Jagadguru His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji,

President, JSS Mahavidyapeetha.

The Jagadguru Veerasimhaasana Peetha established in the 11th Century A.D. at Suttur by Adi Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Shivayogi Mahaswamiji has a history dating back to 1000 years, according to the scriptures. Suttur is a village in Nanjangud taluk, Mysore district in Karnataka. It is about 28 km from Mysore city, in the south east direction.

The Peetha with its high ideals has been making remarkable contribution in religious, social, educational and economic spheres in the state and across the country. It is striving for social development by responding to the community needs. It strongly believes that unless the problems of the socially backward communities and the poor are solved, there cannot be any social development. With this objective, it has taken up several development initiatives, while at the same time living up to its principle of `work is worship’ and is engaged in raising public awareness on issues of social concern.

The establishment of the Samskritha Paathashala by the 22nd Peethadheeshwara (Pontiff) Sri Shivarathreeshwara Mahaswamiji who was popularly known as the Mantra Maharshi might be called a landmark in the history of the Sree Math. When the 23rd Peethadheeshwara (Pontiff) Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivaratri Rajendra Mahaswamiji came to Mysore in 1926 to pursue higher education, he observed that many rural students were in need of food and shelter. He gave them shelter at his own place and this marked the beginning of offering education to poor students. As far back as 1942, he established a hostel and offered free food and hostel facilities for poor rural students. This marked Sree Math’s first step in the field of development of the society.

Instead of making students come to cities seeking education, Jagadguru Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Swamiji thought of starting educational institutions in rural areas. In order to make this possible, he started the Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeshwara Mahavidya-peetha in 1954. In order to implement the educational programs, it was registered under the Societies’ Registration Act 1960, vide: Reg. No. 12/1962 on 17-07-1962. Under the untiring efforts of Dr. Sri Shivarathri Rajendra Mahaswamiji, the Vidyapeetha has witnessed enormous growth in the field of education.

JSS Mahavidyapeetha which took its first step in the field of education with the starting of a high school has now forayed into Crèches, Primary schools, High schools, Pre-university and Degree Colleges, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Dental Sciences and Pharmacy and has thus provided all classes of the society easy access to educational opportunities. Now, the JSS Deemed to be University has been started and Medical, Dental and Pharmacy Colleges at Mysore and Ooty are brought under its control since 2008.

Under the leadership of the present pontiff, the 24th Peethadhyaksha, Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji, the Mahavidyapeetha has not only established educational institutions in places where necessary, it has also made sure that all these institutions impart quality education. Engineering, medical, dental and law colleges run by JSS are reputed to be the best educational institutions of their kind in the state and have also become autonomous. Apart from formal and vocational training, a training institute for Civil Services Examinations and Jana Shikshana Samsthans have also been established as the Mahavidyapeetha has realized the need for continuing education.