Sri Sri Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji

Sri Sri Sri Balagangadharanatha Swamiji (18 January 1945 – 13 January 2013) was an Indian religious leader who was the seer of Adichunchanagiri, Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya district. He was awarded Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honour for the year 2010.

Swamiji was born to Shri Chikkalinge Gowda and Smt. Boramma as Gangadharaiah. He was born in a Kannada Vokkaliga Community (farming community) He had five siblings - two brothers and three sisters. Shri Gangadharaiah completed his graduation in diploma Science from Government Arts & Science College, Bengaluru. Motivated by the desire to serve God and the people, he chose the spiritual way of life.

Sri Mahaswamiji believes in living in harmony with the environment and under this category, Vanasamvardhana Programme is in place, through which five-crore saplings were planted in different parts of the State and are being maintained also. Sri Math, in addition to supply of saplings to the public, provides tree guards and tractors for watering the plants. Sri Math maintains Goshalas, purifies local pond water in villages and engages in desilting tanks, so as to improve the community ground water table. Towards relief for victims of natural calamities, Sri Math has given a lot of support in terms of supplying food articles, clothes & dress materials, besides constructing about 5,000 houses for the families of affected people in North Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during Tsunami & devastating floods.

Initiated at the age of nineteen, Shri Swamiji spent his initial years mastering the Vedas and other sacred texts under the tutelage of his Guru Shri Ramanandanatha Swamiji.Shri Shri Shri Balagangadharanatha Mahaswamiji took over as the 71st Pontiff of the ancient Natha Center of Worship, Shri Adichunchanagiri Math, on 24 September 1974 at the age of 30. He was of the line of Shri Bhakthanatha Swamiji, Shri Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji and Shri Ramanandanatha Swamiji of the ‘Natha Pantha’ (Parampara).

His humane touch alleviated woes and distresses of many people who viewed him as a realized Jagadguru and savior of masses. Many titles and honors were conferred on him but his humbleness only added on to his glory and pomp. The Mahaswamiji mingled without any discrimination with the local people and participated in Utsavs, Jathas. Personality development & women empowerment programmes were conducted and also Mass marriages, free Health camps, counselling services were also conducted by the Mutt. The mutt witnessed a revolutionary progress under his leadership with several of his flagship projects in education, religion and social service. The seer focused on providing humanitarian services including providing basic necessities like food, education and health for lakhs of people during the last four decades.