Dharmapuram Adheenam seer passes away at 93

The pontiff played a key role against the appointment of Nithyananda Swami as the junior pontiff of Madurai Adheenam by gathering all the pontiffs to pass a resolution against theappointment.

The pontiff Gnanasambandar was born in Sirukattur near Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore district in 1926 and was administering the Guru Gnana Prachara Sabha until the appointment of the adheenam. The adheenam donated land for the construction of government buildings and the new bus stand. He had also announced to donate land for a medical college inMayiladuthurai.

The pontiff had been suffering from various illness in the past few years so he already appointed Tiruvaiyaru Sri Kumaraswami Thambiran as his successor on February 1, 2017 and named him as Masilamani Desika Paramacharya Swamigal.

Masilamani Desika Paramacharya Swamigal would be appointed as the 27thadheenam.

Dharmapuram Adheenam, which is one of the largest adheenams, had given a great support to the growth of Tamil language. The Adheenam was established around 500 years ago by Sri Guru Gnanasambandar and Sri Gnanasambanda Paramacharya Swamigal assumed charge as the 26th pontiff on November 12, 1971.

Over the past 48 years, the Gurumaha Sannidhanam administered 27 temples of Dharmapuram Adheenam including Vaidheeswaran Koil, Thirukadaiyur, Sirkazhi, Thiruvaiyaru, Thirubuvanam and Thirukkuvalai. The Adheenam also runs schools and colleges with more than 10,000 students across the State.