A brief profile of His Holiness Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathy:

 

JAGADGURU SWAMI SATHYANANDA SARASWATHY MAHARAJ

 

The Extraordinary Saint

 

BIRTH - 22nd September 1935

 

MAHASAMADHI - 24th November 2006

 

His Holiness Jagadguru Swami Satyananda Saraswathy, was born on the 22nd of September, 1935 in Andurkonam, near Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum), the capital city of Kerala.

 

Swamiji was a spiritual child and exceptionally gifted.He was an excellent student, a gifted poet, orator par excellence and a promoter of classical arts.As a school teacher and as a spiritual teacher, Swamiji was a true ‘Gu-Ru’, (Sanskrit: Darkness-Go ). He spiritually and mentally charged people and pushed them from Andhakar (darkness) to Prakasham (light).

 

Swamiji had His early education in Pothankode primary school, Thonnakkal Eswaravilasam Middle School and Kaniapuram High School. Even at a very young age , He developed a strong spiritual earnest.

 

   * At the age of 8, Swamiji started reciting Sreemad Bhagavatham of Thunchat Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, the father of malayalam literature.

   * As a boy aged 9, He had darshan of Lord Krishna and would frequently play with him, the cosmic sustainer, ignoring the childish play of other boys.

   * He was inspired by the writings of Swami Vivekananda and Subhash Chandra Bose. When in the fifth standard, an inexhaustible desire to take Sannyaas entered His young mind.

 

Swamiji did His graduation in Economics and History from Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram. Later He did BEd from the university college, Kerala. During college days:

 

   * Swamiji actively participated in extra curricular activities. He always topped in academic activities as also in elocutions and essay-writing, etc.

   * A symposium on ‘Kumaranashan and his Doctrine of Love’ was organised by Him.

   * He was involved in ‘Sarvodaya’ activities at the age of 18. He met Shri Kelappan, the Sarvodaya leader.

   * Swamiji was an avid reader of Gandhian literature and participated in the Gramadan, Geevadan programmes. He held responsible positions in ‘Shanti Sena’ at the national level.

   * He also render valuable service to the weak and downtrodden sections of society.

 

By divine means, Swamiji encountered the Avadhoota-sage, Brahmashree Neelakanta Gurupadar (himself an embodiment of the Supreme One and the founder of Sree Rama Dasa Mathom in Chenkottukonam on 4th July, 1962), who made Swamiji His chosen disciple.

 

During the 3 years of close association with Gurupadar, Swamiji attained spiritual and intellectual bliss.The Guru-Shishya relationship they had was a living example of ‘Guru Geeta’ and re- enaction of the blissful love between Sree Rama and Lord Anjaneya.

 

Swamiji did MA in Philosophy but did not appear for the examination as per the desire of His Guru.

 

Gurupadar, who (having the Siddhi of Ichha-Mrityu) postponed His Samadhi for 32 years waiting for His disciple to come, finally attained Nirvikalpa Samadhi on 26th May, 1965 after anointing Swamiji as Mathadhipati.

 

At age 30 Swamiji, as humble as humbleness itself and as spritually powerful as Lord Hanuman Himself, took on the great tasks Gurupadar gave Him,which were:-

 

   * Uniting the whole world on spiritual lines.

   * Strengthening the backbone of the beaten and battered Hindu Society.

   * Evolving a socio-cultural financial system based on Sanatana Dharma.

   * Evolving a system of education that combines the values of traditional Indian culture and modern science and technology.

   * Correct interpretation and popularisation of the historical and cultural heritage of India.

   * Co-ordinating the numerous, varied and unassociated Hindu units all over the world.

   * Propagating the true scripture of Hindus ie, Veda (Sanskrit: Ved = knowledge) and the Epics(especially Ramayana) and eliminating misinterpretations.