Mallika Sherawat bonds with Shankaracharya

Calling Mallika Sherawat "a pure soul", Shreemad Jagadguru Shree Shree Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji, the 36th and present pontiff of Shree Ramachandrapura Math, made a special invitation to Mallika Sherawat to visit his new ashram in Karnataka and organized a number of special pujas in her honour.

The Shankaracharya brought a number of high priests from Kerala and Mangalore for the special occasion, which included Miss Sherawat breaking ground for the pontiff's Hanuman project at the cave, where, Shankaracharya said, Lord Hanuman was born. Sherawat also initiated a new Hanuman temple on the site, where the largest Hanuman monument, over 15 stories, will be built.

Mallika received the Shankaracharya's invitation while she was in Los Angeles for the post-production of her new film Hisss. She made the trip back to India especially for the occasion, which included extensive pujas with 600 lotus flowers.

Sherawat returned the sentiment by inviting Shankaracharya to the United States during her stay there. If the pontiff accepts her invitation to visit the U.S., it would be the first time in history a Shankaracharya travels to America.

Sherawat said, "After having spent most of my time recently in the U.S., it was a great honour for me to make a special trip back to India to meet the Shankaracharya. In a very special way it reconnected me to my Hindu roots. The experience was truly one of the best of my life and one I will never forget."