Sri Bharati Tirtha

Who is Sri Bharati Tirtha?

Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha is the Jagadguru and Shankaracharya of the Advaitic Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Born in Narasaraopet in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh to a pious Telugu Vaidiki Velanadu Brahmin couple, Shri Tangirala Venkateshwara Avadhani and Smt. Ananthalakshamma. In 1966, he approached the then Sringeri Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji as a bachelor at the age of 15 seeking his blessings and instruction in the sastras. The Sringeri Acharya Shri Abhinava Vidya Theertha Swaminah, who was then observing chaturmasya at Ujjain, granted tutelage to Sitarama Anjaneyulu who prostrated before him while the senior Acharya was returning from returning after bath in the river Sipra. Sri Bharati attended a local school here. He excelled in his studies. Highly proficient in English and mathematics, he performed the duties of a brahmacharin meticulously. When he was 9 years old he got a chance to speak in Sanskrit in front of Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigalu. When he received his blessings, he felt a change in himself. This was a turning point in his life. In 1966 Sri Mahasannidhanam was observing chathurmasya in Ujjain. The thought of acharya attracted Sri Anjaneyalu. He left home, reached Ujjain and prostrated before Mahasannidhanam. From that day Sri Bharati learned shastras from him.