Kasaragod: Srimad Jagadguru Sri Sri Sankaracharya Thotakacharya Sri Kesavananda Bharati Sripadangalavaru pontiff of Edneer mutt passed away on Sunday, September 6.
Sri Kesavananda Bharati took sannyasa at the age of 19 and has been heading the mutt since 1961 as Peetadhipathi and head of Edneer Mutt. He is the only Shankaracharya in the whole state of Kerala.
Sri Kesavananda Bharati is a patron of education, Kannada culture, and arts, including Yakshagana, music, and dramas. He has also contributed immensely to Kannada in the border district of Kasaragod.
Edneer Mutt which belongs to the parampara of Sri Thotakacharya is one of the first four disciples of Sri Adi Shankaracharya and follows Smartha Bhagawatha tradition of Advaitha Pantha which has more than 1200 years of history of religion, culture, art, music, and social service.
Under Sri Kesavananda Bharati guidance, the mutt has instituted a Kannada Medium School, a Junior college, and also Vidyamandira English Medium School at Edneer. The mutt also operates a Sanskrit Veda Patashala and conducts a number of Cultural and art festivals every year.
