The Sri Sri Sachhidananda Shankara Bharati Fellowship (SSBF) is named after Sri Sri Sachhidananda Shankara Bharati Mahaswamiji, the 68th Shankaracharya of Kudali Sringeri Maha Samsthan, Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peeth, Kudali. As Shankaracharya, he travelled extensively across South India and as far as Gwalior in Central India, reviving numerous traditions and institutions. He authored books, composed Sanskrit poetry, commissioned multiple research projects, and played a key role in establishing the Oriental Research Institute of Mysore in 1943.

His translation of Chanakya’s ‘Artha Shastra’ into Kannada marked the first time the work was rendered into a regional language. He worked extensively to collect the missing and unpublished ‘Artha Shastra’ manuscripts, teaching them to many politicians and scholars including the President of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and the Maharaja of Mysore. This fellowship aims to support significant research in areas of historical and cultural importance.

We are pleased to announce that Ms. Pratishtha Mukherjee is a proud recipient of the Sri Sri Sachhidananda Shankara Bharti Fellowship. Ms. Mukherjee’s research proposal, titled “Indian Temples as Custodians of Bharatiya Culture,” will explore temples’ deep-rooted cultural and spiritual significance in preserving India’s rich heritage.