There is a parallel education system and honors in it.  In fact that was the original one!  There are scholars in that field who dedicated their lives in that path.  An arduous training and a lot of research has to be done before they are conferred with titles.  They are Acharyas (Professors) of spiritual science.

Alayasingar Narayana yateendra Mahadesikan who was the Head of Ahobila Narasimha swamy Math passed away last night.  He was 87.  He was the 45th head of the Math.

Conferring a responsibility of a head on a disciple is not an automatic action.  Disciples first get Sanyasa (vow for celibacy) from an able Acharya.  Then they study the scriptures at the feet of the Acharya and go on researching deep in to it.  Silently hear the preaching of their Master.  

Narayana Yateendra was the fourth one in the hierarchy to get the name ‘Narayana’ from his Guru.  His name before taking Sanyasa was Krishnamacharya.  

Krishnamacharya after getting the foundation in the spiritual path from his elder brother Vedanta Vaavadhook Narayanachariar Swamy and then went to the Math to learn Nyaya and Meemamsa from the 42 and 43rd heads of the Math by becoming their disciple.  He studied many scriptures of Vaishnava culture of spirituality and studied with a great insight into Bhagavad Gita and Nalayira Divya Prabandham.  With the deep knowledge over the scriptures he gave discourses on Sri Bhashyam, Rahasya Traya Saram, Ramayana, Bharata, Bhagavatha, Bhagavad Gita and Tiruppavai and ran a periodical of the Math, Sri Narasimha Priya as an Editor of the Journal.

He was made the 45th Jiyar (Head) of the math in October 1991 by the 44th Jiyar who made efforts to construct Raja Gopuram in Srirangam and got sick in that year.  

The last rites of 45th Jiyar Sri Narayana Yateendra Mahadesikan were performed today morning beside the 44th Jiyar’s Brindavan (Samadhi).

AW-SriJa