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{{Short description|Hindu guru}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Hindu leader|
|name=Sri Gangadharendra Saraswati
|image= Swarnavalli_swamiji.JPG
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
|sect = [[Shree Swarnavalli Matha]], [[Sonda, Karnataka]], India
|Predecessor= Shri Sarwajnendra Saraswati
|Successor= Shri Anandabodhendra Saraswati
|philosophy=[[Advaita Vedanta]]
|footnotes=
}}

'''Shri Gangadharendra Saraswati''', officially '''Shreemajjagadguru [[Shankaracharya]] Shri Gangadharendra Saraswati Swamij''', is pontiff (Guru) of Shri Sonda Swarnavalli [[matha|Mutt]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://swarnavallimatha.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=1 |title=swarnavallimatha – Shri Shrimajjagadguru Shankaracharya Shri Sonda Swarnavalli Mahasamsthanam |access-date=22 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315072242/http://swarnavallimatha.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1&Itemid=1 |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Sirsi, Karnataka]], India. He is the 54th Guru of this mutt. He took [[sannyasa]] and [[ordination]] from Shri [[Jayendra Saraswathi]] Mahaswamiji of [[Kanchi Matha]] which is known as Kanchi kamakoti Peetham. He is a follower of [[Advaita Vedanta]].

==Early life==

Before his initiation, Shree Swamiji was known as Veda Vidvan Shri Parameshvara Bhat and he was a [[Havyaka]] [[Brahmin]]. The swamiji ascended the holy seat as Head of Sonda Swarnavalli Samsthanam (Swarnavalli Math) on 2 February 1991, at the age of 23.<ref>[http://www.havyakamumbai.com/guru_pitha.htm Havyaka Welfare Trust – Mumbai (India)]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130411021913/http://www.hindu.com/2006/02/01/stories/2006020109830300.htm The Hindu : Karnataka News : Pontiff completes 15 years as head of Sonda math]</ref>

==Gita Campaign==

He is well known for leading and guiding the 'Bhagavad [[Gita]] Abhiyaan' – a campaign for promotion of Bhagawad [[Gita]] all over in the state [[Karnataka]] and in [[Kasaragod]] of [[Kerala]].
The [[Government of Karnataka]] has openly supported this campaign by supposedly issuing orders to teach Bhagawad [[Gita]] as a part of this campaign in all the schools controlled by the Government. On 14 July 2011, the Primary and Secondary Education Minister [[Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri]] said that those opposing the [[Gita]] teaching should quit [[India]]. He said teaching the said holy book was necessary to inculcate moral values in students. Later former Higher Education Minister of [[Government of Karnataka]] [[V. S. Acharya]] also supported Mr. Kageri by saying the programme should not be seen as religious teaching and there is no connection between Bhagavad [[Gita]] and religion. [[Gita]] has more to do with human values. Finally the [[Government of Karnataka]] has temporarily withdrawn the said order after facing stiff opposition from minority communities by religion.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130103213557/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-21/india/29798925_1_bhagwad-gita-education-minister-epics Accept Gita or quit India, says Karnataka education minister – Times Of India]</ref><ref name="bare_url">[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080230/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article420216.ece 'Gita' teaching sparks row in Karnataka – The New Indian Express]</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2786542.ece The Hindu : NATIONAL / KARNATAKA : ‘Gita in school curriculum only after public debate']</ref><ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_bhagavad-gita-campaign-draws-flak-in-karnataka_1563991 Bhagavad Gita campaign draws flak in Karnataka – Bangalore – DNA]</ref><ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/24821/ipl-2012.html Bhagavad Gita campaign in 8 dists soon]</ref><ref>[http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=6&edlabel=TOIBG&mydateHid=09-07-2011&pubname=&edname=&articleid=Ar00603&format=&publabel=TOI Times of India Publications]{{dead link|date=April 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/174788/gita-abhiyaan-halted-controversy.html Gita Abhiyaan halted after controversy]</ref><ref>[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/176415/content/215869/winds-change.html Mixed reaction to Gita Abhiyaan]</ref><ref>[http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=108648 Bangalore: 'Gita' Teaching Sparks Row in Karnataka]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080227161526/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/23/stories/2008022352470300.htm The Hindu : Karnataka / Shimoga News : Gita Abhiyan concludes today]</ref>

According to Swamiji the Bhagawad [[Gita]] is the panacea for all the major problems afflicting the country and the humanity. It conditions the mind to face any eventuality, by offering solutions for every situation<ref>[http://www.daijiworld.com/news/printer.asp?nid=66864 Daijiworld]</ref> and it can cure stress and depression.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130208132220/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article312096.ece ‘Gita helps cure symptoms of depression' – The New Indian Express]</ref>

==Environmentalism==
He is popularly known as Green Swamiji<ref name="bare_url_a">[https://archive.today/20130126122138/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/swarnavalli-pontiff-gets-parisara-shree-award/157079-60.html Swarnavalli Pontiff gets Parisara Shree Award – South India News – IBNLive]</ref> for his environmentalism and environmental conservation works.

In the year 2002, Shri Swamiji has toured the entire [[Uttara Kannada]] district, to mobilise the people for taking up a massive afforestation programme, with due co-operation from the Forest Department. As a result, more than five lakh saplings of different varieties were planted throughout the district.<ref>http://swarnavallimatha.org/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=28{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

He is known for leading the moment against construction of additional units in the [[Kaiga Atomic Power Station]] citing environmental issues.<ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_green-swamiji-to-lead-anti-nuclear-agitation_1610292 'Green Swamiji' to lead anti-nuclear agitation – Bangalore – DNA]</ref>

He also said to have opposed functioning of all the four units of the [[Kaiga Atomic Power Station]] and demanded immediate shut down until the health survey by the Tata Memorial Centre proved that the plant does not cause any health hazard. The Erstwhile Western Ghat Task Force, an apex body for the protection of [[Western Ghats]] of [[Government of Karnataka]] was also said to have supporting the swamiji.<ref>[http://www.megamedianews.in/index.php/61440/swarnavalli-seer-strongly-against-proposed-5th-6th-units-of-kaiga/ Swarnavalli seer strongly against proposed 5th, 6th units of Kaiga | Mega Media News] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050128/http://www.megamedianews.in/index.php/61440/swarnavalli-seer-strongly-against-proposed-5th-6th-units-of-kaiga/ |date=4 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112658/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article305346.ece ‘1 lakh saplings will be planted’ – The New Indian Express]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134439/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article341619.ece ‘No Kaiga units V and VI without health surveys’ – The New Indian Express]</ref><ref>[http://www.narmada.org/archive/hindu/files/hindu.20001113.0413402g.htm The Hindu on indiaserver.com : Environmentalists opposed to Bedti Project]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130629124507/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-18/mangalore/32297969_1_survey-team-health-survey-6th-units Shut all units of Kaiga Generation Stations until health survey is done, says seer – Times Of India]</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031124092340/http://www.hindu.com/2000/11/13/stories/0413402g.htm The Hindu : Environmentalists opposed to Bedti Project]</ref><ref>[http://www.coastaldigest.com/index.php/news/41294-protect-bio-diversity-shut-all-four-units-of-the-kaiga ‘Protect bio-diversity; shut all four units of the Kaiga’]</ref>
He is also leader of Kali Valley environment awareness campaign and head of the Bedti-Aghanashini Valley Protection-Committee.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

==Other activities==

He is also said to be an active participant in the movement against Alcoholism<ref>[https://archive.today/20130129170624/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/bangalore/article330899.ece Seers seek ban on alcohol – The New Indian Express]</ref> He is also said to be a strong supporter of [[areca]] growers and known to popularise [[organic farming]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125640/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article458354.ece Govt should rescue areca growers, says Swarnaval – The New Indian Express]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304202234/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article454494.ece Areca prices crash to new low – The New Indian Express]</ref>

==Awards==
The prestigious "Parisara Shree" award of the year 2010–2011 given by [[Government of Karnataka]] has been awarded to Shree Gangadharendra Saraswati Swamiji of Swarnavalli Mutt in recognition of his environment conservation works.<ref name="bare_url_a" /><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304134312/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/article430756.ece Swarnavalli Pontiff gets Parisara Shree Award – The New Indian Express]</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/article2157535.ece The Hindu : NATIONAL / KARNATAKA : Swarnavalli Math swamiji presented Parisara Shree award]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110925151528/http://www.swarnavallimatha.org/ Official Website of Shri Sonda Swarnavalli Mutt]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130717225123/http://geetaabhiyana.org/ Official website] of [[Bhagavad Gita]] Abhiyan started by the Mutt (In [[Kannada]])

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[[Category:Activists from Karnataka]]
[[Category:20th-century Hindu philosophers and theologians]]
[[Category:People from Uttara Kannada]]
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[[Category:Shankaracharyas]]
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Gangadharendra Saraswati - Revision history

Miteshsoni at 05:19, 16 November 2025