37th Jagadguru Sri Vidyaghanendra Saraswathi (III) Swamigal of Adi Shankara Paramparagatha Moolamnaya Sarvajna Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham – 1234th Aradhana Mahotsavam

Birth Place: Banks of Garuda Nadi (River Gedilam in Tamil Nadu)
Purvashrama Name: Suryanarayana
Purvashrama Father’s Name: Bhalachandra
Years as Pithadhipati: 30
Siddhi: 3888 Prabhava Pausha Krishna Dvitiya (CE 0788-Jan-03), Chidambaram

During the reign of Acharya Swamigal, very tumultuous times were faced by our devotees across the Land of Bharata. Turushkas and Mlecchas began entering the country with their large uncultured tribes through the North West frontier.  They were taking over huge parts of the Northern India so much so that their language was heard everywhere. Our Acharya Swamigal with his Maha-Tapas of Srividhya ensured that the resistance to these forces continued through the Kshtratvam of our kings and protected Dharmic devotees to pursue their Anushtana without disturbance.

Acharya Swamigal was presented with the Padhuka of Adi Acharyal (under worship even today in Sri Matham) by Adi Achryal himself who appeared before him along with Padmapadacharya in Sookshma form. Acharya swamigal was also instructed by an Asareeri to install the 38^th Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Shankarendra Saraswathi Swamigal, who rose to fame even outside Bharata as a renincarnation of Bhagavatpada himself. So much so that historians mistake him for Adi Acharyal.

“Jagadgururatnamalika” by Sri Sadashiva Brahmendral

प्रचिते परितस्तुरुष्क-चक्रे निचिते म्लेच्छ-गवी-विभूम्नि वक्रे ।

कथमप्यवताऽऽश्रितार्य-वृत्तान्यथ विद्याघन-मौनिनैमि तृप्तिम् ॥ ६० ॥

Then, I am glad that when the rule/power of Muslims grew all around, the odd language of mlecchas prevailed extensively, the precepts and practices of the righteous path adopted by the noble were protected by the efforts of Sri Vidyaghana.

Sources

Satyavrata.org

Sankara Guru Paramparai -  Atreya Krishna Shastri