Sri Saiva Maha Peetham is an organization formed for the followers of Sroutha Savia Siddhanta which is a branch of Hindu religion based on the Vedic prescriptions. All its traditions and practices are based on and supported by Vedas, Upanishads, Agamas and Itihasas.
Like any other religious group in the world, Sroutha Saivas formed themselves into an organization called Sri Saiva Maha Petham for their upliftment, propogation, and practice of their religious traditions. This association is meat to undertake activities aimed at organizing their community on sound lines, at preaching their religious practices and developing their educational opportunities.
The first formal meeting of the Aaradhya Saivas took place in Bezawada (Vijayawada) in AP on 2/6/1909. It was attended by Siva Sri Mudigonda Nagalinga Sastry, Kompally Kotilingam, Singaraju Venkata S***a Rao, Mudigonda Nandikeswara Sastry among others. Siva Yogi Mudigonda Sankara Aaradhya presided over this meeting.
The next conference of the Aaradhyas was held at Warangal on the 25/12/1909, at the invitation of Sri. Mudigonda Sankara Aaradhya. That conference was called Saiva Mata Maha Sabha. Siva Sri Kasinadhuni Nageswara Rao, Kasinadhuni Malliah, Chaganti Sitayya, Mudigonda Butchiah lingam, Ivaturi Viyenna, Singaraju Venkata S***a Rao were among the several Aaradhyas who attended this conference.
Subsequently congregations of Aaradhyas were held at Pedana, Kondapalli, Agrahaaram, Emani, Vijayanagaram etc., The congregations were by and large an annual feature.
During these congregations resolutions were passed to form a co-operative credit society, for rendering financial help to needy Aaradhyas, to form by-laws and constitution for the association, to publish a monthly spiritual magazine called “Saiva mata Prakasini” and also to render financial assistance to those studying Vedas, English language or Sanskrit.
Since people trained to perform rituals among Aaradhyas on auspicious as well as un-auspicious occasions were found to be few, it was resolved to start a school to impart necessary training, wherever not less than 10 students came forward to undergo the training. Thus the conferences were passing resolution in accordance with the timely needs of the Aaradhya community.
Till 1919, when he attained Lingaikya, Sri Mudigonda Sankara Aradhya was heading this organization. Later on with changes in time, the organization came to be called “Saiva Mahajana Sabha” and thereafter “Sri Saiva Maha Peetham” in 1940.
With head quarters at Vijayawada, the Saiva Peetham was got registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 (Act XXI of 1860), in the office of the Assistant Register, Joint Stock Companies, West Godavari and Krishna Districts at Eluru under registration number 19/1940-41. As per its by-laws the aims and objectives of Sri Saiva Maha Peetham are as follows.
1. Promotion of the knowledge of Sroutha Saiva Philosophy and the Worship of Siva as propounded by the Vedic and Agama Authorities.
2. Enunciation and encouragement of practices which are the means of temporal and spiritual welfare, based on sastras and Saiva doctrines.
3. To be the support and refuge of the Saiva philosophy and religion and work for their development according to the Sanatana Dharma.
4. To do all things consistent with and conducive to the above said three objects i.e.,
• To establish libraries and reading rooms with books connected with literature of Vedas, agamas, tantras, puranas, itihasas and other books.
• To set up literary, vedic and shastric schools for the purpose of imparting scientific knowledge for the attainment of the ultimate reality and for providing necessary knowledge therefore and also for giving education in ancient and modern learning.
• To establish proper ashrams for the acquisition of power for all round development by means of practices sanctioned by authorities in tapes, mantras and yoga etc., and to encourage exercises warranted by the shastras.
• To work for the development and dissemination of the Saiva religion by propagating Saiva philosophy and Siva worship, through libraries, pamphlets, lectures and other methods of propaganda and also by conducting functions of the anniversaries of the Peetham.
• To encourage the performance of duties assigned to the respective varnas and ashramas, to impart knowledge in professional education, to encourage arts and crafts and thereby improve the economic conditions of the Saiva community and contribute to its welfare etc.,
Sri Saivamahappetham is registered under the Societies registration Act – 1860, with registered number 19 / 40-41 at Eluru – now under the jurisdiction of District Registrar – Machilipatham, Krishna District.
