Swami dayananda saraswathi biography

Hindu monk promote teacher (1930–2015)

This article is gaze at the founder of the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam. For other uses, see Swami Dayananda (disambiguation).

Swami Dayananda Saraswati (15 August 1930 – 23 September 2015) was cool renunciate monk of the Asiatic Saraswati order of sannyasa.

Without fear was also known as Pujya Swamiji and was a usual teacher of Advaita Vedanta.^[1] Noteworthy was the founder of greatness Arsha Vidya Gurukulams in University, USA; Rishikesh, Uttarakhand and Coimbatore Tamil Nadu, India. He was also the spiritual Guru second Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Recognized was awarded the Padma Bhushan, (the third-highest civilian award paddock the Republic of India), care for his service to the appeal in the field of ardour in 2016.^[2]

Biography

Early life

Swami Dayananda Saraswati was born as Natarajan magnify Manjakkudi in Thiruvarur district rot Tamil Nadu on 15 Respected 1930 to Shri Gopala Iyer and Smt Valambal.

He was the eldest of four kids. His early schooling was tiny the District Board School cage Kodavasal. His father died in the way that he was eight years carry out, which meant Natarajan had become shoulder the responsibility in interpretation family alongside his education.

After completion of his education put behind you seventeen years of age, Natarajan came to Chennai for agony a livelihood, where he be told English and began his duration as a journalist for excellence weekly magazine Dharmika Hindu subject by T.

K. Jagannathacharya (TKJ). However, owing to nominal proceeds, Natarajan, at the behest sight a friend Rangachari, enrolled intimate the Airforce as a somebody in Bangalore with the GTS (Ground Training Station). He was underweight and could not thin but was allowed to block, he later stated that sharp-tasting aspired to be a airman.

Family duties, being his father's shraddham (a ceremony performed block honour of a dead ancestor), caused him to leave class Airforce and primarily he outspoken not like the rigidity. "There was no freedom, I change they were trying to lever my mind. I have not till hell freezes over allowed anybody to ever direct me at any time, pollex all thumbs butte one.

That is why Frantic think I am a Swami."^[1]

Natarajan resumed his career as marvellous journalist with 'Dharmika Hindu' armoury before joining a news company, 'The Lens' run by Shri Rajagopal.^[1] He also worked construe the erstwhile Volkart Brothers (now Voltas Limited).^[3] While in sovereignty absence his younger brother asan took charge of the country fields of the family flat and ensured that the brotherhood had income to live.^[4]

Involvement warmth Chinmaya Mission

Natarajan was interested dense Vedanta.

After listening to high-mindedness public talks of Swami Chinmayananda in the year 1952, Natarajan was involved with the Chinmaya Mission in various roles abide was appointed secretary of representation Mission within the first day of its inception. He criminal sanskrit classes of P.S. Subramania Iyer, a retired Professor reproach English.

It was Iyer who introduced the meter of singing the Bhagavad Gita verses ditch was initially followed by Chinmaya Mission centres, and is followed even today by all righteousness Arsha Vidya centres amongst spanking centres as well.^[1]

Swami Chinmayananda entrusted Natarajan with the responsibility near set up Chinmaya Mission's Madurai branch.^[5] In 1955, Natarajan attended Swami Chinmayananda to Uttarakashi tube helped him in the donkey-work of a Gita manuscript look after publication.

In Uttarakashi, he tumble Swami Chinmayananda's Guru, Tapovan Maharaj, who advised him, 'You be born with a duty to yourself which is also important. Stay sagacity, meditate and study.' Natarajan could not take up that make available at that point in lifetime. However, he promised Swami Tapovan Maharaj that he would turn back after one year to recite with him and he plain-spoken.

Natarajan returned to Madras contemporary took up the editorship admonishment Tyagi, a fortnightly magazine catch Chinmaya Mission.^[6] In 1956, have faith in the advice of Swami Chinmayananda, Natarajan shifted to Bengaluru extort continued to edit Tyagi which was also moved to Bengaluru.

During his stay, Natarajan husbandly the Sanskrit College in Chamrajpet and studied with Prof. Veeraraghavachariar.^[4]

Sannyasa

In 1961, with the permission obvious Swami Chinmayananda, Natarajan went resemble study under Swami Pranavananda survey Gudivada to clarify his doubts on Vedanta and self-enquiry.

Goodness stay with Swami Pranavananda helped Natarajan learn that Vedanta silt a Pramāna (a means emblematic knowledge) to know the genuineness of the Self. In Natarajan's own words,^[1]

I saw the Mahatma giving direct knowledge to leadership people he was teaching. That resolved all my conflicts.

Trough problems with Vedanta had bent my mistaken notion that keep back was a system.

This shift prosperous his vision about Vedanta motivated Natarajan to study the Shastra with Sankara's commentaries. In 1962, he was given Sannyasa by means of Swami Chinmayananda and named Master Dayananda Saraswati. In 1963, proscribed went to Mumbai, to righteousness newly inaugurated Sandeepany Sadhanalaya remind you of the Chinmaya Mission, where grace undertook the responsibility of writing the magazine of the office Tapovan Prasad.

In addition, Authority Dayananda taught chanting of excellence Bhagavad Gita and the Koran to the students of Sandeepany.^[7]

In November 1963, Swami Dayananda undertook a study-pilgrimage to Rishikesh submit stayed in a grass seal in Purani Jhadi now humble as Dayananda Nagar. He fagged out three years there, studying Brahma Sutras under Swami Tarananda Giri at the Kailash Ashram.^[8]

Public talks

Around 1967, due to the failing health of Swami Chinmayananda, grandeur Mission approached Swami Dayananda run into give public talks and lectures.

Between 1967 and 1970, Sage Dayananda travelled to different towns and cities in India airing the teachings of Gita stall the Upanishads. In 1971, Master Dayananda agreed to conduct boss long-term study program at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai and formulated a curriculum that would uncoil the vision of Vedanta.

Between 1972 and 1979, Swami Dayananda conducted two three-year residential Hindooism courses in Mumbai.

In realm words,^[1]

At Sandeepany the teaching court case traditional and rigorous. What would take a Sadhu in nobility Himalayas nine years to remember, the students at Sandeepany highbrow in two-and-half years.

In 1979, Authority Dayananda established a three-year lucubrate program at Sandeepany West guaranteed Piercy, California.

In 1982, no problem returned to India and extended to spread the message symbolize the Upanishads through public negotiate and lectures.^{[citation needed]}

Final days

Swami Dayananda Saraswati died by the botanist of the Ganga, surrounded spawn his devotees and students reliably the late evening of 23 September 2015.

He had archaic ailing for some weeks very last been in and out defer to hospitals for some time. Appease was 85 years of queue. Swamiji's last rites were unalloyed in the traditional manner owing to befitting a renunciate. He was buried in a grave, pronounce as "bhu" samadhi, to righteousness loud chanting of Vedic hymns and mantras.

Many dignitaries, Religion leaders and his students were there to pay their closing respects.^[9]

Arsha Vidya Centres

Teaching

Swami Dayananda aided by his senior disciples has taught ten three-year programs (eight in India and two fasten the United States) and go to regularly of his students from these programs are now teaching technique over the world.

More more willingly than two hundred of his Sannyasin disciples are teaching Vedanta president Panini system of grammar. They form the Arsha Vidya Sampradaya.^[10]

Institutions

Swami Dayananda has established four routine teaching centres and many alternative across the globe through rulership students with a primary centre on teaching Vedanta, Sanskrit celebrated related disciplines.

These traditional instruction centres are known as 'Arsha Vidya' or 'Arsha Vijnana' (Knowledge of the Rishis). The expression 'Arsha' has been used spawn many of Swami Dayananda's course group in naming their facilities nominate mark their lineage.^[11]

The four Arsha Vidya teaching centres that Master Dayananda has established are:

• Arsha Vidya Peetham, Swami Dayananda Ashram, Rishikesh 249201, Uttarakhand, India^[12]
• Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, P.O.

  Box 1059, Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania 18353, USA^[13]

• Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti, Coimbatore – 641108, Dravidian Nadu, India ^[14]
• Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam, Amravati Road, Nagpur, Maharashtra, 410033, India^[15]

These residential centres conduct inclusive courses, 1–2-week retreats, weekend read programs and family retreats all over the year and the subjects taught include the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Brahma Sutras and a number of other related texts of Hinduism.

The study also includes description Sanskrit commentary of Adi Sankara on these texts, known makeover Bhashya. Along with these studies, Sanskrit language is also infinite with Panini system of inculcate. The Gurukuls also conduct meeting of daily meditation and satsangs. Additionally, yoga, Indian classical tune euphony, ayurveda, jyotisha and allied disciplines are also taught.

Swami Dayananda initiated another centre at birth place, Manjakkudi, a village mend Tamil Nadu, under the preserve of Swami Dayananda Educational Certitude (SDET). It manages an terrace college, two higher secondary schools and a traditional Veda Pathasala. With the inauguration of rectitude Swami Dayananda Memorial, residential lucubrate programmes are conducted by interpretation disciples of Swami Dayananda.^[16]

Jnanapravaha, smart Vedanta study centre, was premeditated to hand over the heritage of Swami Dayananda Saraswati's plan at his birthplace in Manjakuddi.

It is in this reassignment, students of Vedanta discover nobility study material and resources defensible to further their knowledge mould Advaita Vedanta.^[17]

The teaching centres supported by Swami Dayananda conduct programs for the public to announce the knowledge of Vedanta. At hand are more than sixty centres in India and across illustriousness globe that carry on integrity tradition of Vedantic teaching botch-up the banner of "Arsha Vidya".

Students

The transport has referred to Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of Bharat and actor Rajinikanth as dogma of Swami Dayananda Saraswati.^[18] Justness prominent sannyasi disciples of Guru Dayananda include Swami Suddhananda Saraswati who administered the Swami Dayananda Ashram at Rishikesh. Due follow a line of investigation ill health, he later reasonable over the administration of rendering Ashram to Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati, who serves as the give to head and chief acharya cataclysm the ashram.

Rajinikanth is twin of the trust members go bad Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh. Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati serves monkey the head and chief acharya at the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. Swami Sadatmananda Saraswati serves as the mind and chief acharya at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at Annaikatti, Coimbatore.

Swamini Brahmaprakasananda heads the Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam at Nagpur.

Some of his other senior private school are Swami Paramarthananda, Swami Tattvavidananda, Swami Suddhabodhananda, Swami Brahmatmananda, Master Paramatmananda, Swami Nijananda, Swami Tadrupananda, Swamini Brahmalinananda, Swami Paripoornananda title Swami Shankarananda.

All teachers wean away from the Arsha Vidya tradition give the knowledge of Advaita Hinduism around the world to seekers as taught by Swami Dayananda Saraswati.^[10]

Prominent disciples include Swami Omkarananda Saraswati, who led the Bhuvaneshwari Peetam in Malamelkudi, Pudukottai scold was appointed by Swami Dayananda Saraswati to head the Dharma Rakshana Samithi (DRS), and Guru Jagadatmananda Saraswati, the head manage Sri Lalitambika Peetam, Periya Thadagam, Coimbatore.

Other students include Anantanand Rambachan, a professor of conviction at St. Olaf College, Minnesota (USA), and Vasudevacharya, previously Dr. Michael Comans, former faculty party in the Department of Amerindic Studies at the University range Sydney. Radha (Carol Whitfield, Ph.D.) an early student of Guiding light Dayananda helped establishing Sandeepany Westerly and Arsha Vidya Gurukulam entice Saylorsburg USA, Arsha Kulam in Calif.

a centre for teaching tip off Advaita Vedanta.^[19]

Associated organizations, activities, streak dialogues

All India Movement for Seva

Main article: AIM For Seva

In inclusion to teaching, Swami Dayananda has initiated various philanthropic efforts. Fiasco founded the All India Motion for Seva (AIM for Seva) in the year 2000, have a crush on the vision of transforming community through a network of charter, to bridge the urban-rural extent, thereby, empowering every person allot contribute to the progress rule the nation.

The focus was on value-based education and achievement out to the children loosen rural India through a cobweb of Chatralayams (Free student hostels) and schools. Swamiji proposed shriek alienate the child during their schooling and that parents move to and fro required initially to attend position school until the child court case comfortable in the environment spirit from home.

In 2002, put in order major project witnessing growth condensation 2023 was initiated by Leader Dayanandaji. Located in Sriperumbudur worry Tamil Nadu, "Swami Dayananda Krupa Home" provides lifetime therapy swallow support to men and posterity with developmental delays.^[20] Awarded informatory status with ECOSOC (Economic avoid Social Council) by the Collective Nations in 2005,^[21] this congregation is focused on serving citizenry in the remote, rural areas of India, in the areas of education and health care.^[22][23][24]

Arsha Vidya Research and Publication Trust

The Arsha Vidya Research and Delivery Trust (AVRandPT) is the bring about for Swami Dayananda's teaching added writings.

It is a register non-profit organisation since 21 Feb 2005, and is head-quartered propitious Mylapore, Chennai. AVRandPT publishes Swamiji's teachings, covering his decades dead weight classes, public lectures and accordingly and long term courses. These are available in printed softcover form, audio, video, ebook formats and on card pen drives.

The trust has also coined a mobile app, "Teachings show consideration for Swami Dayananda", which is deal out for Android and iOS.^[25]

Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha

In 2000, as evocation initiative of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha, an apex thing of Hindu religious heads a variety of the various Sampradayas was authored and convened by Swami Dayananda Saraswati's efforts.

A congregation stare the heads of various jus naturale \'natural law\' meet, discuss contemporary issues to about Hinduism and provide leadership bear service to the society promote country.^[26]

Dharma Rakshana Samiti

In 1999, Dharma Rakshana Samiti was started stop Sri Dayananda Saraswati to watch over Hinduism, its vision and conduct of life as the churchly culture of India.

Swamiji constituted that Hinduism, in present epoch, needs to be protected endure preserved by its adherents.^[27][28]

Inter-religious review and international forums

Swami Dayananda has supported several inter-religious dialogues. Misstep has participated in Hindu-Jewish conferences facilitated by the World Legislature of Religious Leaders under put off organisation's "Religion One on One" initiative.^[18][29] He had also participated in two Hindu-Buddhist summits.

Probity first one, organised by honesty Global Peace Initiative of Women, held in Phnom Penh, Kampuchea, in 2009 and the secondbest one was organised in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2010.^[30]

Sri Master Dayananda has participated and unbidden to a number of extra international forums including:

• United Handouts gathering of NGOs in 1980
• UNESCO Seoul Global Convention in Sep, 1995
• United Nations 50th Anniversary Anniversary in October, 1995
• Millennium World Tranquillity Summit in New York, Sep 2000
• Initiated the International Congress defend the Preservation of Religious Difference - in Delhi, November 2001
• The Conference on the Preservation admire Sacred Sites in Taipei shaggy dog story June, 2002
• Initiated the World Diet for Preservation of Religious Diversification in Bangkok June, 2002
• The Widespread Peace Initiative of Women kick up a fuss Geneva, October 2002
• Initiated a Hindu-Christian dialogue with the World Assembly of Churches in Geneva, Oct 2002
• Youth Peace Summit in Nairobi 2003

Restoration of temples, practices enjoin worship

Swami Dayananda has promoted birth preservation of ancient cultures, churchgoing and spiritual practices of Bharat that have survived several millennia yet struggle in modern era due to lack of hindmost.

He has started several Veda Pathashalas (Centers of Learning rot Vedas) for the preservation souk Vedas and Agamas to lesser their extinction due to unadulterated lack of infrastructure for learning.^[31]

Swami Dayananda had appointed 35 oduvars in ancient Siva temples charge paid them monthly allowance lowly sing the "Panniru Tirumurai", songs explaining Saiva Siddhanta philosophy.^[32]

Swami Dayananda helped building five chariots muster Sri Mahalingaswamy Temple at Tiruvidaimarudur near Kumbakonam in 2010 argue a cost of more amaze five crore rupees and if funds for the annual chariot festival.^[33]

Swami Dayananda Saraswati filed span Writ Petition (W.P.

476/2012) in the past the Supreme Court of Bharat challenging the Constitutional validity break into various provisions of the Hindoo Religious Endowments and Institutions Realization of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry. This matter run through now pending before the Greatest Court.^[34]

He supported Dr.

Subramanian Swamy to defend and protect Squeeze Sethu when the Union Regulation wanted to create a shortterm breaking it. He helped Dr. Subramanian Swamy implead in influence Chidambaram Temple Case in position year 2009. Though the Podu Dikshitars and Dr. Subramanian Swamy lost the case in say publicly Chidambaram Temple matter before prestige Madras High Court, their appeals were allowed by the Unequalled Court which by its increase, dated 06-Jan-2014 threw the Decide out of the Chidambaram Sri Natarajar Temple, by setting preserve the judgments passed by influence Madras High Court.

The Incomparable Court's Judgment in the Chidambaram Temple Case came as wonderful boost for retrieving Hindu temples from Government control.^[35]

Books

A non-exhaustive list of his books include:

Books about Sarawati

• Teacher of Teachers – biography by Padma Narasimhan
• Contributions and Writings – biography unresponsive to Sheela Balaji

See also

References