Sivaswami satisfied the requirements that Sri Narasimha Bharati was looking for in a worthy successor. Having lost his father, Sivaswami was being brought up by his elder brother, Lakshmi Narasimha Sastri. Both brothers came to Sringeri for a visit, when Sivaswami impressed the Acharya with his learning and his devotion. Deciding that he was the right successor for the Sringeri matha, Sri Narasimha Bharati initiated Sivaswami into the sannyasa-asrama, under the name of Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Narasimha Bharati. The new successor-designate was taught all the Upanishads and bhashyas personally by the Acharya, who also took him along with him during his constant tours in the south.

In 1879, Sri Narasimha Bharati (VIII) attained Mahasamadhi, and Sri Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Narasimha Bharati was duly installed at the Sringeri matha, where he spent six years in meditation and contemplation. A northern Rajput prince visited Sringeri and invited the new Acharya to make a tour of the north, offering to look after all the arrangements. This northern tour lasted four years. After this, the Swami stayed in Sringeri for two years, studying the scriptures and teaching Vedanta to multitudes of disciples who sought him out from all over India. He then started out on an extensive tour of southern India, which lasted another four years. During this tour, as Adi Sankaracharya had done centuries ago, he introduced temple worship rituals that conform to Vedic requirements, and reformed the existing Agamic practices in the south. Many scholars and seekers, including the famous Kaviyogi Suddhananda Bharati, received upadesa from him during this tour.

The Sringeri matha as it exists today, owes a lot to Swami Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Narasimha Bharati's pioneering leadership. In 1895, after returning to Sringeri from his southern tour, the Swami reorganized the existing pathasalas in Sringeri. He started a new school called Sadvidya Sanjivani Pathasala, offering courses in Sanskrit and Vedic studies. He had a portion of the forest on the southern bank of the Tunga river cleared, where new forest hermitages were established. He named the new settlement Narasimhavana, in the memory of his Guru's name. He taught the Upanishads, Brahmasutras, Bhagavad Gita and Sankaracharya's bhashyas to many students here. He established a branch matha at Bangalore, and built a Sanskrit college there, called Bharatiya Girvana Praudha Vidya Abhivardhini Pathasala. It was during his tenure at Sringeri that there was a great resurgence of interest in Vedanta throughout India. The country was also going through drastic political and social changes because of British rule. The Swami keenly felt the general slipping away of all the old values cherished in traditional Hindu society.

Seeking to reinforce Sanatana Dharma, and emphasize the central importance of Adi Sankaracharya for Advaita Vedanta, the Acharya instituted the practice of observing Sankara Jayanti annually, beginning on the Sukla Pratipada (first day of the bright fortnight) of the month of Vaisakha, and ending on the fifth day, the anniversary of the master's birth. While the calender date of Sankara Jayanti was known, this was the first time that an extensive five day festival to honor the master's memory was held. Special worship to the murti of Sankara, musical recitations of his life-story and lectures on his bhashyas mark the event. This practice has since become widely popular in every Advaita institution. Wherever the philosophy of Advaita is taught in India, Sankara Jayanti is celebrated according to the rituals codified by Sri Sacchidananda Sivabhinava Narasimha Bharati of Sringeri.

In addition to instituting the observance of Sankara Jayanti, the Acharya rediscovered the location of Kaladi, the birth-place of Adi Sankaracharya, in the Kerala country. In 1907, the Acharya made a tour of Kerala, and satisfied himself about the location of the Purna river, the Kaladi village, its ancient Krishna temple and the traditional samadhi of Aryamba, Sankaracharya's mother. The Maharajas of Cochin and Travancore offerred all possible help to the Sringeri matha in this matter. The ruler of Travancore acquired all the lands known as the Kaladi Sanketa, and placed them at the disposal of His Holiness. Two new shrines, one for Goddess Saradamba and one for Adi Sankaracharya, were built there and consecrated in 1910. Later, shrines were built for Sakti Ganapati and the ancient Krishna temple was renovated. Today, Kaladi is a great pilgrim center for all Hindus.