Swami Swahananda
Encyclopedia
Swami Swahananda a senior monk of the Ramakrishna Order
of India
, is the minister and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of Southern California since 1976. He also leads the Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely, and the Vedanta Center of Greater Washington, DC. He joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1947 and received sannyasa
, full monastic ordination, in 1956.
, the youngest of three boys. His father, Nirmal Chandra Goswami, died in April 1921 at the age of 32, just two months before Swahananda was born. His mother, Pramilabala, was only 19 at that time. Swahananda's grandmother named him “Bipadbhanjan”. Nirmal Chandra had been a disciple of Sarada Devi
, and had received initiation from her in 1908.
Swahananda received a B.A. from Murari Chand College
, Sylhet
, in 1943, and a double M.A.in English Literature and English Language from the University of Calcutta
, in 1945 and 46.
in February, 1937 from Swami Vijnanananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, and subsequently joined the Ramakrishna Order
in 1947. He remained a lecturer at the Vidyamandir at Belur Math
for two years, before being sent to the Ramakrishna Math, Madras (now Chennai). He was ordained a brahmacharin in 1952, and called Brahmachari Durgachaitanya. In 1954, he joined the Mysore Study Circle. He received sannyasa
, full ordination, in 1956, from Swami Shankarananda
.
At the Madras Math he served first as pujari
, and as editor of the Vedanta Kesari
from August 1956 to April 1962. In 1961 he went on pilgrimage in the Himalayas
, and stayed at Uttarkashi
to practice spiritual austerities for some months. In 1962 he was made the head of the Ramakrishna Mission center in New Delhi
, an important centre of the Ramakrishna Order. He came to the United States on August 5, 1968,
to be the Assistant Minister of the San Francisco Vedanta Society
, where he served for two years; later he was appointed head of the Vedanta Society of Berkeley, California
, where he stayed for six years. In December 1976, after the death of spiritual leader and author Swami Prabhavananda
, he was transferred to Hollywood, the headquarters of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, where he remains the minister today.
He also supervises the Vedanta Society of Greater Washington, DC since 1997, and Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely, since 1998.
In the late 1980s, he lectured and gave spiritual guidance in Moscow
.
As a spiritual leader, Swahananda encourages westerners to take leadership roles in the Vedanta movement.
and Panchadasi of Vidyaranya
from Sanskrit
, and Go Forward: Letters of Swami Premeshananda and Mahapurush Maharaj as We Knew Him from Bengali
. Books include Hindu Symbology and Other Essays, Meditation and Other Spiritual Disciplines, Mother Worship: A Collection of Essays on Mother Worship in India, Service and Spirituality, and Vedanta and Ramakrishna.
Ramakrishna Order
The Ramakrishna Order is the monastic organization founded by Sri Ramakrishna and his disciple Swami Vivekananda. It encompasses the twin organizations Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, both headquartered at Belur Math near Kolkata, India....
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, is the minister and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of Southern California since 1976. He also leads the Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely, and the Vedanta Center of Greater Washington, DC. He joined the Ramakrishna Order in 1947 and received sannyasa
Sannyasa
Sannyasa is the order of life of the renouncer within the Hindu scheme of āśramas, or life stages. It is considered the topmost and final stage of the ashram systems and is traditionally taken by men or women at or beyond the age of fifty years old or by young monks who wish to renounce worldly...
, full monastic ordination, in 1956.
Early life and education
Swahananda was born on 29 June, 1921 in a village near Habiganj in British India, now in BangladeshBangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, the youngest of three boys. His father, Nirmal Chandra Goswami, died in April 1921 at the age of 32, just two months before Swahananda was born. His mother, Pramilabala, was only 19 at that time. Swahananda's grandmother named him “Bipadbhanjan”. Nirmal Chandra had been a disciple of Sarada Devi
Sarada Devi
Sarada Devi , born Saradamani Mukhopadhyaya , was the wife and spiritual counterpart of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a nineteenth century mystic of Bengal. Sarada Devi is also reverentially addressed as the Holy Mother by the followers of the Ramakrishna monastic order...
, and had received initiation from her in 1908.
Swahananda received a B.A. from Murari Chand College
Murari Chand College
Murari Chand University College was the first college in Sylhet. It was established in 1892. Since then it has been playing important role in the education, cultural, and political spheres of greater Sylhet.- History :...
, Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
, in 1943, and a double M.A.in English Literature and English Language from the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
, in 1945 and 46.
Religious life
He received initiationDiksha
Diksa also spelled deeksha or deeksa in common usage, translated as a "preparation or consecration for a religious ceremony", is giving of a mantra or an initiation by the guru in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism...
in February, 1937 from Swami Vijnanananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, and subsequently joined the Ramakrishna Order
Ramakrishna Order
The Ramakrishna Order is the monastic organization founded by Sri Ramakrishna and his disciple Swami Vivekananda. It encompasses the twin organizations Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, both headquartered at Belur Math near Kolkata, India....
in 1947. He remained a lecturer at the Vidyamandir at Belur Math
Belur Math
' or Belur Mutt is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, a chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is located on the west bank of Hooghly River, Belur, West Bengal, India and is one of the significant institutions in Calcutta...
for two years, before being sent to the Ramakrishna Math, Madras (now Chennai). He was ordained a brahmacharin in 1952, and called Brahmachari Durgachaitanya. In 1954, he joined the Mysore Study Circle. He received sannyasa
Sannyasa
Sannyasa is the order of life of the renouncer within the Hindu scheme of āśramas, or life stages. It is considered the topmost and final stage of the ashram systems and is traditionally taken by men or women at or beyond the age of fifty years old or by young monks who wish to renounce worldly...
, full ordination, in 1956, from Swami Shankarananda
Swami Shankarananda
Swami Shankarananda may refer to:* Swami Shankarananda of Baltimore, founder and minister of the Divine Life Church of Baltimore, Maryland*Swami Shankarananda , 7th president of the Ramakrishna Mission from 1952 to 1959...
.
At the Madras Math he served first as pujari
Pujari
Pujari means one who does the Puja of the idol of God physically in Hindu temples as a priest. Pujaris are also called archaka. Pujaris learn and chant hymns dedicated to God, generally in Sanskrit. Pujaris are mainly drawn from the Hindu Brahmin caste.-Pujaris as counselors:Throughout India,...
, and as editor of the Vedanta Kesari
Vedanta Kesari
Vedanta Kesari is a spiritual and cultural monthly in English being published from Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai, since 1895.-History:...
from August 1956 to April 1962. In 1961 he went on pilgrimage in the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
, and stayed at Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi
Uttarkashi, meaning Kashi of the north, is a holy town in Uttarakhand, India. It is the district headquarter of Uttarkashi district. Uttarkashi is situated on the banks of river Bhagirathi at an altitude of 1352 m above sea level. Uttarkashi is home to a number of ashrams and temples and also to...
to practice spiritual austerities for some months. In 1962 he was made the head of the Ramakrishna Mission center in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, an important centre of the Ramakrishna Order. He came to the United States on August 5, 1968,
to be the Assistant Minister of the San Francisco Vedanta Society
Vedanta Society
The Vedanta Society of Southern California, with its headquarters in Hollywood, was founded in 1930 by Swami Prabhavananda. The society is a branch of the Ramakrishna Order, and maintains subcenters in Pasadena, Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Trabuco Canyon...
, where he served for two years; later he was appointed head of the Vedanta Society of Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, where he stayed for six years. In December 1976, after the death of spiritual leader and author Swami Prabhavananda
Swami Prabhavananda
Swami Prabhavananda was an Indian philosopher, monk of the Ramakrishna Order, and religious teacher.-Biography:...
, he was transferred to Hollywood, the headquarters of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, where he remains the minister today.
He also supervises the Vedanta Society of Greater Washington, DC since 1997, and Vivekananda Retreat, Ridgely, since 1998.
In the late 1980s, he lectured and gave spiritual guidance in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
As a spiritual leader, Swahananda encourages westerners to take leadership roles in the Vedanta movement.
Author
Swami Swahananda has authored a number of books and translations. His translations into English include the Chandogya UpanishadChandogya Upanishad
The Chandogya Upanishad is one of the "primary" Upanishads. Together with the Jaiminiya Upanishad Brahmana and the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad it ranks among the oldest Upanishads, dating to the Vedic Brahmana period....
and Panchadasi of Vidyaranya
Vidyaranya
' is variously known as being a kingmaker, patron saint and high priest to Harihara Raya I and Bukka Raya I, the founders of the Vijayanagar Empire. He was the 12th Jagadguru of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham from 1380 to 1386 A.D. He was born to and in in 1268 CE. Another account has it that he...
from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, and Go Forward: Letters of Swami Premeshananda and Mahapurush Maharaj as We Knew Him from Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
. Books include Hindu Symbology and Other Essays, Meditation and Other Spiritual Disciplines, Mother Worship: A Collection of Essays on Mother Worship in India, Service and Spirituality, and Vedanta and Ramakrishna.
Further reading
External links
- Swami Swahananda, Biography at Vedanta Society of Southern California.
- Biography at Vishwa Dharma Mandalam website
- Books by Swami Swahananda
- Swami Swahananda with Pope John Paul II on YouTube