Shankaracharya | Govardhan Math — Complete Guruparampara

Life & Accomplishments

His thread ceremony took place at the age of 5 years. Taking his mother's blessings, he left home to take a life of Sanyasa, initiated by Shree Govindapadacharya on the auspicious day in the Kartik month on Devothana Ekadashi.

From the age of 5 to 8 years, Acharya Shankara learnt the Vedas, Vedanga, Dharma Shastra, Purana, Itihasa and Budhagama. According to Sanatana Dharma and Shiva Purana, Hindus call Adi Shankaracharya as the reincarnation of Lord Shiva.

Within a short span of sixteen years, he re-established Sanatana Dharma after overcoming Buddhism and other directionless philosophies. He travelled far and wide, preaching the Vedic Sanatana Dharma across the entire subcontinent.

He wrote commentaries on the Prasthanatrayishastras. He defeated Buddhist scholars in philosophical debates. He also defeated scholars like Sri Mandana Mishra by his command of shastras and made him his disciple.

The Four Peethams

In order to have Dharma rule over the country always and have spiritual values progress, the great seer established four dharmic institutions (Amnaya Mathas):

🌅 Poorvamnaya (East)

Govardhan Math, Puri — Rigveda
Deity: Purushottam · Acharya: Padmapadacharya

🌸 Dakshinamnaya (South)

Sringeri Sharada Peetham — Yajurveda
Deity: Sharada · Acharya: Sureshwaracharya

🌅 Pashchimamnaya (West)

Dwaraka Peetham — Samaveda
Deity: Dwarakadheesh · Acharya: Hasthamalakacharya

🏔️ Uttaramnaya (North)

Jyotirmath, Badrinath — Atharvaveda
Deity: Narayan · Acharya: Totakacharya

He grouped his disciples into ten categories — Vana, Parvata, Aranya, Tirtha, Ashrama, Giri, Puri, Bharati, Sagar and Saraswati (the Dasanami Sampradaya). These sanyasis were tasked to propagate dharmic values in their assigned regions.

His holy body departed at the age of 32 years in 475 BC on the holy day of Kartika Poornima.

Spiritual Journey

Age 17

Left home and started his spiritual journey. In a seminar involving all branches of Vedas, Dharma Samrat Karpatri-ji Maharaj was present. He accepted Karpatri-ji Maharaj as his spiritual master.

Given Name

Named Dhruvachaitanya by Swami Sri Naradanand Saraswati of Naimisharanya. Studied Vedas at Kashi, Vrindavan, Naimisharanya, Badrikashram, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Puri, Sringeri.

9 Nov 1966

Fought against atrocities on cows, participating in Dharma Samrat Karpatriji Maharaj's agitation for cow protection. Kept in Tihar jail for 52 days for advocating cow protection.

18 April 1974

Accepted the sanyasa order from Swami Sri Karpatriji Maharaj on Vaisakha Krishna Ekadashi of Samvat 2031 in Haridwar. Initiated under the new name Nischalananda Saraswati.

1976–1981

Studied Prasthanatrayi, Panchadasi, Vedanta Paribhasha, Nyaya Mimamsa, Tantra and Advaita Siddhi from his Gurudev.

1982–1987

Studied Khandanakhanda Khadya and Yajur Veda from the then Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Sri Niranjanadev Tirtha ji Maharaj. Spent five Chaturmasas with him.

9 Feb 1992

Impressed by his talents, brilliance, and dedication, Shankaracharya Swami Sri Niranjanadev Tirtha ji Maharaj anointed him the 145th Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peetha at Puri.

Contributions & Outreach

The Shankaracharya of Puri has been travelling far and wide across India — like the first guru Adi Shankaracharya — to protect Sanatana Dharma, its values and glories. He addresses concerns on:

Unity of India

Cow Protection

Women Empowerment

Environment Protection

Vedic Mathematics

National Integration

He has set up Aditya Vahini and Anand Vahini under the aegis of 'Peeth Parishad' — creating an intelligent, self-reliant society, protecting values, securing the nation. Through these organizations, he spearheads a nationwide campaign to protect India's ancient culture.

Guruparampara

Complete Lineage — 145 Shankaracharyas

An unbroken chain from 484 BC to present

#	Name	Period (Yrs)	GatKali		Corresponding BCE/CE
			From	To	From	To
1	Anantashri Padmapad	25	2617	2642	484 BCE	459 BCE
2	Anantashri Shoolapani	20	2642	2662	459 BCE	439 BCE
3	Anantashri Narayan	17	2662	2679	439 BCE	422 BCE
4	Anantashri Vidyaranya	18	2679	2697	422 BCE	404 BCE
5	Anantashri Vamdev	16	2697	2713	404 BCE	388 BCE
6	Anantashri Padmanabh	15	2713	2728	388 BCE	373 BCE
7	Anantashri Jagannatha	14	2728	2742	373 BCE	359 BCE
8	Anantashri Madhureshwar	10	2742	2752	359 BCE	349 BCE
9	Anantashri Govind	21	2752	2773	349 BCE	328 BCE
10	Anantashri Shridhar	18	2773	2791	328 BCE	310 BCE
11	Anantashri Madhavanand	17	2791	2808	310 BCE	293 BCE
12	Anantashri Krishnabrahmanand	18	2808	2826	293 BCE	275 BCE
13	Anantashri Ramanandteertha	16	2826	2842	275 BCE	259 BCE
14	Anantashri Vagishwarteertha	15	2842	2857	259 BCE	244 BCE
15	Anantashri Parameshwarteertha	14	2857	2871	244 BCE	230 BCE
16	Anantashri Gopalteertha	12	2871	2883	230 BCE	218 BCE
17	Anantashri Janardanteertha	14	2883	2897	218 BCE	204 BCE
18	Anantashri Jnanandateertha	20	2897	2917	204 BCE	184 BCE
19	Anantashri Brihadaranya	19	2917	2936	184 BCE	165 BCE
20	Anantashri Mahadevteertha	18	2936	2954	165 BCE	147 BCE
21	Anantashri Brahmanandateertha	16	2954	2970	147 BCE	131 BCE
22	Anantashri Ramanandteertha	15	2970	2985	131 BCE	116 BCE
23	Anantashri Sadashivateertha	14	2985	2999	116 BCE	102 BCE
24	Anantashri harishwaranandteertha	12	2999	3011	102 BCE	90 BCE
25	Anantashri Bodhanandteertha	14	3011	3025	90 BCE	76 BCE
26	Anantashri Ramakrishnateertha	20	3025	3045	76 BCE	56 BCE
27	Anantashri Chidbodhatmateertha	10	3045	3055	56 BCE	46 BCE
28	Anantashri Tattvaksharteertha	18	3055	3073	46 BCE	28 BCE
29	Anantashri Shankarteertha	16	3073	3089	28 BCE	12 BCE
30	Anantashri Vasudevteertha	20	3089	3109	12 BCE	8 CE
31	Anantashri Hayagrivateertha	17	3109	3126	8 CE	25 CE
32	Anantashri Shrutishwarateertha	14	3126	3140	25 CE	39 CE
33	Anantashri Vidyanandateertha	20	3140	3160	39 CE	59 CE
34	Anantashri Mukundanandateertha	18	3160	3178	59 CE	77 CE
35	Anantashri Hiranyagarbhateertha	19	3178	3197	77 CE	96 CE
36	Anantashri Nityanandateertha	18	3197	3215	96 CE	114 CE
37	Anantashri Shivananda	16	3215	3231	114 CE	130 CE
38	Anantashri Yogishwarteertha	18	3231	3249	130 CE	148 CE
39	Anantashri Sudarshan	15	3249	3264	148 CE	163 CE
40	Anantashri Vyomkesh	17	3264	3281	163 CE	180 CE
41	Anantashri Damodarteertha	21	3281	3302	180 CE	201 CE
42	Anantashri Yoganandateertha	20	3302	3322	201 CE	221 CE
43	Anantashri Golokesh	21	3322	3343	221 CE	242 CE
44	Anantashri Shrikrishnandateertha	18	3343	3361	242 CE	260 CE
45	Anantashri Devanandateertha	23	3361	3384	260 CE	283 CE
46	Anantashri Chandrachudteertha	15	3384	3399	283 CE	298 CE
47	Anantashri Halayudhateertha	14	3399	3413	298 CE	312 CE
48	Anantashri Siddhasevyateertha	15	3413	3428	312 CE	327 CE
49	Anantashri Tarakatmateertha	20	3428	3448	327 CE	347 CE
50	Anantashri Bodhayanteertha	21	3448	3469	347 CE	368 CE
51	Anantashri Shreedharteertha	19	3469	3488	368 CE	387 CE
52	Anantashri Narayanteertha	18	3488	3506	387 CE	405 CE
53	Anantashri Sadashivateertha	15	3506	3521	405 CE	420 CE
54	Anantashri Jayakrishna	13	3521	3534	420 CE	433 CE
55	Anantashri Virupaksha	11	3534	3545	433 CE	444 CE
56	Anantashri Vidyaranya	7	3545	3552	444 CE	451 CE
57	Anantashri Vishveshwarteertha	20	3552	3572	451 CE	471 CE
58	Anantashri Vivudheshwarteertha	23	3572	3595	471 CE	494 CE
59	Anantashri Maheshwarteertha	21	3595	3616	494 CE	515 CE
60	Anantashri Madhusoodan	19	3616	3635	515 CE	534 CE
61	Anantashri Raghuttama	15	3635	3650	534 CE	549 CE
62	Anantashri Ramachandrateertha	13	3650	3663	549 CE	562 CE
63	Anantashri Yogindra	11	3663	3674	562 CE	573 CE
64	Anantashri Maheshwarteertha	7	3674	3681	573 CE	580 CE
65	Anantashri Omkarateertha	27	3681	3708	580 CE	607 CE
66	Anantashri Narayanteertha	22	3708	3730	607 CE	629 CE
67	Anantashri Jagannathateertha	21	3730	3751	629 CE	650 CE
68	Anantashri Shridharteertha	19	3751	3770	650 CE	669 CE
69	Anantashri Ramachandrateertha	13	3770	3783	669 CE	682 CE
70	Anantashri Tamraksha	12	3783	3795	682 CE	694 CE
71	Anantashri Ugreshwarteertha	15	3795	3810	694 CE	709 CE
72	Anantashri Uddandateertha	18	3810	3828	709 CE	727 CE
73	Anantashri Sankarshateertha	22	3828	3850	727 CE	749 CE
74	Anantashri Janardana	21	3850	3871	749 CE	770 CE
75	Anantashri Akhandatmateertha	13	3871	3884	770 CE	783 CE
76	Anantashri Damodarteertha	12	3884	3896	783 CE	795 CE
77	Anantashri Shivanandateertha	15	3896	3911	795 CE	810 CE
78	Anantashri Gadadharateertha	18	3911	3929	810 CE	828 CE
79	Anantashri Vidyadharateertha	22	3929	3951	828 CE	850 CE
80	Anantashri Vamanteertha	21	3951	3972	850 CE	871 CE
81	Anantashri Shankarteertha	14	3972	3986	871 CE	885 CE
82	Anantashri Neelkanthateertha	11	3986	3997	885 CE	896 CE
83	Anantashri Ramakrishnateertha	20	3997	4017	896 CE	916 CE
84	Anantashri Raghuttamateertha	20	4017	4037	916 CE	936 CE
85	Anantashri Damodarteertha	10	4037	4047	936 CE	946 CE
86	Anantashri Gopal	13	4047	4060	946 CE	959 CE
87	Anantashri Mrityunjayteertha	21	4060	4081	959 CE	980 CE
88	Anantashri Govindateertha	22	4081	4103	980 CE	1002 CE
89	Anantashri Vasudevteertha	12	4103	4115	1002 CE	1014 CE
90	Anantashri Gangadharateertha	12	4115	4127	1014 CE	1026 CE
91	Anantashri Sadashivateertha	21	4127	4148	1026 CE	1047 CE
92	Anantashri Vamdevteertha	22	4148	4170	1047 CE	1069 CE
93	Anantashri Upamanyuteertha	15	4170	4185	1069 CE	1084 CE
94	Anantashri Hayagriva	16	4185	4201	1084 CE	1100 CE
95	Anantashri Hariteertha	18	4201	4219	1100 CE	1118 CE
96	Anantashri Raghuttamateertha	19	4219	4238	1118 CE	1137 CE
97	Anantashri Pundarikakshateertha	7	4238	4245	1137 CE	1144 CE
98	Anantashri Parashankarteertha	16	4245	4261	1144 CE	1160 CE
99	Anantashri Vedgarbhateertha	18	4261	4279	1160 CE	1178 CE
100	Anantashri Vedantabhaskarteertha	20	4279	4299	1178 CE	1198 CE
101	Anantashri Vigyanatma	20	4299	4319	1198 CE	1218 CE
102	Anantashri Shivanandateertha	21	4319	4340	1218 CE	1239 CE
103	Anantashri Maheshwarteertha	20	4340	4360	1239 CE	1259 CE
104	Anantashri Ramkrishnateertha	19	4360	4379	1259 CE	1278 CE
105	Anantashri Vrishabhadhwajateertha	14	4379	4393	1278 CE	1292 CE
106	Anantashri Shuddabodhateertha	13	4393	4406	1292 CE	1305 CE
107	Anantashri Someshwarteertha	20	4406	4426	1305 CE	1325 CE
108	Anantashri Vopdevateertha	21	4426	4447	1325 CE	1346 CE
109	Anantashri Shambhuteertha	20	4447	4467	1346 CE	1366 CE
110	Anantashri Bhriguteertha	13	4467	4480	1366 CE	1379 CE
111	Anantashri Keshavanandateertha	12	4480	4492	1379 CE	1391 CE
112	Anantashri Vidyananda	14	4492	4506	1391 CE	1405 CE
113	Anantashri Vedanandateertha	16	4506	4522	1405 CE	1421 CE
114	Anantashri Yoganandateertha	15	4522	4537	1421 CE	1436 CE
115	Anantashri Sutapanandateertha	24	4537	4561	1436 CE	1460 CE
116	Anantashri Shridharateertha	11	4561	4572	1460 CE	1471 CE
117	Anantashri Janardanateertha	21	4572	4593	1471 CE	1492 CE
118	Anantashri Kaamnashanandteertha	12	4593	4605	1492 CE	1504 CE
119	Anantashri Hariharanand	16	4605	4621	1504 CE	1520 CE
120	Anantashri Gopalteertha	15	4621	4636	1520 CE	1535 CE
121	Anantashri Krishnanandateertha	16	4636	4652	1535 CE	1551 CE
122	Anantashri Madhavanand	21	4652	4673	1551 CE	1572 CE
123	Anantashri Madhusudanteertha	13	4673	4686	1572 CE	1585 CE
124	Anantashri Govindateertha	16	4686	4702	1585 CE	1601 CE
125	Anantashri Raghuttamateertha	20	4702	4722	1601 CE	1621 CE
126	Anantashri Vamdevteertha	15	4722	4737	1621 CE	1636 CE
127	Anantashri Shikeshteertha	13	4737	4750	1636 CE	1649 CE
128	Anantashri Damodarateertha	25	4750	4775	1649 CE	1674 CE
129	Anantashri Gopalanandateertha	12	4775	4787	1674 CE	1686 CE
130	Anantashri Govindateertha	14	4787	4801	1686 CE	1700 CE
131	Anantashri Raghuttamateertha	19	4801	4820	1700 CE	1719 CE
132	Anantashri Ramchandrateertha	21	4820	4841	1719 CE	1740 CE
133	Anantashri Govindateertha	15	4841	4856	1740 CE	1755 CE
134	Anantashri Raghunathateertha	15	4856	4871	1755 CE	1770 CE
135	Anantashri Ramakrishnateertha	21	4871	4892	1770 CE	1791 CE
136	Anantashri Madhusudanteertha	13	4892	4905	1791 CE	1804 CE
137	Anantashri Damodarteertha	23	4905	4928	1804 CE	1827 CE
138	Anantashri Raghuttamateertha	22	4928	4950	1827 CE	1849 CE
139	Anantashri Shiv	21	4950	4971	1849 CE	1870 CE
140	Anantashri Loknath	13	4971	4984	1870 CE	1883 CE
141	Anantashri Damodarteertha	15	4984	4999	1883 CE	1898 CE
142	Anantashri Madhusudanteertha	27	4999	5027	1898 CE	1925 CE
143	Anantashri Bharatikrishnateertha	34	5027	5061	1925 CE	1959 CE
144	Anantashri Niranjanadevteertha	28	5065	5093	1964 CE	1992 CE
145	Anantashri Nischalananda Saraswati	Present	5093	�	1992 CE	Present

The Shankaracharya Lineage

Bhagavatpada Adi Shankaracharya