Swami Nischalananda Saraswati is currently the 145th head of the Govardhan Peeth of Puri, which was originally established by the Adi Shankaracharya in the year circa 486 BC. He is the undisputed and uncrowned religious head of Hindus like Pope Francis to Catholics and the Dalai lama to the Tibetans. He was anointed to this sacred throne on February 9, 1992 succeeding his glorious predecessor Swami Niranjan Dev Tirtha. A profound scholar in the Vedas, Upanishadas and Vedanta, his holiness Nischalananda is a wizard in mathematics, like his predecessors Swami Niranjan and Swami Bharati Krishna Tirtha. He has produced and published nine volumes of books in mathematics on the values of 0 and 1, which has unleashed great interest among mathematicians. These volumes are captioned Swastik Ganit while his 10th volume to be released soon is entitled Prathamik Vaidikarsha Ganit, his 11th will be a complete elucidation on Vedic mathematics. The Govardhan Peeth, which originated as per the constitution of the Rig Veda and in consonance with the scriptural traditions of lord Brahma’s eastern face, is inextricably interwoven and palpably connected to the hallowed traditions of the Shreemandir. It is a matter of regret among innumerable devotees that the sacrosanct commands of the great Acharya is neither faithfully adhered to by the State Government nor by the SJTA (Shree Jagannath Temple Administration). In an interview to The Pioneer, Swami Nischalananda spoke to Sugyan Choudhury at the Govardhan Peeth.
How did the Govardhan Peeth come into existenceIJ
Govardhan Peeth was established in 486 BC with a mission to lay the foundation of Sanatan Dhamma and culture to the whole world and to provide good governance under religious supervision. Adi Sankaracharya wanted to sustain and substantiate the great truths underlying the four Vedas. He had also set up three other monasteries, one at Dwarka in the west, one at Sringeri in the south and the other at Badrinath in the north. Also, the Great Adishankaracharya had in mind to solve the problems of Indians by fostering unity mantra among themselves by binding them through an invisible cord of national integration. Great scholars, philosophers have earlier adorned this seat over the last 2,500 years.
What are your considered opinions on the sensitive issue of touching the lords atop the chariotsIJ
God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, but He emanates through certain principles which we call as the Vaidic Vidhi or Vedic traditions of excellence. This is all achieved through continuous sacred worship by invoking the lords by observing right ways of worship through purity of mind, penance and rigorous discipline. The lords appear resplendent in their positions. What I would like to mention here is there should always exist a proper chemistry of relationship between Patra (person), Parampara (tradition) and Prasikshan (training). Touching the lords atop the chariots or elsewhere is not a matter of a joke. It is not like playing with dolls, idols or icons. One should possess the “Shuddha Mana” (purity of mind) to have a darshan. One can achieve the desired results just by a having glimpses of the lords than by touching Them which is clearly mentioned in the Bhagawat Gita Cantos 45, Chapter 18 that everyone is provided with the results of his karma according to his devotions and perseverance. No one is denied of the fruits of action and devotion. Then, why should there be a mad rush for touching the icons. The Skandha Purana clearly mentions that those servitors who are attached to the lords only are entitled for touching the deities and not one and all. The Brahma Purana also prescribes in the same line. I would like to explain you in a very simple way. Electricity or the power is already there. It is only the electrical engineers who make it available to us through a definite process. Sometimes, it is prohibited in red letters not to touch it for it may prove fatal. Similarly, all men are not allowed to go to the atomic centre and touch the arsenals when they wish. If they do so, that may bring out an explosion. Similarly, no one should be allowed to touch the lords for the explosion it may wreck in the invisible, subtle and in the occult sphere, which will bring calamitous annunciation not only for the state, the country but also for whole of the globe since the lord Jagannath is the absolute lord of the cosmos. The scriptures have provided it that the Margadarshan (guidance of the temple rites) rests with the Shankaracharya of Govardhan Peeth. Ever since this Peeth was founded by the Adiguru, he has ordered that any Acharya after him will be considered as his Swarup (image), and any violation of his rulings will be like disobeying lord Vishnu and lord Shiva alike. Forbidding touching of the lords is best on Vigyan (science of religion) but not on Vidwesha (discrimination). It is strange that sometimes it is said that the Acharya has no role in temple administration. Whether you admit or not, the Acharya’s role in the temple rites as a Margadarsaka (pathfinder) remains deeply entrenched from time immemorial. If you look at the other three Peeths, you will find that the presence of the office of the Shankaracharyas at Sringeri and at Dwarka is within the same campus. Similarly, the Jyotipeeth at Badrika opens on the day of Akshay Trutiya in presence of the Shankaracharya there. How then people jump at the conclusions that the Shankaracharya at Puri has no Sewa (service) before the lordsIJ I can say without fear or fever that there has been a systematic conspiracy that the Hindus should be devoid of or alienated from the Margadarshan of the Acharyas so that Hinduism will be wiped out from the world or it may lose its identity in some other religion or so. Can anyone live by challenging the authority of the popeIJ Can any Tibetan rebel against the Dalai lama and live in peaceIJ But the administration here continues to undermine the power, position and the dignity of the institution of Shankaracharya. This is an ominous trend.
What are the scriptures that forbid touching of the lordsIJ
Skandhapurana, Brahmapurana and Neeladrimahodaya have issued scriptural injunctions in this regard. Adi Shankaracharya also issued commentaries on “Brahmavasya”. “Bamanasamhita” has also dwelt in this regard. In my opinion, a book containing all these scriptural injunctions should be codified, may it take one or two years to do it for the future use of the temple rites.
What are the contributions of Govardhan Peeth to the nationIJ
As I have told you earlier, his holiness Swami Prabhupadacharya or Sanandana has given his brilliant treatises on Vedanta entitled “Panchapaduka” before which the whole world stumbles in reverence. Sridharswami was the Shankaracharya here, who gave his epoch-making contributions on Srimad Bhagabat known as “Sridhartika”, which is famous all over the world, if one has to understand Srimad Bhagabat. Sridharswami belonged to Odisha. Swami Bharatikrishna Tirtha, the 143rd Acharya, was a worldclass mathematician whose volumes of Vedic Mathematics have given super computer to the world. Shree Aurobindo Ghosh was a disciple of Swami Bharatikrishna Tirtha, who inspired Aurobindo to fight against the British. Dr Ranjendra Prasad was initiated by Swami Bharatikrishna Tirtha, who led the Indian war of independence. My glorious predecessor Swami Niranjandev Tirtha was a great mathematician known on his subject “value of zero”. By all their blessings and the blessings of the lord, I am continuing to publish books on mathematics. The greatest contribution of Gobardhan Peeth is national integration by the Adiguru who has bound all Indians through an invisible bond by establishing the four Peeths.
What are your observations on present-day IndiaIJ
It pains me a great deal to answer your question. The prevalent educational system in India, the present administrative setup in India, the judicial system of India, the agriculture, animal husbandry, the commerce and merchandise system in India is not of India and the Indians. It aims at total destruction of the Indian value system and our rulers, administrators are very happy about it without understanding its uses and abuses. Our Central and State Governments consider it as a “Baradan” or blessing, but in reality they are unable to see the international conspiracy behind it.
What are the objectives of your “Rashtrotkarsha Abhiyan”IJ
Considering Bharat as a “Hindu Rashtra Sangha”, I have my visions for a Sanatan Sashantantra (civil administration based on Sanatan cult), a society free from corruption, respect to one and all, preserving the rights of the Hindus while protecting the rights of other sects, believing in the concept of an undivided and integrated India and enforcing Dhamma or the law of piety.
