Swami Bhadreshdas, a respected Sanskrit scholar, philosopher, and ordained sadhu of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, has been awarded the prestigious Saraswati Samman 2024. The award, given every year by the K. K. Birla Foundation, recognized his extraordinary contribution through the book Swaminarayan Siddhant Sudha. This work is a detailed text on Vedantic philosophy and has been praised for its clarity, depth, and impact on Indian intellectual traditions.
The ceremony took place in Ahmedabad on Sunday (Sep 28, 2025) and was attended by several eminent personalities. Gujarat and Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat presented the award to Swami Bhadreshdas. Other dignitaries included retired Supreme Court judge Arjan Kumar Sikri, Dr. Suresh Rituparna, Murli Manohar Pathak, Swami Anand Swaroopdas, and Swami Brahmaviharidas.
During the ceremony, Dr. Suresh Rituparna, Director and Member Secretary of the K. K. Birla Foundation, highlighted the importance of Swami Bhadreshdas’ work. He said that the Swaminarayan Siddhant Sudha is a monumental text that demonstrates the depth of Sanskrit philosophy. He also added that it reflects the timeless wisdom of Indian culture and inspires future generations. Swami Bhadreshdas received a citation, a plaque, an idol of Goddess Saraswati, and a cash prize of 15 lakh rupees. In a gesture of humility and service, he dedicated the entire award money to the charitable activities of BAPS.
The Saraswati Samman is considered one of the highest literary awards in India. Instituted in 1991, it honors outstanding works of literature published in any of the 22 Indian languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The award covers all forms of literature, including poetry, plays, criticism, essays, biographies, and autobiographies. Over the years, it has been given to celebrated writers such as Harivansh Rai Bachchan for his autobiography Dashdwaar Se Sopan Tak, Vijay Tendulkar for his play Kaalchakra, and Shamsur Rahman Faruqi for his Urdu criticism Sher-e-Shor Angez. Recent recipients include Prabha Varma for his Malayalam novel Roudra Sathwikam. Swami Bhadreshdas now joins this distinguished list as the 34th recipient.
Swami Bhadreshdas was born in 1966 in Nanded, Maharashtra. He was initiated as a sadhu by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1981. He dedicated his life to studying Sanskrit and philosophy and went on to achieve a PhD on the Bhagavad Gita and a D.Litt. in Vedanta. He is widely known for authoring the five-volume Swaminarayan Bhashyam, which contains over 2,000 pages. This text is considered the first traditional Sanskrit commentary on the Prasthantrayi written in recent centuries. He also wrote the Swaminarayan Siddhant Sudha, which systematizes the philosophy revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
The Swaminarayan Siddhant Sudha is a Vadagranth, or debate text, that brings together Vedic and Vedantic principles. It presents the Akshar Purushottam Darshan in a logical and fluent Sanskrit style. Scholars have praised the book for harmonizing ancient knowledge with modern intellectual traditions. Retired Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri remarked that after reviewing several works in 22 languages, this book was chosen because it stood out as unique and exceptional among them.
The honour for Swami Bhadreshdas reflects not only his personal scholarship but also the continuing vitality of Sanskrit literature in the modern world. His contribution is seen as a bridge that connects classical Indian wisdom with contemporary philosophical discourse. By dedicating his award money to charitable causes, Swami Bhadreshdas also reminded everyone of the spirit of selfless service that guides the Swaminarayan tradition.
The recognition of his work by the Saraswati Samman shows that Sanskrit is not merely a language of the past but a living medium of thought and expression. It carries forward ideas that have shaped Indian civilization and continue to inspire humanity today. Swami Bhadreshdas’ achievement is therefore not just a personal honour but also a tribute to the enduring relevance of Indian philosophical traditions.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)