Historical records relating to the Kingdom of Vijayanagar (14th/15th Centuries) throw a lot of light on the origins of “SHRI JAGADGURU BADARI SHANKARACHARYA SAMSTHANAM, SHAKATAPURAM SHRIVIDYA PEETAM”.
Around 1338 AD, due to foreign invasion and massive disturbances, Jagadguru Sri Satyatheertha Mahamuni, the then Pontiff of Jyotishpeeta left Badarinath and came down south in search of a place where he could continue his Dharmic activities undisturbed. He selected Shakatapuram, in the banks of river Tunga in Karnataka as the right place and established his ‘peeta parampara’. The “Brahmandapurana” refers to Shakatapuram as the place where “Shakata Maharishi” attained salvation through penance.
The Shri mutt is situated in the banks of sacred Tunga River. The temple complex comprises of shrines dedicated to SRIVIDYA RAJARAJESWARI, SRI SANTHANA VENUGOPALA KRISHNA & SRI LAKSHMINRISIMHA, the presiding deities, apart from SRI ADI SHANKARA BHAGAVADPADA, & Adhishtanams of previous Acharyas.
Jagadguru Sri Vidyabhinava Sri Sri Krishnananda Theertha Mahaswamigal, adorns this Peetham, as the present Peethadhipathi, the 33rd in the illustrious line of succession. Ascending this transcendental religious seat on Feb 22, 1981, at the tender age of thirteen, His Holiness mastered the Veda, Vedanta and the highly esoteric Shrividyopasana of Rahoyaga. His Holiness is regarded as “Shrividya Taponiodhi” & “Shrividya Sadhakottama” throughout the country.
His Holiness has been travelling through the length and breadth of Bharat for more than 2 decades for the benefit of devotees and Dharmaprachara and has blessed a large number of devotees.
The Jagadguru completed the massive rebuilding of the Shri Mutt and Temple complex at Shrikshetra Shakatapuram and has also created various facilities for dharmic activities like Goshala, Veda Pata Sala, Yagna Sala, and Dharma Sala as part of the project.
A massive project “ANNAPOORNAM” to create facilities for feeding (Annadana) the visitors and the needy people in that area, has been launched by His Holiness recently.