Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati landed in Kathmandu on Sunday on a 10-day visit to Nepal.
Nepal falls under the spiritual jurisdiction of the Shankaracharya of Puri. The Shankaracharya has visited the neibhouring country on the invitation of the Prime Minister and the Pashupatinath Temple Board.
On his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, the Shankaracharya was received by trustees of the Pashupatinath Temple Board and prominent citizens of Kathmandu. He was then escorted with full civil honours under high security to his place of residence in Aggarwal Bhawan in Kathmandu.
Students from a Vedic school chanted mantras and greeted him with flowers. A reception programme was held in Agarwal Bhawan. Renowned Sanyasi Swami Padmapadacharya, noted Samhitashastri Arjun Bastola and Pashupatinath Temple Board Member Secrtary Pradeep Dhakal were present.
A Buddhist nun from Muktinath presented several extremely rare Shalagrams to the Shankaracharya.
Shankaracharya will visit Pashupatinath Temple on Monday. Traditional abhisheka of lord Pashupatinath will be performed on behalf of the Shankaracharya.
This is the first time that the present Puri Shankaracharya is visiting the Pashupatinath Temple.