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Re: Svayamacharyas

From the Bhakti List Archives

Jaganath.Bharadwaj • October 25, 1996 


It should be pointed out that even maTha swamis must
be from svayam acharya purusha families. By tradition,
only these people are authorized to have samASrayaNam
done for people.

Mani

I am not sure about the word "must" here which implies belonging to
such families as a requirement to become a mathAdipati.  The 44th
Jeer of Sri Ahobila Muth for example had His samashrayam from the
40th and Bharanyasam from 41st Jeers respectively.  The present Jeer
had His samAshrayam from the 42nd Jeer and Bharanyasam from the 43rd
Jeer respectively.  If they did belong to SwayamAcharya families then
they abandoned the practice.  Besides a Jeer can authorise anyone he
considers worthy to do samAshrayam.

There is one Dr. Venkat Kanumalla who originally hails from a smArtha
family, i.e. followers of Shankaracharya, and pioneered efforts to
set up the Ranganatha temple of New York for 10 years.  He has been
authorised to do samAshrayam for people unable to visit India, though
such a practice is non existent in his family.

Jaganath.