Sri Abhinava Vidva Tirtha Mahaswamiji

A devotional print of Sri Abhinava Vidva Tirtha Mahaswamiji (1917–1989), the 35th Pontiff (Jagadguru) of the Dhakshimamnaya Advaitic Sringeri Sharada Peetham Order. Reputedly founded by Sri Shandkaracharya, the famed philosopher of Advaita Vedanta, in the 8th century, this Hindu monastery later emerged as one of the four principal pilgrim centers (pithams) of Hinduism. Located in the mountainous western ghats near Mangalore, it remains a center for the advanced study of Shastric and Vedic learning. The present 36th pontiff was a pupil of Sri Abhinava Vidva Tirtha Mahaswamiji, seen here. Sri Abhinava is dressed in orange robes and wears a rock crystal necklace (mala). Three horizontal markings in white paste on his forehead declare his allegiance to Shiva, and his cheetah skin throne cover identifies him as a revered teacher of high learning (archarya). He took the religious name (purvashrama) Srinivasa Shastri and served as abbot from 1954 until his death in 1989.