SRI GNANANANDA GIRI PEETAM

The most revered exponent of Advaita, Sri Adi Shankaracharya established four aamnaaya Mutts across the length and breadth of the nation, to propagate the true spirit of Hinduism to one and all, equally. He left each of the Mutts under the leadership of His four chief disciples.

 

Of the four Mutts, Adi Shankara appointed Adi Guru Sri Thotakacharya as the first Madaathipathi of the Kashmir Jyothir Matam. The Giri lineage continued at the Jyothir Mutt even when it disappeared (due to colonisation and the partition between India and Pakistan) and had to be rebuilt. From Thotakacharya all the way to HH Swami Gnanananda Giri, there were six saints who were appointed as pontiffs for the Jyothir Matam one after another. Sri Gnanananda Giri Swamigal then nominated someone in his stead after some time so He could wander the Earth.

 

He wandered for many years and established places of worship across Asia until he settled at Thapovanam as his final place. His chief disciple HH Swami Haridas Giri continued the lineage and also wandered for many years with His guru's paduka and His disciple HH Swami Namananda Giri until he began the establishment of Sri Gnanananda Giri Peetam.

 

HH Swami Haridas Giri (Guruji) has always, only acted, under the instruction of His guru HH Swami Gnanananda Giri. His guru bhakti is one that can be seen time and time again within this guru parampara. A true saint has no desires whatsoever. Many people find this concept difficult to comprehend, never mind practice it themselves. Many people see Guruji as a saint who always got the best of the best. But what most of them will never understand is that it was never for himself. Not even for one second would He have thought about himself or even thought for Himself when setting up Sri Gnananda Giri Peetam as an entity to spread the divine teachings of His guru to emancipate humanity.

 

The history of the establishment of this Matam demonstrated this guru bhakti and His guru's response to all His disciples' (in the lineage) love through numerous miraculous incidents throughout the process of developing a temple for HH Swami Gnanananda Giri. Stories which have been kept shrouded for much too long have not allowed people to truly appreciate the work this guru parampara has done to create the Sri Gnanananda Giri Peetam that exists now.