Swami Rithambarananda elected president of Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust

SIVAGIRI: Swami Rithambarananda has been elected president of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust, while Swami Visuddhananda has been elected general secretary and Swami Sharadananda treasurer. All three assumed charge on Friday.

The office-bearers were elected at a special board meeting attended by 11 board members. The meeting was held at the boardroom of the Sivagiri Mutt under the chairmanship of outgoing president Swami Satchidananda. After the initial meeting, the newly elected members visited the Mahasamadhi and took the oath of office. Swami Satchidananda administered the oath.

Swami Sharadananda proposed the name of Swami Rithambarananda for the post of president, with Swami Ambikananda seconding it. Swami Ambikananda proposed Swami Visuddhananda for general secretary, and Swami Sandrananda seconded the proposal. Swami Visuddhananda proposed Swami Sharadananda's name for the post of treasurer, which was seconded by Swami Guruprakasham.

After the election process, the new office-bearers visited the Mahasamadhi to take the oath before assuming charge at the office. Outgoing general secretary Swami Shubangananda handed over the office keys to his successor, Swami Visuddhananda.

Experienced office-bearers

Swami Rithambarananda previously served as general secretary of the Dharma Sangham Trust from 2006 to 2016 and again from 2021 to 2022. Swami Visuddhananda, who received the Padma Shri in 2019, had served as the Trust's general secretary in 1984. He was also elected president in 2016. Swami Sharadananda, who has been serving as treasurer since 2016, will now begin his third term in the post.