Swami Nischalananda Saraswati is currently the head of the Govardhan Peeth of Puri, which was originally established by the Adi Shankaracharya in the year circa 486 BC. He succeeded Shree Niranjan Dev Tirtha since 9th February, 1992. He is the undisputable sovereign, religious head of the age-old traditions that binds the Govardhan Peeth with the hallowed cult of lord Jagannath since time immemorial. The rigmarole of the Mutt being visited by the holy spirits of the gurus from the hoary antiquities are deeply imprinted in the collective unconscious of the local people that has a telltale presence in the legends and stories connecting the Peeth. But the condescending highbrow attitude of the muddled megalomaniac behaviour of the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration not only undermines the power, position and dignity of the religious head but also fills the minds of the millions of devotees of the world who watch the affairs with distraught. In a interview to The Pioneer, Jagadguru Nischalananda Saraswati spoke to Sugyan Choudhury from the sublime precincts of Govardhan Peeth on the eve of Nabakalebar-2015.
When did the Adi Shankaracharya establish the Govardhan PeethIJ Could you please enlighten us with the contributions of the Adi Shankaracharya to HinduismIJ
His Holiness Adi Shankaracharya established the Govardhan Peeth in 486 BC with a mission to lay the foundation of Sanatan culture to entire world and to further provide good governance under religious supervision. His idea was to express the eternal truth as represented in the four Vedas, which, as per our myths and scriptures, have originated from the four faces of lord Brahma, the cosmic creator. The Govardhan Peeth is in consonance with the Rig Veda that emanates from Brahma’s face pointing to the east. The Srungeri Sarada Peeth which comes under Rameswaram emanates with the Yajur Veda from Brahma’s face pointing to south. The Dwaraka Peeth is punctuated with the Sam Veda from Brahma’s face facing to the west while the Jyotir Peeth of Badrinath in the Himalayas is interspersed with the Atharva Veda from lord Brahma’s face pointing towards the north.
Jagadguru Adi Shankaracharya had established these four monasteries with the ideas to proclaim to the world the vision and the vitality, the blessings and the benedictions contained in the four Vedas on this earth for the benefit of mankind in tune with the cosmic creators. Also, the great guru had in mind to solve the problems of the Indians by fostering unity mantra among them by binding them through an invisible cord of national integration. He is one of the greatest philosophers and theologians of the east, who strove to revive, reform and rejuvenate Hinduism once ensnared with cumbersome ritualism and superstitions. Today, he is regarded in whole world as a unique source of all modern Indian schools of spiritual thinking. He wrote commentaries on the Vedic verses, Upanishads, Brahmasutra of Vedavyasa commentaries on Geeta, the unique treasure house of wisdom for mankind and treatises on Vishnu Sahasra Nama of the Mahabharata which are the eternal wealth for humanity. The Advait Vedanta, a school of philosophy propounded by him preaches monism. The essence underlying his philosophy holds Nirguna Brahman “Brahman without attributes” and all Atmans ultimately merge in it. He was a forerunner in all systems of knowledge including mathematics, science, religion, philosophy, theosophy and the disciples after him were great mathematicians and scholars who had acquired the knowledge of computer, telephone, mobile, helicopters which were known to the ancient Indians. Shree Niranjan Dev Tirtha, my glorious predecessor was a great mathematician, who has written Vedic mathematics in volumes.
Could Your Holiness please state about the tradition of cooperation between the Govardhan Peeth and the Temple of lord JagannathIJ
As I told you earlier, the Govardhan Peeth here was established by Shiv Avtar Adi Shankaracharya in 486 BC. Sreeman Narayan, i.e., lord Vishnu or lord Jagannath Himself was installed as our First Guru and right to him was installed the image of Bhagban Shankaracharya as Adi Guru here at this Peeth. I am the 145th Guru in this tradition. Ever since this Mutt was established, various reforms and changes were introduced in the Shree Jagannath Temple at the behest of the Shankaracharyas from time to time who are the undisputable authority in all matters relating to temple rituals. The relationship between the temple and the Gobardhan Peeth is inseparable and one cannot exist in fullness without the support and guidance of the other. The Shankaracharya is vested since time immemorial with the position of Margadarshak (pathfinder or torchbearer) of the cult of lord Jagannath.
Are the SJTA (Shree Jagannath Temple Administration) and the Department of law of Government of Odisha not aware of this glorious tradition of cooperation and coordination between the Shree Mandir and the Govardhan PeethIJ
I think there is a grave conspiracy hatched by the Government to undermine the great age-old institution of the Govardhan Peeth. They are well aware about the sacrosanct rights and privileges associated with the institution of Shankaracharya, but they are on their way to undermine it. You will be astonished to know that another mutt has been built somewhere near the seashore being supported by a tacit understanding of the Government and they are trying to preach and propagate it as Shankaracharya Mutt. In this way, a systematic conspiracy is aimed at annihilating the great traditions of excellence associated with the Shankaracharya Mutt. Pope is considered not only as the religious head (of Christians) but also is given the military power, while the Dalai lama, even after staying 50 years in exile in India, is still considered as the religious and military head of the Tibetans. It is a matter of grave concern that deliberately ignoring the Shankaracharya implies subversion of an age-old tradition and tampering with the tenets of Hinduism. And again, you must know that the Govardhan Peeth has had not been included under the Endowment Act or under the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration since its inception. All attempts to include it under the ambits of Sasantantra (administration) have failed. The observation of the Odisha High Court and the Supreme Court that the Shankaracharya’s rights are inalienable and even neither the courts nor the Government can interfere in them have raised eyebrows of the Prabandhaks and Mahaprabandhakas of the temple. Infuriated over the courts’ observations, they wanted to humiliate me last year during the Rath Yatra and asked me to visit the lords atop the chariots alone. This is contrary to the age-old traditions where in the Acharya is allowed to have glimpses of the lords atop the chariots with six of his followers. It is an irony of facts that in the textbooks prescribed for the students of Odisha it is mentioned that the Shankaracharya can visit the lords on the chariots with 27 of his followers. But what happened last year is a matter of public knowledge. Now, that exposes the squeamish attitude of the people in power who are impervious to change the tradition of the mutt and the temple.
Your Holiness, have the SJTA and the law Department are consulting your holy office from time to time for solemnising the coming mega event of NabakalebarIJ
No, not yet. They have just invited me to visit the temple on Debasnan Purnima with my followers.
last year, you alleged regarding the gross negligence of your great office by the SJTA. Are you sure that this year the same ugly phenomenon is not going to be repeatedIJ
I am going to visit with my followers. I have a right to visit the lords atop the chariots during the Nabakalebar and any attempt hereafter to intrude into my rights would be considered as sacrilege.
What would be your advice to both the State and Central Governments about the upkeep of the traditions of the Shankaracharya MuttIJ
I would advise both the Central and State Governments to abide by the advice of the Shankaracharyas so as to maintain the glorious traditions and culture of Hinduism. I would also advise all the Prantiya Sarkars (State Governments) to help, protect preserve and defend the cultural ethos of our religion in consultation with the Shankaracharyas of the four Peeths.
