fully Independent, and any claim of control or subordination goes against Article 26 of the Indian Constitution, which protects each Math’s right to manage its own religious and internal affairs.
Tag: Sivaganga
Sivaganga math Succession (1918-19)
(Contd.)
After the Sivaganga Acharya’s maha-samadhi in 1918, the Math was placed under temporary care through a committee of disciples belonging to the Math, by the Muzrai Department, until the young Acharya took charge. This record shows how the Mysore Kings respected the Sivaganga Math’s religious traditions and secular affairs, allowing its own sishyas to manage them in accordance with the customs and usages of the Math. It stands as a model for present-day State Governments on how ancient religious denominations should be protected from any kind of external interference.
Appointment of Successor of Sivaganga Math (1918-1919)
Sri Sivaganga Math was founded in 1615 by Sri Sankara Bharati Swami at the request of the Mysore King. It has always been an independent Advaita Math, not under any other Math. This 1918 Government note records the passing of the then Swamigal of Sri Sivaganga Math at Pondicherry and the arrangements made by the Mysore Muzrai Department for the rituals in connection with his maha-samadhi and succession. The late Swamigal, with the approval of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore, had chosen Vedamurti Rama Sesha Sastri to be initiated into Sanyasa Ashrama as his successor. After his demise, the Government also recognized the new head as Sri Sachidananda Abhinava Subrahmanya Gangadhara Bharati Swami. Earlier, in 1831, the Maharaja of Mysore had settled a dispute between the Sivaganga and Tunga Maths by declaring that the Sivaganga Math shall enjoy the same rights and privileges as Tunga Math, affirming its equal and independent standing. Further, the Government Proceedings dated 4th January 1919 issued by the General and Revenue Departments of His Highness the Maharaja of Mysore formally recognized this succession. The order records, with deep regret, the Swamigal’s passing and confirms that, in accordance with the prior approval of the Government, Vedamurti Rama Sesha Sastri was inducted into Sanyasa Ashrama and recognized as the new head under the title Sri Sachidanandabhinava Subrahmanya Gangadhara Bharati Swami. Neither the previous Swami nor the Government sought any permission or approval from any other Matha for this nomination or installation, confirming that the Sivaganga Math is a separate religious denominational institution.
