About Swami Ji

Born in 1960 in a devout Brahmin family of Karnataka, India, Swami Shantidharmananda Saraswati was destined to be the torch bearer of the Ancient Vedic parampara (tradition). The samskaras of the past lives and the acquaintance of the elevated souls (satpurushas) naturally drew the young man to pursue the spiritual path, inspite of being an engineer by qualification.

In 1982, he got initiated into Sanyasa (Hindu monastic order) from the great yogic master of modern times H.H. Paramahansa Swami Satyananda Saraswati (Disciple of Swami Shivananda Saraswati, Divine Life Society, Rishikesh) of Bihar School of Yoga, Munger, Bihar,India. Though yoga had been there in his veins right from the child hood, after the Sanyasa Diksha, the Swami underwent rigorous training in the science of Yoga. He was initiated into Kriya Yoga, Swara Yoga, etc by his Guru and has specialized in yoga.

As directed by his Guru, the young Swami, left Munger in the middle of 1984 for studying Sanskrit, Vedic scriptures, Indian and Western philosophies, especially Vedanta from the great Masters and reached the historical pilgrimage centre, Kailas Ashram, Rishikesh, where in he studied Sanskrit etc from eminent acharyas H.H.Swami Harihar Tirthji, MM Swami Vidyananda Giriji, etc

In 1986, he moved to Varanasi, the most ancient seat of learning in Vedic scriptures for higher education. He studied the various branches of Indian philosophy from different eminent scholars.

In 1988, under the tutelage of the Shri Ramananda Saraswati of Onkareshshwar, MP, India, the Swami underwent in-depth studies in Vedanta ie.. “Prastana Traya” (Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads & Brahma Sutra) and Agamas.

Swami Shantidharmananda Saraswati is a scholar-saint who has been involved in the quest for spiritual knowledge for years. From 1990, he has been relentlessly imparting spiritual education to the spiritual aspirants students. Highly disciplined, soft spoken, clarity in thoughts and expression, humility, kindness are the other traits which form the crowning glory of this Yogic Master, Scholar and a true Saint. The description of the Master perfectly fits into the vision of the ancient Sages, who lived exemplary lives in their solitary abode, which inspired innumerable lesser mortals for generations to reach the ultimate goal of the human life – the emancipation from the endless cycle of birth and death.

The Swami has emulated ancient Gurukula system in his hermitage. Aspirants and students share the food and shelter in the same Ashram, in their quest for spiritual knowledge and Guru Seva. The hermitage is located on the banks of the river Ganga and in the backdrop of the majestic picturesque Himalayan peaks. Apart from imparting the ancient wisdom to the devotees in person, the Swami has permitted one of his devotees to facilitate free download of the wisdom from this website for the benefit of distant aspirants, students, devotees, etc. Innumerable audio video discourses, E-books, PDF documents etc. are available for free-download.