Balagangadharanatha Swamiji

He was born to Chikkalinge Gowda and Boramma as Gangadharaiah. He was born in a Kannada Vokkaliga Community (farming community).^[3] He had five siblings - two brothers and three sisters. Shri Gangadharaiah completed his graduation in diploma Science from Government Arts & Science College, Bengaluru. Motivated by the desire to serve God and the people, he chose the spiritual way of life.

Initiated at the age of nineteen, he spent his initial years mastering the Vedas and other sacred texts under the tutelage of his Guru Ramanandanatha Swamiji.

Balagangadharanatha swamiji took over as the 71st Pontiff of the ancient Natha Center of Worship, Shri Adichunchanagiri Math, on 24 September 1974 at the age of 30. He was of the line of Bhakthanatha Swamiji, Chandrashekaranatha Swamiji and Ramanandanatha Swamiji of the ‘Natha Pantha’ (Parampara).

Balagangadharanatha Swamiji died on 13 January 2013, at age 64, due to kidney failure. He was undergoing treatment at BGS Global Hospital, under his control, in Kengeri after his blood pressure went out of control during dialysis.^[4]

The mutt witnessed a revolutionary progress under his leadership with several of his flagship projects in education, religion and social service. The seer focused on providing humanitarian services including providing basic necessities like food, education and health for lakhs of people during the last four decades.