Param Poojya Shri Swami Nrsimha Giriji Maharaj
Anantha Shri Swami Nrsimha Giriji Maharaj was the Mahamandaleshwar of the Shri Dakshinamoorty Peetha of Kashi. His Holiness was also the Acharya of the Shri Niranjani Akhada.
Poojya Swamiji’s uncanny ability to distill the essence of Vedanta into inspiring discourses, as also the satsangs He conducted regularly, to infuse a deep and abiding love for the Lord, attracted devotees in large numbers. Many seekers came from Kolkatta to Lahore only to listen to Him.
In the middle of the twentieth century, when the country finally freed itself from the shackles of the British rule, the communal divide within the populace led to partition and the birth of Pakistan. The Hindus, who were forced to flee their homes in Lahore and other places ( as a result of the violence this upheaval unleashed ) sought refuge in North India. Shri Swami Nrsimha Giriji Maharaj, who was among them, was invited by devotees of New Delhi, to come and build an ashram there. This led to the establishment of the “ Shri Vishwanatha Sannyasa Ashrama” in 1951, making it the first Vedantic Centre in the capital.
Later, Poojya Swamiji started a Sanskrit College for the benefit of the monks at the Shri Dakshinamoorti Peetha in Kashi. Living an exemplary life that was his message, in the 24 years as a Mandaleshwar, Poojya Swamiji unified the entire Paramahansa Order in India and breathed new life into it. Another invaluable contribution He made, was the impeccable training He imparted to about a dozen brilliant, monastic disciples whom He trained personally and esablished as Mandaleshwars in quite a few important Maths and Peethas.
Shri Dakshinamoorty Peetha
Shri Dakshinamoorty Peetha, established by Shri Shankaracharya in Kashi, had an invincible spiritual foundation, which enabled it to withstand centuries of persecution by a series of foreign invaders. Located in an inconspicuous by – lane of the pilgrim – city, quite close to the shrine of Lord Vishwanath, this ancient spiritual centre has carefully preserved and nurtured the exemplary traditions of Bhashyakara Acharya Shankara.
Brimming with devotion to the Lord, the Guru and the sacred scriptures, the Acharyas of this Peetha are glorious examples, the very epitome of an intensely spiritual life. Even today, the vibrant and eternal teachings of Vedanta are taught to worthy disciples at the Shri Dakshinamoorty Peetha.