HH Sri Sathguru Swami Gnanananda Sarasvathi
A Vidwat Sanyasin
The divine descent happened at Annakara near Guruvayur on the 14th August, 1929, into an aristocratic, affluent and respected family. She received Her education at the St. Joseph’s European Girls High School and the Holy Cross College at Tiruchi. Her communion with the Divine began from an early age. She had rare spiritual experiences and visions from the tender age of seven years.
At the age of eighteen she was married to Shri Paliath Divakaran Achan, eldest son of the Yuvaraja of the Cochin Royal Family. While living as an ideal grahasta – a loving, selfless mother and a devoted wife - She led a life of great austerity guided by the ideal that a householder was to be a sanyasin at heart. She performed intense spiritual sadhana, involving the severest tapas and continuous communion with the Divine, demonstrating to the world that one could live the life of a householder and yet be a Jivan Mukta, a liberated soul totally established in the Divine.
In 1972, She received a Divine Command to take Sanyasa and took Vidwat Sanyasa receiving the name of Sri Sathguru Swami Gnanananda Sarasvathi.
Sri Sathguru Maa passed into the ages in 2016.
Sri Gnana Advaitha Peetam
After taking Sanyasa, Sri Sathguru established Sri Gnana Advaitha Peetam in September, 1976 with the following major objectives:
- To transform the abstract philosophy of Advaitha into a living rhythm through the path of Saranagati
- To give and grant aid to deserving persons engaged in traditional occupations and to preserve the ancient philosophical traditions of India
- To improve the condition of the weaker sections of society regardless of caste and creed.
Sri Sathguru has striven for the renovation of old dilapidated places of worship, having great spiritual heritage, reviving their ancient traditions. Sri Sathguru has helped the poor, needy and destitute, transcending the barriers of caste, creed and religion.
Path of Saranagati
Sri Sathguru has personally trained several Brahmacharis and householders, spreading the special message of total detachment and self-surrender. Tirelessly propagating the path of Saranagati, as taught in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita as being the most appropriate for the present age. In Her life journey, it was through discourses, interactions, Q&As and more...
You can’t expect God to be your servant. You are his servant
"This is what they call Saranagathi. It is called Surrender to God. You do your duty to perfection and then leave everything to Him. After that you should not worry. You should leave it to Him. And you find, He helps you and – He helps you so much that you yourself will be shocked. But unless you put yourself forward, and appeal to Him, nothing can happen. You can’t expect God to be your servant. You are His servant. That is something that you must understand."
our first lighthouse
Her Prathama Sishya - Sri Sri Sri Vishnu Mohan
Sri Sri Sri Vishnu Mohan was an example in many ways. Searching for knowledge, taking gurubhakthi to sublime levels, his life was always about surrender and samarpanam. Placing his everything at the lotus feet of his Guru, Her Holiness, Sri Sathguru Swami Gnanananda Sarasvathi he showed us the way, that seekers of true knowledge are blessed with humility and guru bhakthi.
A sadhaka and thinker, who experienced the eternal fountain of knowledge at the lotus feet of his venerable guru. He demonstrated through his short stay in the mortal coil, that a spirit of surrender to the Guru could transcend all difficulties in life and that self transformation was best attained by a spirit of respectful inquiry, systematic thought, deep humility and indomitable perseverance.
On Sri Sathguru Maa in his words, "The Messiah with Her Ark, Sri Gnana Advaitha Peetam, has come, and. like the postage stamp’s usefulness depending upon its ability to stick, our salvation depends upon our ability to stick like a limpet to it."
He lives, He guides, He shines
A reflective anthology of thoughts, experiences, anecdotes and memories about Sri Sri Sri Vishnu Mohan.
HER SPIRITUALITY LIVES
Swami Shrihariprasad
From an early age, the great flights of Vedanta have held the attention and yearning of Shrihariprasad Swami. He has studied Vedanta for 35 years in which he embarked upon a journey of rediscovery, seeking oneness and insights for a better living. With humility and devotion his lessons began at the feet of his Guru who continues to show him light.
He grew into a lover of Vedanta under the tutelage of Her Holiness Sri Sathguru Swami Gnanananda Saravasthi, of Sri Gnana Advaitha Peetam. Shrihariprasad Swami has led a life of strict discipline, rigorous reading and seva for both Guru and Gurupadesam.
Swamiji is blessed with an unassuming style and academic erudition. Conversations on Vedanta on more occasions than one have brought out the greatest of truths in the simplest of ways.
Shrihariprasad Swami considers Sri Vishnu Mohan, the prathamasishya of his Guru as an individual from whom he learnt ways of nurturing his soul with the invigorating sweetness of jnana.
Shrihariprasad Swami founded the Sri Vishnu Mohan Foundation (SVMF) for research and exploration into secular philosophy and comparative studies in the teachings of Sri Krishna and Her Holiness Sri Sathguru Swami Gnanananda Saravasthi. He has also founded the Sri Lakshmi Kripa Trust with the object of preserving the sacred traditions of India.