Our Bureau
New Delhi
In a landmark recognition of Sanskrit scholarship and Indian philosophy, Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami, Swami of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, has been conferred the Saraswati Samman 2024 for his acclaimed Sanskrit publication Swaminarayana Siddhanta Sudha. This marks a historic occasion as the prestigious literary award returns to Sanskrit literature after more than two decades.
The Saraswati Samman, instituted in 1991 by the K.K. Birla Foundation, is one of India’s highest literary honors. It is awarded annually to an Indian citizen for an exceptional work of prose or poetry published in the last ten years, written in any of the 22 languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The award carries a cash prize of ₹15 lakhs, along with a citation and a plaque. Past recipients include literary giants such as Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Mahasweta Devi, and S.L. Bhyrappa.
The selection for this year’s award was made by the Saraswati Samman Chayan Parishad, chaired by Hon’ble Justice (Retd.) Shri Arjan Kumar Sikri. The distinguished jury included eminent scholars and literary experts such as Prof. Ramdeo Shukla, Dr. Buddhi Nath Mishra, Dr. Kiran Budkuley, Prof. Kalidas Misra, and Dr. Suresh Rituparna, Director of the K.K. Birla Foundation.
Swaminarayana Siddhanta Sudha, published in 2022, is a profound Sanskrit treatise that systematically presents the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, the philosophical doctrine revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Written in the classical vadagrantha style, it serves as both an exposition and a defense of this unique Vedantic philosophy. The work has been lauded for its clarity, depth, and accessibility—bridging ancient philosophical traditions with contemporary relevance. It stands as a testament to the living nature of India’s philosophical heritage and the expressive power of the Sanskrit language.
Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami is an internationally respected Sanskrit scholar and thought leader in Indian philosophy. He holds multiple academic distinctions, including an M.A., Ph.D., D.Litt., and an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) from IIT Kharagpur. Currently serving as the Head of the BAPS Swaminarayan Research Institute, he has dedicated his life to the advancement of Sanskrit scholarship and Vedic philosophy.
Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami is also the author of the Swaminarayan Bhashyam, a five-volume Sanskrit commentary on the Prasthanatrayi (Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and Brahmasutras), which reaffirms the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan as an independent Vedantic tradition. His contributions have been widely recognized both in India and abroad.
Over the years, he has been honored with numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR), the Vedant Martand Sanman from Silpakorn University, Thailand, and the Mahamahopadhyaya title from Kavikulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University. He has also received the Acharya Pravar title from the Uttar Pradesh State Government, and was recognized for Excellence in Philosophy by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. Additional accolades include the Darshankesari Award and the Professor G.M. Memorial Award from the University of Mysore, as well as the Vedant Prakash Award and Abhinav Bhashyakar Award from Shree Somnath Sanskrit University. Notably, the Shri Kashi Vidvat Parishad formally acknowledged him as an acharya in the lineage of classical Sanskrit commentators.
Expressing his gratitude, Dr. Bhadreshdas Swami dedicated the honor to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, whose teachings inspired the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan, and to his gurus—Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj—for their guidance and blessings. He emphasized that this recognition reflects the timeless relevance of Sanskrit and the enduring vitality of India’s philosophical tradition.
