After Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s holy mission on Earth came to a conclusion in 820 A.D., the village of Kalady somehow went unnoticed on the spiritual map of India for over a thousand years.  During the opening decade of the 20th century, the 33rd Jagadguru of Sri Sharada Peetam Sri Sachidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi Swamiji was directly instructed by Goddess Sri Sharada to revive Kalady and reintroduce its greatness to the world.

            When the glorious Sage commenced His sacred mission He received overwhelming support, both physical and monetary, from kings, nobles, British officials and also the general public.  Sri Rama Varma, the then king of Travancore affirmed his support by not only identifying the areas of land related to Sri Shankara in some way, but also by legally acquiring those lands and handing them over to Sri Sharada Peetam for the construction of shrines for Sri Shankara and Sri Sharada.  Since then, the Acharyas of Sri Sharada Peetam have been reverentially taking care of the sacred site and the shrines at Kalady.

            Jagadguru Sri Sachidananda Shivabhinava Nrisimha Bharathi Mahaswamiji had beautiful shrines constructed for Sri Shankara and Sri Sharada at the sacred site and performed the consecration on 21st February 1910.  The festivities were very grand and thousands of devotees from all over the country visited Kalady to attend the function.  The great Acharya also initiated the celebration of Shankara Jayanthi on the Vaishaka Shukla Panchami to mark the birthday of Sri Shankara every year.  The complete works of Sri Shankara were printed and made available to the public, by the directions of his Holiness.

            Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekhara Bharathi Mahaswamiji, the 34th pontiff of Sri Sharada Peetam was equally intent on following His Guru’s footsteps in developing Kalady.  He wanted Kalady to be a great seat of learning.  Consequently, He started the Veda and Vedanta Patashala there to traditionally impart the study of the Vedas and Shastras to students.  Students were given scholarships and were taught by eminent professors.  Boarding and lodging facilities were provided for them.  Two rows of nine houses each, meant for the students, professors and temple Archakas, were constructed.  A beautiful arch was put up at the entrance of the Mutt.  His Holiness also made arrangements for a metal idol of Sri Shankara to be taken in procession on festival days.

            Sri Abhinava Vidyatheertha Mahaswamiji, the 35th Jagadguru, added a lot more prominence to Kalady.  It was during His period that the High Court of Travancore passed a rule that the powers of appointing the management committee of the celebrated Shankara College at Kalady would henceforth be with the Acharya of Sri Sharada Peetam.  His Holiness instituted the “Sri Shankara Memorial lecture hall and library”.  The Acharya had many other buildings constructed for the convenience of visiting devotees and scholars.  His Holiness was also the first Acharya to organise the historic meet of the three Amnaya Peeta Heads at Kalady in 1965.  The Jagadguru personally supervised all the developmental works that took place at Kalady, amidst His busy schedule.  

            Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji, the ruling and the 36th Jagadguru of Sri Sharada Peetam is deeply devoted to Sri Shankara.  Meticulously following the footsteps of His most beloved Guru,  His Holiness too has been carrying out various developmental works at the birthplace of the great Acharya Sri Shankara at Kalady.  The Acharya also played a key role in getting a Sanskrit university started at Kalady.  His Holiness has left no stones unturned when it comes to ensuring an ineffaceable place for Kalady on the spiritual map of India.  Padmashree awardee Dr. V.R.Gowrishankar, a hardcore professional and the present administrator and CEO of Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetam has been playing a key role in carrying out, as per the Jagadguru’s commands, all that is essential for this monumental site.  The shrine complex has been beautifully renovated and a captivating garden around the complex has been added.  Numerous other facilities such as additional accommodation for the visiting devotees have been added to the existing ones at the sacred complex.  

            The year 2010 marked the centenary year of the rediscovery of the birthplace of Sri Adi Shankara at Kalady.  As per the sacred commands of Jagadguru Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji, Sri V.R.Gowrishankar and his dedicated team of staff along with a large number of enthusiastic devotees of the Mutt swung into action and ensured that the Kalady Shatakam festivities (celebrations to mark the passing of 100 golden years) were made fitting and memorable.  The followers of Sri Adi Shankara thronged the sacred town in large numbers and witnessed the spectacular events.   On 23-05-2010, the Jagadguru performed the consecration and blessed the devotees.  As another fitting tribute to Sri Adi Shankaracharya, Jagadguru Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji had a beautiful temple built for Sri Shankara at the Mutt complex in Sringeri in the year 2011.

            The spiritual link between Kalady and Sringeri Sri Sharada Peetam is so deep that the visitors to this sacred birthplace of Sri Shankara are instantly touched by the devout contribution of the great Acharyas of this Peetam to their Founder-Guru.  This prompts them to visit Sringeri and have the darshan of the Jagadguru who is the spiritual descendent of Sri Adi Shankara.