Sri Bharati Tirtha

Sri Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha (born, 11 April 1951 as Sri Tangirala SitaRamanjaneya Sastri Garu,parents - Sri Tangirala Venkateswara Avadhani,Srimathi Anantha Lakshmamma) is the Jagadguru and Shankaracharya of the Advaitic Sringeri Sharada Peetham. Born in Narasaraopet in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh to a pious Telugu Vaidiki Velanadu Brahmin couple, Shri Tangirala Venkateshwara Avadhani and Smt. Ananthalakshamma. In 1966, he approached the then Sringeri Jagadguru Sri Abhinava Vidyatirtha Mahaswamiji as a bachelor at the age of 15 seeking his blessings and instruction in the sastras. The Sringeri Acharya Shri Abhinava Vidya Theertha Swaminah, who was then observing chaturmasya at Ujjain, granted tutelage to Sitarama Anjaneyulu who prostrated before him while the senior Acharya was returning from returning after bath in the river Sipra. Sri Bharati attended a local school here. He excelled in his studies. Highly proficient in English and mathematics, he performed the duties of a brahmacharin meticulously. When he was 9 years old he got a chance to speak in Sanskrit in front of Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamigalu. When he received his blessings, he felt a change in himself. This was a turning point in his life. In 1966 Sri Mahasannidhanam was observing chathurmasya in Ujjain. The thought of acharya attracted Sri Anjaneyalu. He left home, reached Ujjain and prostrated before Mahasannidhanam. From that day Sri Bharati learned shastras from him.

The Seer then appointed the boy as his successor on 11 November 1974. After initiation into Sanyasa, the young man meticulously followed the instructions of his Guru and impressed everyone with his knowledge and understanding of philosophy. Mahaswami spent huge amount time on meditation and was called as Tapas Chakravarty.

Sri Bharati became the Jagadguru on 19 October 1989 following the mahasamadhi of the erstwhile Jagadguru Abhinava Vidya Tirtha on 21 September 1989.