Young seer to head Sarada Peetham

Amaravati: Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with his counterparts from Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao and Odisha Naveen Patnaik would participate in a three-day spiritual event organised on the banks of River Krishna from June 15 to 17, according to Southern Institute of Medical Sciences Director Bharath Reddy.

Topping the list of the spiritual events would be the anointment of Ponangi Kiran Kumara Sarma, a 26-year bachelor, as successor-designate (Uttaradhikari) of Visakha Sarada Peetham.

As many as 26 national heads of various Mathams from across the country are arriving to witness the grand event.

Visakha Sarada Peetham seer Swaroopanandendra Swami, the follower of Jagadguru Adi Sankaracharya has already reached the city and visited the venue where the event is going to take place.

Thousands of devotees are eagerly waiting to witness the once-in-a-generation event of succession, highlighting the Guru-Sishya system.

Kiran Kumar Sarma, the Bala Swami, who is a thorough scholar of Vedas and Upanishads, says: "It is my fortune to get anointed as future superior of Vishakha Saradapeetham, functioning with the inspiration of Adi Shankaracharya."

"I will work hard to keep up the legacy in protecting Swadharma. I continue my journey in the way to bring value to the rigorous monasticism. I move forward by using all my powers to campaign for dharma," he added.

On the concluding day, a yoga degree will be presented to the newly-anointed Balaswami in the presence of Chief Ministers YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, K Chandrashekar Rao and Naveen Patnaik.

The arrangements at Ganapathi Satchidananda Ashram were inspected by Minister for Endowments Vellampalli Srinivas, MLAs Malladi Vishnu and Jogi Ramesh. Security arrangements were inspected by Guntur Range IG Rajeev Kumar Meena, Superintendent of Police Rajasekhar Babu.

A native of Bhimunipatnam of Vishakhapatnam district, Kiran Kumara Sarma was born at Visakha King George Hospital on April 4, 1993, to Ponangi Hanumantharao and Prabhavatamma.

Hanumantha Rao is a retired mechanic at State Road Transport Corporation and lived at Simhachalam.

When he (Sarma) was in the third standard, he drew the attention Sri Swaroopanandendra Swamy who perceived the kid as the avatar of Adi Shankara.

He (Mahaswamy) spoke to his parents immediately and suggested him joining the peetham.

The Mahaswamy convinced the elders that the boy's future would shine if he grew up with self dharma deeksha.

Accordingly, Sarma was shifted to Visakha Saradapeetham situated at Chinamushidivada in Visakhapatnam. It was not in the distant dreams of his parents that their son would be the future head of the revered Peetham.

When information of appointing Sarma as the successor of the Peetham was informed to his parents, they broke down emotionally.

They expected Sarma, their elder son, to look after them at old age. The decision of their son to lead his life of a monk affected them.

Later, they recovered to the reality as Swaroopanandrendra himself promised them that their second son Kishore would be the bread earner of the family and he will look after them.

Later parents felt happy that their son would stand for the protection of Swadharma.